BEYOND PANDEMIC: THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 LOCKDOWN AND SOCIAL DISTANCING ON THE MENTAL HEALTH OF NIGERIAN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

Authors

  • Abiola Yetunde OJO
  • Olubisi Adetola ADEYEMI
  • Omolara Titilola JENFA
  • Abimbola Oladoyin OLADELE
  • Adeola Aderonke OLAJIDE

Keywords:

healthy development, children, adolescents, COVID-19 pandemic, mental health

Abstract

   COVID-19 disease has posed a great challenge to human development due to the implementation of social confinement and distancing by most countries of the world in an attempt to curtail its spread. Researchers have documented that some effects resulting from the stressful experiences of COVID -19 pandemic such as lockdown and social distancing measure could be seen now while others would manifest in the nearest future. Despite this, there is paucity of studies on the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of children and adolescents. It is against this background that this study investigated the impact of COVID-19 lockdown and social distancing on the mental health of Nigerian children and adolescents. Three hundred school-aged children and adolescents (101males and 199 females) from three federal government secondary schools in Oyo, Ogun and Lagos states were randomly selected to participate in the study. Descriptive research design of correlation type was used in the study. Data were collected through two standardized scales which were self- administered and was randomly distributed to participants in their various schools. Statistical package for social sciences (SPSSv16) was used to analyze the data collected; specifically Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) and multiple regression statistics. Three research questions were raised and answered in the study. The result showed that mental health was significantly correlated with COVID-19 lockdown (r=0.640, p<0.05) and social distancing (r=0.198, p<0.05); independent variables  (COVID-19 lockdown and social distancing) when combined together have significant impact on the mental health of children and adolescents (R=913 & adjusted R2=831) which means that the independent variables accounted for 83% in the prediction of  mental health and each of the independent variables made a significant contribution to the prediction of mental health. In terms of magnitude of the contribution:  COVID-19 lockdown has the most impact on mental health of children and adolescents (β=3.898, t=13.348, p<0.05) followed by social distancing (β=1.870, t=26.657, p<0.05). Developmental and counselling psychologists should adopt, adapt and design effective psychological interventions that would help to minimize the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of Nigerian children and adolescents so as to ensure and promote their positive and healthy development.   

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Published

2022-04-18

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Vol. 24 No. 3 (2021): AFRICAN JOURNAL FOR THE PSYCHOLOGICAL STUDIES OF SOCIAL ISSUES

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