Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has consistently been established as one of the major mental health outcomes in traumatized populations. Inthe light previous research attempts to examine its causes and proffer solutions however, rates of PTSD have remained consistently high, especially in war-torn populations. This study therefore examined hope, resilience and social support as factors influencing PTSD among Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Biu, Borno state. The research design was a cross-sectional survey that utilized purposive sampling technique to recruit 116 IDPs orchestrated by the Boko-Haram insurgency. Standardized psychological instruments assessing hope, resilience, social support and PTSD were administered on well-consented and eligible participants. Four objectives, later transformed into hypotheses, examined independent and joint influence of the predictor variables on the outcome variable. Results using multiple regression indicated a significant influence of hope (β= 0.99, t = -.82, P<.05) and social support (β =-.24,t= -.2.39, P<.05) on PTSD, while resilience was not a significant factor in PTSD reported by the IDPs. Further results showed a significant joint influence of hope, resilience and social support on PTSD[R =.247, R2= 0.61, F (3,112) =2.434, P<.05]. These results have revealed the relevance of instilling hope and providing social support to Internally Displaced Persons as strategy of managing the negative impact of displacement on their mental health. Governmental and Non-governmental organizations should take cognizance of these factors to reduce the rate of PTSD among IDPs in Biu and beyond.
Keywords: Hope, Internally Displaced Persons, posttraumatic stress disorder
