Psychosocial Predictors of Depressive Symptoms Among Adolescents and Young Adults in Nigeria: The Role of Resilience, Social Support, and Sensation-Seeking Traits. (Preprint)
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: BACKGROUND Depression is a significant public health issue among adolescents and young adults (AYAs) in Nigeria. The limited healthcare resources shift the burden of mental health disorders to family members and close friends. Resilience, social support, and sensation-seeking traits have been reported to be linked with depressive symptoms; however, only a few studies have examined these relationships in Nigeria. OBJECTIVE This study, therefore, investigates how resilience, social support, and sensation-seeking traits correlate with the presence of depressive symptoms among adolescents and young adults in Nigeria. METHODS This cross-sectional study utilized baseline data collected from AYA participants aged 14-24 years who were enrolled in a stepped-wedge cluster-randomized controlled trial on the Innovative Tool to Expand Youth-friendly HIV Self-testing from May to September 2021. Participants were recruited from 32 local government areas across 14 states and 4 geopolitical zones in Nigeria. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 29.0. Multiple logistic regression was used to explore how resilience, social support, and sensation-seeking traits were correlated with depressive symptoms (Presence of depressive symptoms was defined as a score of 3 and above on the PHQ-2 scale). RESULTS A total of 1,549 participants completed the baseline analysis, with 50.1% being male and a mean age of 19.89 (SD = 2.65). Most (69.2%) participants had completed secondary education, 60.7% were unemployed, and 65.5% made < $13.40 per month. Most participants (90.1%) reported high social support, whereas 34.5% demonstrated high resilience and 25.1% exhibited high sensation-seeking traits. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 26.5%. Youth with low resilience were more likely to experience depressive symptoms compared to youth with higher resilience (OR = 2.01, 95% CI: 1.29 – 3.12). Similarly, youths with low social support were two times more likely to have depressive symptoms compared to those with higher social support (OR = 2.04, 95% CI: 1.07 – 3.86). The odds of depressive symptoms among those with high sensation seeking were 1.57 times higher (OR = 1.57, CI: 1.06 – 2.31) than the odds among those with low sensation seeking traits. Interaction terms between resilience, social support and sensation seeking traits were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS Enhancing resilience and social support among Nigerian youth may help them to cope with depressive symptoms. CLINICALTRIAL NCT04710784 INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT RR2-https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cct.2021.106628
Authors: Temitope Ojo, Ebenezer Adeoti, Caven N. Ngoe, Titilola Gbaja-Biamila, Peter Kalulu, Olufunto A. Olusanya, Ashley Bardon, Chiyere Arinze, Lateef Akeem Blessing, Folahanmi T. Akinsolu, Jane Okwuzu, Hong Xian, Chisom Obiezu-Umeh, David Oladele, Ucheoma Nwaozuru, Adesola Z. Musa, Collins O. Airhihenbuwa, Nora Rosenberg, Rhonda BeLue, Donaldson F. Conserve, Jason J. Ong, Lei Zhang, Susan Nkengasong, Weiming Tang, Olugbenga G. Ogedegbe, Joseph D. Tucker, Oliver Ezechi, Juliet Iwelunmor
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7167622363