IIARD International Institute of Academic Research and Development

JOURNAL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL POLICY (JHSP )

E-ISSN 2545-5729
P-ISSN 2695 2416
VOL. 11 NO. 5 2025
DOI: 10.56201/jhsp.vol.11.no5.2025.pg10.20

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Hardiness, Loneliness and Psychological Distress among Elderly People in Benue-Northwest

Joy Iember Nenger, Ajonye Alan Anyalewa PhD

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Abstract

This study investigated hardiness, loneliness and psychological distress among elderly people in Benue-Northwest. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted among 384 elderly people comprising of 219 (57%) males and 165 (43%) females. Their ages ranged from 61-78years with a mean age of 67.003years (SD=5.839). Multi-stage sampling technique was used to draw the participants for the study. The UCLA Loneliness Scale, Hardiness Scale and the Kessler’s Psychological Distress Scale were used for data collection. Multiple linear regression, simple linear regression, and standard multiple regression were used for data analysis. The result indicated that there was a significant influence of hardiness on psychological distress among elderly people. Furthermore, all the dimensions of hardiness; challenge, control and commitment made significant negative contributions to psychological distress. The result also indicated that there was a significant influence of loneliness on psychological distress among elderly people. The result also indicated that there was a significant joint influence of hardiness and loneliness on psychological distress among elderly people. It was recommended that Geriatric Psychologists should develop a hardiness skills curriculum which can be used for psychoeducational purpose in helping elderly people understand how to cope with distressing conditions in their older ages.

keywords:

Hardiness, Loneliness, Psychological Distress, Elderly People

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