DEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES, COPING BEHAVIOUR AND PERSONALITY TRAITS AS PREDICTORS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH AMONG IN-PATIENTS’ VICTIMS OF ROAD ACCIDENT IN BENUE STATE

Abstract

This study investigated demographic variables, coping behavior and personality traits as predictors of psychological health among in-patient victims of road traffic accident in Benue state. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted. A total of 314 in-patient victims of road traffic accident consisting of 235 males and 79 females, both young and old with (mean =2.47) were sampled using cluster sampling, convenience sampling and purposive sampling approaches. Coping Behavior Scale, Big Five Personality Inventory and the General Health Questionnaire were used for data collection. Five hypotheses were generated and tested using univariate analysis of variance and multiple regression and the result indicated that there was no significant main effect of sex on psychological health among in-patient victims of road traffic accident. There was no significant main effect of age on psychological health among victims of road accident. Additionally, there was significant main effect of coping behavior on psychological health among victims of road accident. The results also revealed that there was significant interactive effect of sex, age and coping behavior on psychological health among the studied population. Personality traits significantly predicted psychological health, whereas, independently only neuroticism, extraversion and openness proved to be significant. Therefore, the hospitals involved in the provision of health care to road traffic accidents should provide them with training for adaptive coping and also, personality assessment to identify those with neuroticism trait to help them for better psychological health.