INFLUENCE OF MARITAL STATUS AND GENDER ON THE LEVEL OF POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER, DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY AMONG INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS IN NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

The study examined the influence of marital status and gender on the level of Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Depression and Anxiety among Internally Displaced Persons in Nigeria, a total number of six hundred and Ninety –Seven Participants were selected for the study. Three scale were used to gather data for the study, these includes the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder scale which have the reliability coefficient of 0.80, the Hamilton Anxiety scale which have reliability of 0.71,Centre for Epidemiology Studies Depression Screening with reliability of 0.69-0.89. The study tested four hypothesis which are marital status will have a significant difference in the experience of PTSD among the Internally Displaced in Nigeria ,marital Status will have significant difference in the experience of Depression among the Internally Displaced Persons in Nigeria , marital Status will have a significant difference in the experience of Anxiety among the Internally Displaced in Nigeria and There will be a significant sex difference in the experience of PTSD, Depression  and Anxiety   among the internally displaced persons in Nigeria. Using Analysis of Variance and Independent t Test, result indicates that depression [F (3, 1061) = 7.78, p < .0001, partial η2 = .02] and PTSD [F (3, 1061) = 3.33, p = .01, partial η2 = .01] were significantly influenced by marital status. However, the effect of marital status on anxiety [F (3, 1061) = .61, p = .61] was not significant. The study therefore concluded that marital status does have influence on level of PTSD experienced by Internally Displaced Persons in Nigeria, marital status does have influence on level of Depression experienced by Internally Displaced Persons in Nigeria, marital Status do not have influence on level of Anxiety experienced by Internally Displaced Persons in Nigeria, sex do not influence the level of PTSD, Depression and Anxiety experienced by Internally Displaced Persons in Nigeria. The study recommended cognitive behaviour therapy for the internally displaced persons.

Keywords: Marital Status, Gender, PTSD, Depression, Anxiety, Internally Displaced Persons.