PERSONALITY TRAITS AS PREDICTORS OF PARENTING STRESS AMONG CAREGIVERS OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISM IN LAGOS, NIGERIA

Authors

  • OBASI C. C. Department of Psychology,University of Ibadan
  • OSINOWO H. O. Department of Psychology,University of Ibadan
  • FASHOLA T. M. Department of Psychology,University of Ibadan

Keywords:

Parenting Stress, Personality Traits, Autism, Caregiver

Abstract

The study investigated personality traits as predictors of parenting stress among caregivers of children with autism. Ex-post-facto, using the cross-sectional design was adopted and data was gathered from randomly selected parents of autistic children, attending Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital Annex in Oshodi, Yaba, Lagos. Gender distribution of the parents revealed that most of them 71.4% were females, while the other 28.6% were males. Findings revealed that Personality traits (extroversion, neuroticism, openness, agreeableness and conscientiousness) were no joint determinants of all the dimensions of parenting stress. However, agreeableness (β = .45, t= 2.38, p<.05), conscientiousness (β = .39, t= 2.07, p<.05) had a significant independent influence on socio-emotional distress; and extraversion (β = -.35, t= -2.06, p<.05) had significant independent influence on long termed disruptive dependence. It was recommended that as much as care is needed for the autistic child, there is need to profile the personality of the primary caregivers of the autistic child. Profiling the personality traits will assist in equipping the parent with essential training that goes with the personality. This will further improve the care that will be given to the autistic child

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Published

2018-07-26

Issue

Vol. 21 No. 2 (2018): AFRICAN JOURNAL FOR THE PSYCHOLOGICAL STUDY OF SOCIAL ISSUES

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