Influence of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Death Anxiety on Mental Wellbeing Among Internally Displaced Persons in Yelewata, Guma Local Government Area, Benue State-Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the psychosocial factors influencing postpartum depression among pregnant women in Makurdi Local Government Area (LGA), Benue State. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted for the study. The participants consisted of 282 internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Yelewata community in Guma LGA, aged between 18 and 41 years. Participants responded to the Mental Wellbeing Scale (MWS), Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Scale (PTSD), and Death Anxiety Scale (DAS). Three hypotheses were tested using simple linear regression and standard multiple regression. The first hypothesis indicated that posttraumatic stress disorder negatively and significantly influenced mental wellbeing among IDPs in Yelewata community [F (1, 281) = 294.760; P < .01]. The second hypothesis showed that death anxiety negatively and significantly influenced mental wellbeing among the participants [F (1, 280) = 105.614; P < .01]. The third hypothesis revealed that posttraumatic stress disorder and death anxiety jointly and significantly influenced mental wellbeing among IDPs [F (2, 279) = 161.424; P < .01]. It was concluded that posttraumatic stress disorder and death anxiety have a significant joint influence on mental wellbeing among IDPs in Yelewata community, Guma LGA. Therefore, it was recommended that the government, in conjunction with NGOs, should increase funding and resources for mental health services targeted specifically at IDPs, and collaborate with local and national authorities to develop policies that prioritize mental health care for displaced populations.