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IFE Psychologia : An International Journal
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ISSN (Print) 1117-1421
Published by Sabinet Online Ltd

[185 journals]

Editorial
- Authors: 'Sola Olowu
  Abstract: Rarely has the threat of disease occupied so much of our thinking. For weeks, almost every newspaper has stories about the coronavirus pandemic on its front page; radio and TV programmes have back-to-back coverage on the latest death tolls; and depending on who you follow. Social media platforms are filled with frightening statistics, practical advice or gallows humour. As others have already reported, this constant bombardment can result in heightened anxiety, with immediate effects on our mental health. But the constant feeling of threat may have other, more insidious, effects on our psychology. This first edition in 2020 makes our Volume Twenty Eight Number One published in March. We have sixteen articles on variegated topics in the field of Applied Psychology in societies, organizations and personalities.
  PubDate: 2020-06-01T00:00:00Z
Harmful health behaviours among university students in Lagos, Nigeria
- Authors: A.O. Coker; O.A. Akintayo, O.O. Coker O. Alonge
  Abstract: University students face various challenges on entering the university. They also become vulnerable to harmful health behaviours that could lead to many psychological, physical and social health consequences. This study aimed at determining harmful health behaviours among a sample of university students in Lagos, Nigeria. First and final year students of the department of psychology of the University of Lagos were recruited for this study. Apart from filling the socio-demographic characteristics form, the participants also completed a self-reported questionnaire on harmful health behaviours on substance use, nutrition, traffic, violence and physical violence. A total of 187 participants took part in the study. Of the participants, 104(55.6%) were from the first year while 83 (44.3%) were in the final year. The findings on all harmful factors were mostly positive. The body mass index of the participants showed that 27.9% of the males and 25.5% of the females in the first year and 40.6% of males and 25% of the females in the final year classes recorded BMIs higher than 25 kg/m2. However, apart from the question of being driven in a car by drunken driver in the previous month that was statistically significant, all other harmful health behaviours were not statistically significant. This study showed that harmful health behaviour was prevalent among the studied university students. The male participants in the first year showed higher risks compared to male participants in final year. The university policy makers should formulate polices on preventing or reducing harmful health behaviour among university students especially in those in their early years.
  PubDate: 2020-06-01T00:00:00Z
Mindfulness, school connectedness, perceived social support and
psychological well-being of university students in Ibadan, Nigeria
- Authors: Sabina N. Obi; Esther C. Bewei
  Abstract: The study examined the level of psychological wellbeing among undergraduates in the Faculty of Arts and Education, Lead City University, Ibadan, Nigeria. Also, the relationship between some predictor variables (mindfulness, school connectedness and perceived social support) and psychological well-being among the students were studied. The study adopted the descriptive research design of survey type. One hundred and sixty students were selected using the multistage sampling technique. Data for the research were generated with the use of the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, School connectedness Scale, Perceived social support scale and Psychological wellbeing Scale. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, the Pearson’s product moment correlation and multiple regression analyses. The results showed that the majority of the university students have high psychological well-being. All the three independent variables (mindfulness (r =.326, P<.05), school connectedness (r =.307, P<.05) and social support (r =.487, P<.05) had significant relationship with the dependent variable (psychological well-being). The joint contribution of the independent variables to the prediction of psychological well-being was also significant (F(3, 157)=17.224; R2=.234; P<.05). This means that 23.4% of the variance in the respondents’ psychological well-being was accounted for by the three predictor variables when taken together. The result further revealed that only perceived social support, of the three predictor variables, made significant relative contribution to the prediction of psychological well-being of university students. University students should hone their relational competencies, in order to draw strength from family, friends and significant others so they can enjoy optimal psychological and social wellness.
  PubDate: 2020-06-01T00:00:00Z
Niacin dietary supplement does not influence spatial learning behaviours
in adult rats on chronic intermittent ethanol exposure
- Authors: Valentine Ucheagwu; Paul Chibuike Okoli, Chukwuma Philip Ofojebe Clement Akubuilo
  Abstract: Niacin has been shown to be effective in the management of pellagra, a disease of niacin deficiency characterized by dermatitis, diarrhea, dementia and possibly death. Pellagra is commonly found among chronic alcoholics. Chronic intermittent ethanol (CIE) exposure is shown to affect spatial learning in adolescent rats while niacin dietary deficiency is found to inversely correlate with spatial learning in the same group. No study has examined the effects of niacin dietary supplement on spatial learning in CIE and healthy control older rats. This study was a preliminary assessment of niacin supplement in this population. Twenty adult Wistar Rats between 8 and 9 months of age, with mean weight of 0.35kg, were used for the study. The subjects were randomly assigned into four groups: 1) rats exposed to 3g/kg ethanol, 2) rats exposed to 3g/kg ethanol and 30 mg/kg body weight niacin supplement, 3) rats exposed to 30 mg/kg body weight niacin supplement alone, and 4) control rats exposed distilled water. Animals were tested at two different periods (i.e., post treatment exposure and after one month of abstinence) on simple (9 alleys) and complex (14 alleys) Hebb-William maze boxes respectively. Our findings show no significant differences on spatial learning among the four groups in both time points. This data reveals that in the experimental model herein used, niacin supplement had no significant effect on spatial learning memory in adult rats and did not conform with previous data on inverse effects of niacin deficiency in spatial learning among adolescent population.
  PubDate: 2020-06-01T00:00:00Z
Understanding behavioural attitudes : a psychoanalytical survey of Ola
Rotimi’s Hopes of the Living Dead and Folashayo Ogunrinde’s A Woman
With a Past
- Authors: Nasir Taofiq Olaide; Akinboye Adeyinka Juliet
  Abstract: Play productions are works of art which often times reflect the pulse of the society be it negative or positive. The behavioural attitudes of such characters which falls short of societal expectations have been attributed to various reasons such as economic, political, social, cultural etc.. All these are replicas of what obtains in the society today. While the above stated reasons may be a truism, it becomes a necessity to understand the psychological and emotional carbuncle that could be the driving force behind such behavioural attitudes. Psychoanalysis strives to understand the inner workings of the human mind and thoughts of the individual and society, putting in view the historical, political and socio-economic influences that provide important insight into the irrationality or rationality of such a person or society. In all communications of life, such as listening to news, communicating on social media or in casual conversation, people instinctively seek to understand what motivates others and why people often act in manners that appear counter to their visible or expected interests. In examining what motivates human behaviour, psychoanalysis brings into focus the unconscious effort in the individual man that cannot be seen, but are responsible for most of the individual’s actions and decisions. Psychoanalysis is a theory of the mind which tilts towards the metaphysical. Relying on the structural model of personality, this paper attempts a psychoanalytical investigation into the seeming “bad/good behavioural” attitudes of some characters in Ola Rotimi's Hopes of the Living Dead and Folashayo Ogunrinde’s A Woman With a Past . It then submits that total rejection, condemnation or segregation of people who goes against certain societal norms and values could only serve as an opium to drive them to the brink of self and societal destruction. Rather than segregate these people, such untoward behavioural attitude should be subjected to serious psychological examination with a view to assist the character(s) involved and help others with similar traits.
  PubDate: 2020-06-01T00:00:00Z
Premarital sexual permissiveness, personality factors and religiosity as
predictors of attitude towards abortion among Nigerian female
undergraduates
- Authors: Davis I. Egwuonwu; Chukwuemeka O. Alleta Ifeoma Mbonu-Ikechukwu
  Abstract: The Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey affirmed the high rate of abortion when it revealed that 91.73 percent of government hospitals and 97.58 percent of private hospitals in Nigeria have attended to patients suffering from abortion complications on an annual basis. This study therefore examined, premarital sexual permissiveness, personality factors and religiosity as predictors of attitude towards abortion among female undergraduate students in a Federal University located in the Southwestern part of Nigeria. A Cross-sectional survey research design was adopted with convenient sampling technique used in selecting the participants, who consisted of 348 female students of the said federal university. The age of the participants ranged between 17-27 years with 243 of them being Christians and 105 being Muslims. Findings revealed that personality, sexual permissiveness and religiosity jointly predicted attitude towards abortion (p<.05) and accounted for 11.5% of the variance in attitude towards abortion among female undergraduate students. Results show that personality traits of openness to experience (β=.201; p<.05) and neuroticism (β=-.222; p<.05) emerged as significant independent predictors of attitude towards abortion among female undergraduates; also, sexual permissiveness (β=.229; p<.05) was a significant independent predictor of attitude towards abortion among female undergraduates. Further results are elaborately captured in the body of this paper. Based on the findings of this study, adequate recommendations were made with directions for future research suggested.
  PubDate: 2020-06-01T00:00:00Z
Challenges faced by psychiatric nurses in managing psychiatric patients in
Kano State, Nigeria
- Authors: M.M. Haddad; F.A. Ashiru, H.H. Murtala, E.E. Anyebe, M.U. Umar, A.D. Suleiman A. Usman
  Abstract: Due to the complex nature of working environment and increase prevalence of mental illness in Nigeria, psychiatric nurses are faced with highly demanding and challenging roles in the process of service delivery. The study aimed to identify the challenges, factors associated with and strategies to overcome these challenges faced by psychiatric nurses in managing psychiatric patients in Kano state, northwest Nigeria. A cross-sectional descriptive survey research study was conducted among the entire 81 psychiatric nurses working in Dawanau Psychiatric Hospitals and Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital Psychiatric ward. Data was collected using structured self-administered questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS Version 20. The major identified challenges were staff shortage (90.1%), inadequate facilities (72.8%), unavailability of drugs (71.6%) and lack of support and workplace dissatisfaction (69.1%). Most of the factors associated with the challenges included limited resources (87.6%), inadequate government and institutional funding (79.0%) as well as neglect of the unit (70.4%). Increasing and improving psychiatric facilities (92.6%), recruitment of additional staffs in the unit (91.4%), availing the necessary drugs to the unit (63.0%), improving staff training and motivation (77.8%) and adequate support from the government (79.0%) were the suggestions to overcome the challenges. It is concluded that such challenges are inimical to the needed psychiatric services in the study setting. The role of governments and health policy makers in paying more attention to human resource development, provision of adequate facilities, continuous academic advancement and timely updates to enhance the quality of care rendered to the patients with mental illnesses are recommended as ways to improve services.
  PubDate: 2020-06-01T00:00:00Z
A psychological appraisal of gambling behaviour on campus
- Authors: T. Odunayo Arogundade; H. Cyinda Abdulahi
  Abstract: Gambling has become an alarmingly increasing activity that youths and adolescents engage in following the ease of accessibility and availability of the internet. This study therefore aims at examining the psychosocial factors responsible for gambling behaviour among selected undergraduate students on campus. To achieve this, a descriptive survey research design and a convenience sampling technique were adopted and data were collected from 312 participants using a battery of psychological tests consisting of Attitudes Towards Gambling Scale (ATGS-8), Personal Wellbeing Index (PWI), Personal Optimism and Social Optimism Extended Scale (POSO-E). The data collected were analysed with simple percentage, Pearson correlation analysis and Independent t-test. The findings revealed a significant relationship between optimism and gambling whereas there was no significant relationship personal wellbeing and gambling. It was also revealed that gamblers made more use of online gambling platform compared to physical/offline platforms. Also there was no significant difference between males’ and females’ disposition to gambling. The study recommended that Governmental and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) should create more public awareness on the growing prevalence and consequences of gambling behaviour among youths.
  PubDate: 2020-06-01T00:00:00Z
Insurgency and internal displacement : implications on psychological
health and agricultural development in Nigeria
- Authors: Ogwo Agatha Ogechi; Zamani Andrew Ezadueyan
  Abstract: The Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria has left in its trail hundreds of thousands of its citizens dead and internally displaced. The Boko Haram group has been operating in Nigeria since the early 2000, but their operations took a deadly dimension around the year 2009 and increased steadily between 2010 and 2014 with abductions of youngsters and bomb blasts in places of worship, markets, offices, motor parks and so on. By 2014 there was a drastic increase in their menace causing unimaginable havoc in the country especially in the Northern states which could be described as the agricultural hub of the Nigerian economy. The rural dwellers who are predominantly farmers and pastoralist are more affected. Fleeing their homes, sources of income and livelihood contributes to the physical and psychosocial vulnerability for internally displaced persons who are already a neglected group since they do not ordinarily enjoy the privileges enjoyed by the refugees. The focus of this paper is on people who are internally displaced as a result of the Boko Haram insurgency. This paper therefore takes a critical look at the implication of internal displacement on the psychological health and agricultural output of the victims which by extension affects the economy. Suggestions are made on the right policies to aid in regaining sustainable peace and security for all in the nation.
  PubDate: 2020-06-01T00:00:00Z
Self-efficacy as a correlate of HIV prevention among in-school adolescent
in Ogun State, Nigeria : a peer and parent-led education intervention
- Authors: Olanrewaju Motunrayo Funmilayo; Elebiju Oluwatoyin Juliana
  Abstract: The study accessed Self-Efficacy as a Correlate of HIV Prevention among in-school Adolescent in Ogun State, Nigeria, which was conceptualized using the Health Belief Model. One hypothesis guided the study. The study utilized a quasi-experimental design comprising of three experimental group and one control group. The population of the study was two hundred and twenty (220) in-school adolescents in selected secondary schools in Ogun State through the multistage sampling technique. A validated semi-structured, participant-administered questionnaire was used to gather information with a Cronbach Alpha with a score of 0.872. Data collected was analysed using SPSS. A paired T-test analysis was conducted in determining the results. The result showed that the observed differenced in mean the peer-led group (Δ = 4.000; t54 = 6.451; p<0.01), parent-led group (Δ = 8.400; t54 = 16.295; p<0.01) and peer and parent-led group (Δ = 4.691; t54 = 8.126) were statistically significant. Hence, the study concluded that that parent-child communication could be more effective in the reduction of new HIV infections among young people. It is therefore recommended that programs to improve parent-adolescent sexual risk communication, as a means of reducing HIV-related sexual risk behaviours be design and implemented.
  PubDate: 2020-06-01T00:00:00Z
Effect of school-based peer-led education and mobile phone interventions
on sexuality-related knowledge of adolescents in Ibadan, Nigeria
- Authors: Ololade O. Ogunsanmi; Catherine O. Agbede
  Abstract: Adolescent sexuality has proven to be of public concern with many undesirable consequences. The main objective of the study was to determine the effectiveness of peer-led education and mobile phone messaging on knowledge of adolescents on sexuality issues. The study employed a quasi-experimental design with 120 in-school adolescents selected through a multi-stage sampling technique from four (4) secondary schools within Ibadan. A validated instrument was used for data collection. Findings showed that the adolescents’ level of sexuality-related information had a significant increase after the intervention. The group with combined interventions better predicted higher knowledge scores (mean diff = 3.733; effect size = 0.798; t29 = 10.782; p < 0.01). In conclusion, the combination of interventions was more effective in increasing the level of sexuality-related knowledge of adolescents in Ibadan. The study recommended that multiple interventions should be contextualized to address the cognitive skills of adolescents towards sexual-risk behaviors.
  PubDate: 2020-06-01T00:00:00Z
The relevance of social-rehabilitation in post-traumatic stress disorder
symptom-reduction among internally displaced elderly persons in Borno
State Nigeria
- Authors: Jonathan Musa Dangana; Prince David Onyekachi Onuigbo Atulomah Nnodiemele
  Abstract: There is huge evidence showing that internally displaced persons are highly vulnerable to mental health problems especially post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In view of this, this study examined cultural activities relevance to PTSD symptoms reduction of internally displaced elderly persons (IDEPs) in Borno state, Nigeria. This study used a quasi-experimental design. A total sample of (N=40) IDEPs were purposively selected from 2 internal displacement camps with each displacement camp comprising 20 participants. The participants were assigned to Social Rehabilitation (SR) treatment group and control group. A pre-tested, validated instrument was adapted to the study. Descriptive and inferential statistics where used to analyze the data (p ˂ 0.05). Results show that, at baseline, PTSD symptoms between the SR treatment group and control group was (89.25±12.26 and 103.95±14.85) respectively, while post-test values of PTSD symptoms only dropped for the SR treatment group (64.25±5.77) and not for control group (104.0±14.90). More so, at the 13th week follow-up, the SR treatment group, demonstrated higher scores of PTSD symptom-reduction, (64.25±5.77 an aggregate of 28.01%) compared to the control group. Overall mean score of PTSD symptoms reduction, showed changes of value (-25.0 and +0.05) on symptoms reduction in the SR treatment group and control group respectively. The study concludes that, Social Rehabilitation is an effective cultural relevant means in reduction of PTSD Symptoms among IDEs.
  PubDate: 2020-06-01T00:00:00Z
Nutrition education and mobile phone communication intervention improves
self-efficacy to initiate healthy eating practices among undergraduates in
Oyo State, Nigeria
- Authors: Olasumbo Bilikisu Kukoyi; Ademola Mufutau Amosu
  Abstract: The study evaluated the effect of nutrition education and mobile phone communication intervention grounded in PRECEED-PROCEED theory on self-efficacy of undergraduates to initiate healthy eating practices in Oyo State. This study employed a quasi-experimental research design, comprising three experimental groups and one control group in four universities in Oyo State. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 25 undergraduates per institution totaling 100. An adapted and validated semi-structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient for construct was 0.71. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics at p ≤ 0.05 significance level. Findings revealed that between baseline and 8-weeks follow-up, there was a significant increase in the self-efficacy of respondents to initiate healthy eating practices in the experimental groups (NE and MPC x̄=18.34 ± 6.89 to 23.43 ± 6.04, p=0.021; NE x̄=17.87 ± 5.52 to x̄=21.66 ± 6.26, p=0.010) while the experimental group (MPC x̄=18.45 ± 5.27 to 19.16 ± 3.86, p=0.591) and control group (x̄=16.26 ± 3.75 to 16.17 ± 4.43, p=0.946) showed no significant difference. In conclusion, the combination of nutrition education and mobile phone communication intervention was effective in changing undergraduates’ self-efficacy to initiate healthy eating practices.
  PubDate: 2020-06-01T00:00:00Z
Effect of community-based health education on timely referral of high risk
pregnancy by traditional birth attendants in Oyo State, Nigeria
- Authors: Adebayo M. Mustapha; Nnodimele O. Atulomah Catherine O. Agbede
  Abstract: Globally, women of child bearing age are susceptible to emerging life threatening complications and poor pregnancy outcomes with lack of early detection and timely intervention. These complications are responsible for 75% of maternal mortality globally and the burden is significantly high in Nigeria with 814/100,000 live births where deliveries are supervised mostly by traditional birth attendants. This study examined the effect of community-based health education on timely referral practices of high-risk pregnancy by TBAs in Oyo State, Nigeria. This study employed a quasi-experimental design with one-arm intervention group and control. Sample size of 90 participants was computed for the study (45 participants assigned to each group). The study utilized a 58-item validated questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Result showed that at 12th week follow up, a total of 91 referrals were made by the intervention group to referral points. Effect size (ES) at the 12 weeks follow up and respective value at baseline was significant (16.53±0.27, 7.75±0.27, p=0.00, ES=0.94).The study recommended regular training focused on early detection of high risk pregnancy and timely referral for skilled care in collaboration with trained health providers.
  PubDate: 2020-06-01T00:00:00Z
Tweet me slangs : a study of slanguage on Twitter
- Authors: Anjola Robbin
  Abstract: Social media users are estimated at over 3.4 billion netizens known for digitally-mediated language innovations and revolutions on cyberspace referred to as internet language of which slangauge is a subset. Slanguage is incorporating slangs which may be incomprehensible without prior knowledge of their meaning irrespective of language competence during communication on and off cyberspace. Research concerns on internet language has described its forms, motivations, functions as well as impact on English language. Drawing its data from the twitter platform, the concern of this study is to identify popular slangs, domain of use and effect of slanguage on academic and speech performance of university undergraduates. 44 tweets, a self-developed questionnaires administered to 40 randomly selected students from the purposively selected Department of Computer Science, Lead City University, Ibadan, and a three-question twitter poll from 94 participants were subjected to statistical analysis and discussed. Findings shows that slanguage is frequently used amongst undergraduates a habit which is not limited to the cyber space but transferred to both formal and informal domains of communication. Slanguage is used during face-face conversation with friend, formal situations and sometimes during academic writing. Although slanguage is believed to have a negative impact on written English it doesn’t impacts undergraduate academic performance negatively. It is recommended that slanguage should be incorporated in the curriculum as a variety of English to be studied at the secondary and higher institution levels. This will teach origin, meaning, appropriate domain of use as well as when slanguage should be considered errors.
  PubDate: 2020-06-01T00:00:00Z
Validation of the cognitive flexibility scale (CFS) and its application in
adoption of improved cassava technologies among cassava growers in
Tanzania
- Authors: Joel Matiku Joshua; Fatihiya Ally Massawe Amani Ambwilikile Mwakalapuka
  Abstract: This research paper discusses the validation process of the cognitive flexibility scale (CFS) as a measurement instrument for farmers’ cognitive flexibility (CF). The role of CF in influencing behaviour has been established for centuries among psychologists. Thus, individual differences might be among the correlates of adoption of cassava processing technology among farmers. However, lack of an effective instrument to measure farmers’ CF has been limiting the predictive and descriptive potential of farmers’ CF. The instrument was validated in a two stages study with some specific objectives guiding the study namely; assess the instrument’s component structure validity and reliability of CFS, examine whether CFS could categorise farmers’ performance in cognitive flexibility by farmers’ demographics; and whether or not could cognitive flexibility have an influence on farmers’ adoption of cassava farming technologies. In the first stage the instrument was pilot tested in a survey conducted in Serengeti district in Mara region of Tanzania among 200 participants. Principle component Analysis (CPA) indicated that CFS was a three factor scale with good internal consistency (α = 0.85). The three factors found were technology acceptance (α = 0.92), open mindedness (α = 0.86), and adapting to new situations (α = 0.37). In the second stage, a total of 360 participants, of whom 181 were males and 178 were females responded to the CFS. It was found that the improved CFS was a three factor scale reaching an internal consistency of α = 0.85. The three subscales in the CFS were adapting to new farming technologies (α = 0.88), acceptance of new farming technologies (α = 0.86), and open mindedness to other people’s ideas (α = 0.80). The findings further indicate low correlations among the subscales, implying discriminant validity of the scale. In addition to theoretical implications, the paper discusses the measure’s effectiveness and its potential applicability in the field of rural development and with specific focus to adoption of farming technologies. The findings provide support for validity and reliability of the CFS and its multidimensional nature. It is recommended that one needs to consider contextual factors such as the level of cassava processing technology before generalizing the validity and reliability of CFS, and thus, a need for further validation studies of the instrument.
  PubDate: 2020-06-01T00:00:00Z
Alcohol consumption as anticipator of academic performance among
undergraduate students (a case study of Ondo State University of Science
and Technology Okitipupa, Ondo State Nigeria)
- Authors: Akindele Oluwafemi
  Abstract: People are aware that academic performance means how well a student accomplishes his/her tasks and studies, but there are quite a number of factors that predict the level and quality of students’ academic performance. This study looked into alcohol use as predictor of academic performance in engineering among undergraduate students. A survey research design was used. A pilot study was carried out with 50 students to validate and determine the psychometric properties of the questionnaires used in the study. Total of 400 respondents, 228 males and 172 females with ages ranging between 13 and 25 years participated in the study. Three hypotheses formulated and tested using Pearson r, T-test, Anova, and simple regression analysis. The result revealed that there is a significant relationship between alcohol use and academic performance (poor) (R2=0.74, P<.05), there is a significant difference in academic performance of students that drink alcohol and those that do not (R2=12.22, P<.05), there is a significant effect of alcohol consumption on academic performance (R2=4.474, P<.05). The study concluded that alcohol use is a potent predictor of poor academic performance among undergraduate students. It is therefore recommended that perpetual awareness program on dangers inherent in alcohol use among undergraduate students be introduced quarterly across Campuses. Also, Self esteem training should be carried out periodically to get students acquitted that alcohol is not self esteem booster and a grave penalty be meted for those found wanting in order to serve as deterrent to others.
  PubDate: 2020-06-01T00:00:00Z