Influence of Psychological Resilience, Attachment Style and Family Dysfunction on Perceived Childhood Trauma Experience Among Adolescents’ Secondary School Students In Abuja, Nigeria

• Author(s): Kwasedoo Martha Ngbea PhD ; Moses Ejeh Omenka ; Okechukwu Emmanuel ; Joseph Terkura Uchir PhD ; Josephine Mbafan Uwouku
• Paper ID: 1708145
• Page: 1383-1412
• Published Date: 14-05-2025
• Published In: Iconic Research And Engineering Journals
• Publisher: IRE Journals
• e-ISSN: 2456-8880
• Volume/Issue: Volume 8 Issue 10 April-2025

Abstract

Childhood trauma has become a major social public-health problem worldwide, of which child evokes fear and is commonly violent, dangerous, or life-threatening. This present study examined the influence of psychological resilience, attachment style and family dysfunction on perceived childhood trauma experience among adolescents’ secondary school students in Abuja, Nigeria. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey design approach and the simple random sampling technique which was used to select, two hundred and eighty (280) participants across selected secondary schools in Abuja; with their demographic characteristics showing (Male = 125 (44.6%), and (Female = 155(55.4%). In addition to providing demographic data, participants responded to (5) standardized self-report questionnaires. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. On the whole, four hypotheses were formulated and inferentially tested at 0.05 level of significant. Participants’ responses were analysed using multiple regression analysis, and independent sample t-test. Results of the study showed that psychological resilience (? = -.324, t = -10.541; p = p>.006) did not influence childhood trauma experience. Also, result shows that attachment styles[R2 = .831; F (4, 275) = 337.925; p<.000] jointly predicted childhood trauma experience, while observation of coefficient of determination shows that attachment styles significantly accounted for 83.1% of the total variance observed in childhood experience. Additionally, result revealed influence of family dysfunction (? = .915, t = .107; p<.000) in childhood trauma experience. Moreso, there was no statistically significant difference between males and females student (t (278) = -1.214; p>.226) in childhood trauma experience. Based on the findings, this study recommends amongst others that; adolescents who experience emotional abuse, emotional neglect or any kind of childhood trauma should be closely assisted to develop resilience. Also, there is need of screening for childhood trauma in individuals with personality disorders and implies that attachment-centered psychotherapy for the adolescents’ may benefit from prior or concurrent trauma treatment. Lastly, practicing psychologists should develop programs on family relationships improvement, parent and child relationship therapy.

Keywords

Psychological Resilience, Attachment Styles, Family Dysfunction on Perceived Childhood Trauma Experience

Citations

IRE Journals:
Kwasedoo Martha Ngbea PhD , Moses Ejeh Omenka , Okechukwu Emmanuel , Joseph Terkura Uchir PhD , Josephine Mbafan Uwouku "Influence of Psychological Resilience, Attachment Style and Family Dysfunction on Perceived Childhood Trauma Experience Among Adolescents’ Secondary School Students In Abuja, Nigeria" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals Volume 8 Issue 10 2025 Page 1383-1412

IEEE:
Kwasedoo Martha Ngbea PhD , Moses Ejeh Omenka , Okechukwu Emmanuel , Joseph Terkura Uchir PhD , Josephine Mbafan Uwouku "Influence of Psychological Resilience, Attachment Style and Family Dysfunction on Perceived Childhood Trauma Experience Among Adolescents’ Secondary School Students In Abuja, Nigeria" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, 8(10)