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Big-Five Personality Traits and Depression Among Parents of Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Makurdi, Nigeria

Fateman Iorlumun, Pauline Aiingona Atsehe, Samuel Terzungwe Anhange, Aondofa, Alejir

Abstract

Parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders have over the years suffered from multiple stressors such as the trauma of their children’s suffering, financial challenges, physical stress and bleakness of their children not having the desired future. More so, personality differences and irrational beliefs have also shaped parents’ inclinations to depression. These factors serve as critical predispositions to depression which are yet to be tested in research among parents of neurodevelopmental disorders. To this end, the study investigated big five personality traits and cognitive behavioural therapy on depression. This study investigated big-five personality traits and depression among parents of children with neuro-developmental disorders in Makurdi, Nigeria. The study adopted cross-sectional survey and quasi-experimental (mix-method) design. This study used simple random sampling technique to draw the 50 parents of children with neuro- developmental disorders. The participants comprised of 17 (24.3%) males and 53 (75.7%) females. Their ages ranged from 26 – 53 years with a mean age of 39.04 years (SD=13.31). The instruments used for data collection include; Big Five Inventory and Beck’s Depression Inventory. Data analysis was done using Simple Linear Regression, and Standard multiple regression. Findings indicated that there was a significant negative influence of openness to experience on depression among parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders in Makurdi Nigeria. There was a significant negative influence of conscientiousness on depression among parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders in Makurdi Nigeria. There was a significant negative influence of extraversion on depression among parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders in Makurdi Nigeria. There was a significant negative influence of agreeableness on depression among parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders in Makurdi Nigeria. There was a significant positive influence of neuroticism on depression among parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders in Makurdi Nigeria. There was a significant joint influence of the big-five personality traits on depression among parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders in Makurdi Nigeria. It was concluded that all the dimensions of the Big Five personality traits are significant determinants of depression among parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders in Makurdi Nigeria. The recommends among others that the hospital management of Benue State University Teaching Hospital Makurdi should make provision for the clinical assessment of parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders who present to the hospital. The assessment should pick up parents’ level of openness to experience and determine if they need more close support, since high openness indicates higher likelihood of exploring more medical options for treating neurodevelopmental disorders. Key words: Big-Five Personality Traits, Depression, Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Keywords

Big-Five Personality TraitsDepressionNeurodevelopmental Disorders

References

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