School life in COVID-19 post-lockdown: differential effects of socio-demographics and adjustments on mental health indicators among university students.

We examined the differential effects of some socio-demographic; and the separate and interactive effects of types of adjustments on university students' mental health indicators (somatic symptoms, anxiety/insomnia, social dysfunction and depression). In a cross-sectional approach, we selected 603 undergraduates (Mage = 21.88, SD = 2.25) from a Nigerian university who answered a structured questionnaire that included measures of studied variables from June to August 2021. No gender difference was observed in students' mental health indicators. Social dysfunction was most reported by 3rd year students; while those from separated homes reported both anxiety and depression most. Somatic symptoms, social dysfunction, anxiety, and depression were higher among students with poor academic, social, emotional, or attachment adjustments. Students who struggled academically and socially reported more social symptoms; whereas those who struggled academically and emotionally were more depressed. Additionally, students with low social and attachment adjustments reported higher social dysfunction and depression; while those with low academic, emotional, and attachment adjustments reported higher anxiety and depression. Adjustment mechanisms are essential for students to enjoy good mental health during COVID-19 post-lockdown irrespective of their gender; especially those from broken homes. Psychological supports are regularly required to improve students' mental health during COVID-19 post-lockdown.

Differential effect of gender, marital status, religion, ethnicity, education and employment status on mental health during COVID-19 lockdown in Nigeria.

We examine the differential effect of gender, marital status, ethnicity, religion, education and employment status on mental health indicators (successful coping, stress & self-esteem) during COVID-19 lockdown in Nigeria. Applying a cross sectional approach, we administered an anonymised online questionnaire to select 353 individuals (mean age = 34.84, SD = 11.19) from 17 April to 24 May 2020. Married individuals coped better, were less stressed and reported high self-esteem. Christians were less stressed and have high self-esteem. Yoruba ethnic group coped better and were high in self-esteem, while Igbo ethnic group was less stressed. Also, postgraduate degree holders coped well; secondary education holders were highly stressed; while first degree holders were high in self-esteem. Self-employed respondents successfully coped, while the unemployed were high in stress and low in self-esteem. Marital status and employment status directly and interactively affected overall mental health. Officially employed persons reported higher self-esteem and less stress. Married females, single males and self-employed males coped better, while self-employed singles recorded highest stress. No gender difference was observed in mental health indicators. The degree of differences in Nigerians' mental health indicators according to socio-demographics and the importance in improving mental health during and post COVID-19 pandemic are highlighted.

Toward understanding the mental health of nigerian residents during lockdown: the influence of age and vulnerability to COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 remains a global threat with huge implications on people's mental health, especially during the period of lockdown. However, little is known about this in the working-age population in Nigeria. AIMS: To examine differences in mental health indicators (successful coping, stress and lowered self-esteem) among individuals within the working age of 18-65 years in Nigeria based on their age and self-perceived vulnerability to COVID-19. METHODS: In a snowball sampling method, 345 participants (219 males and 126 females) of age between 18 to 65 years (mean age = 34.79, SD = 11.18) were recruited from 16 April through 1 May 2020, via online survey containing demographics and studied variables. RESULTS: Age and self-perceived vulnerability to COVID-19 have significant separate influence on coping, stress and self-esteem. Younger individuals scored lower in coping and self-esteem; and higher in stress. However, individuals who scored low in self-perceived vulnerability to COVID-19 were higher in coping and self-esteem; and lower in stress. CONCLUSIONS: Age and self-perceived vulnerability to COVID-19 are vital in determining levels of coping, stress and self-esteem among working-age population in Nigeria during COVID-19 pandemic. Psychological interventions are suggested to improve emotional and behavioural adjustments; and personal value during the pandemic.

Menstrual attitude dimensions, Anxiety and Body Esteem in adolescent girls.

One of the horrifying experiences that adolescent girls endure is menstruation. Understanding how some individual-related factors affect menstrual attitudes has substantial implications for coping with difficulties that come with it. We tested the direct and interactive effect of anxiety and body esteem dimensions (attribution, weight & appearance) on dimensions of menstrual attitudes (debilitating, bothersome, natural, prediction & denial) among adolescent girls in Ibadan, Nigeria. This is a cross- sectional survey of 276 secondary schools girls aged 12-19 years (M= 14.89, SD= 1.46). Multivariate Analysis of Variance results revealed adolescent girls with lower anxiety reported positive menstrual attitude by anticipating the onset of menstruation. Body esteem-appearance directly influenced both debilitating and bothersome dimensions of menstrual attitude; suggesting girls with higher body esteem for appearance positively accept menstrual experience as weakening and inconvenient. Interactively, anxiety and appearance dimension of body esteem influenced prediction dimension; likewise anxiety, weight and attribution dimensions of body esteem. It is concluded that body esteem and less anxiety are important for adolescent girls' positive menstrual attitudinal change. Thus, reduced apprehension and high self-respect for body appearance and weight are recommended for accepting menstruation as a normal bodily function occurrence during a woman's reproductive lifespan.

Death Anxiety From Quality of Life and Emotional Impact of Event: A Case Study of Proximate Earwitnesses of Dana Air Crash in Nigeria.

The study investigated the traumatic impact of the Dana 2012 plane crash in Lagos, Nigeria. Using a cross-sectional survey, the roles of quality of life (QoL) and impact of event were examined against death anxiety of the proximate inhabitants of the crash site. Result showed significant influence of QoL on death anxiety, with higher QoL participants manifesting higher levels of death anxiety. However, impact of the crash event and demographic indicators such as age, sex, pilot preference, and belief-in-life after death did not influence death anxiety of participants. It can be concluded from these results that the perception of higher QoL has a profound influence on death anxiety of people reminiscing mortality reminders no matter their age, sex, beliefs, and life preferences. It is recommended that anxious death-related experiences be prevented in all spheres of life in pursuit of safety and sound mental health of the people.

Psychosocial factors predicting risky sexual behaviour among long distance truck drivers in Lagos, Nigeria.

Long distance truck drivers (LDTDs) have been identified as one of the groups at higher risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Understanding how certain social and psychological variables that have a strong theoretical basis contribute to sexual risk behaviour will guide in the implementation process of HIV risk-reduction intervention in the trucking population. In line with the conceptualisation of Information, Motivation and Behavioural skills model, we examined the extent that HIV knowledge, attitude towards condom use, peer support to condom use, perceived vulnerability to HIV/AIDS, and condom use self-efficacy will independently and jointly explain sexual risk behaviours of LDTDs in a haulage company in Lagos, Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey design was used and 154 drivers with ages ranging from 27 to 68 years (M = 44.03, SD = 8.82) completed copies of a questionnaire comprising demographics and measures of psychological variables. Psychological factors that included HIV knowledge, attitude towards condom use, perceived vulnerability to HIV/AIDS, peer support to condom use, and condom use self-efficacy significantly jointly predicted sexual risk behaviours (R2 = .59, F(5, 148) = 42.63; p < .05), by accounting for about 59% of the explained variance in sexual risk behaviours. Social factors that included age, number of years of education, number of wives, number of intercourses in the last three months, number of partners apart from primary partners, and number of weeks spent outside home significantly jointly predicted sexual risk behaviour (R2 = .15, F(6, 147) = 4.39; p < .05) by accounting for about 15% of the explained variance in sexual risk behaviour among the drivers. It is concluded that all the psychological and social factors examined as predictor variables could jointly play important roles in prevention intervention programmes for reducing sexual risk behaviours of LDTDs. Stakeholders should sensitise LDTDs on the need to realise that they are a high-risk group and are more vulnerable to HIV infection; thus, behaviour change is indispensable in their sexual relationships.

Examining maternal age, breastfeeding self-efficacy and health locus of control in psychological wellbeing of mothers.

We investigated the direct and interaction influence of maternal age, breastfeeding self-efficacy (BSE), health locus of control (HLOC) on six dimensions of psychological wellbeing of breastfeeding mothers in Lagos, Nigeria. Data were collected from a convenience sample of 291 mothers attending health facilities in two suburb local government areas. The survey included socio-demographics (maternal age, marital status, ethnicity, education level and position of the baby currently breastfeeding), breastfeeding self-efficacy, health locus of control and psychological wellbeing scales. Independent variables were tested against sense of autonomy, positive relations with others, purpose in life, self-acceptance, environmental mastery and personal growth using factorial Multivariate Analysis of Variance. Results showed direct influence of BSE, HLOC and maternal age on various dimensions of psychological wellbeing. Interaction influences indicate BSE and HLOC on environmental mastery; BSE and maternal age on self-acceptance and HLOC and maternal age on sense of autonomy, positive relationship with others and self-acceptance respectively. In conclusion, maternal age, breastfeeding self-efficacy and health locus of control are vital for mothers to enjoy plenty dimensions of psychological wellbeing. Breastfeeding mothers need to be confident in their abilities to breastfeed and have control over their health-related behaviour in order to enjoy sufficient dimensions of psychological wellbeing.