Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are well-established risk factors for adolescent psychosocial maladjustment, yet the extent to which dispositional psychological resources such as gratitude and self-compassion offset this risk remains underexplored in sub-Saharan African contexts. Anchored on salutogenic theory (Antonovsky, 1987), this study examined ACEs, gratitude, and self-compassion as correlates of psychosocial difficulties (primary outcome) and psychological wellbeing (secondary outcome) among adolescents in Ibadan, Nigeria. Using a cross-sectional survey design, 300 in-school adolescents (n = 111 males, n = 189 females; Mage = 15.98 years, SD = 1.47) were recruited via multistage sampling from three local government areas. Participants completed the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (ACE-Q), the Gratitude Questionnaire-6 (GQ-6), the Self-Compassion Scale-Short Form (SCS-SF), the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), and the Ryff Psychological Wellbeing Scale (RYFF-18). Hierarchical regression analyses showed that, after controlling for age and gender, ACEs, gratitude, and self-compassion jointly explained 10.7% of the variance in psychosocial difficulties, F(3, 294) = 11.50, p < .001. ACEs emerged as the strongest risk factor (β = .34, p < .001), whereas self-compassion was a significant protective factor (β = −.11, p = .049). Gratitude was unexpectedly associated with greater difficulties (β = .16, p = .006). Subscale analyses indicated that ACEs were the strongest predictor of emotional symptoms, conduct problems, and reduced prosocial behaviour. The wellbeing model was modest (R² = .038, p = .041), with gratitude approaching significance (β = .12, p = .051). Findings highlight cumulative adversity as the primary driver of psychosocial maladjustment and identify self-compassion as a potentially valuable target for school-based mental health interventions.
Keywords: Adolescents, Nigeria, adverse childhood experiences, gratitude, psychological-wellbeing, psychosocial difficulties, self-compassion
