Risk and Protective Factors Associated with Adolescent Psychosocial Adjustment: The Roles of Adverse Childhood Experiences, Gratitude, and Self-Compassion among In-School Adolescents in Ibadan, Nigeria (Published)
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
Relationship between Meaning in life, Psychological Wellbeing, and Depression in Elderly (Published)
The current study aims to know the relationship Meaning in life, and Psychological Wellbeing and Depression in Elderly. The study sample consisted of (70) males and females, (35 females, 35 males) and their age ranged between (60 to 75) years with an average and a standard deviation 66.2±4.4) years. The years of education ranged between (8-15) years with mean and standard deviation of (12.3 ±2.8) years. The research tools were the The Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Psychological Well-Being. The results of the statistical analysis of the data revealed a positive correlation between Meaning in life and Well-Bing, Negative correlation between meaning in life and depression, negative correlation between welling and depression.
Citation: Basher E. (2022) Relationship between Meaning in life, Psychological Wellbeing, and Depression in Elderly, British Journal of Psychology Research, Vol.10, No. 2, pp., 23-29
Keywords: Depression, Elderly, meaning in life, psychological-wellbeing