Journal of Professional Counselling and Psychotherapy Research

VALIDATION OF HOSPITAL ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION SCALE AMONG STROKE SURVIVORS IN NORTHWEST NIGERIA

Aminu Saidu — 2025-12-11

The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was initially developed to assess anxiety and depression in the medical outpatients’ clinic. HADS has been variously validated among clients with different illness in various countries including Nigeria. This study contributes to clinical mental health counselling by investigating the use of HADs among outpatient stroke survivors in Northwest Nigeria. The cross-sectional survey design was use to select a total of fifty (50) stroke survivors (25 males, 25 females) that came for physiotherapy at the Murtala Muhammadu Specialist Hospital, Kano. The respondents were aged between 25 and 65 years. Data analysis was conducted using Reliability analysis and Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) in SPSS (version 20). The results showed that the internal consistency reliability yielded a reliable Cronbach’s alpha for the anxiety (HADS-A), and depression (HADS-D) subscales and a higher Cronbach’s alpha for the total scale (HADS). This indicated that the subscales and the HADS total have adequate internal consistency. The EFA results indicated items loading above 0.40 and eigenvalues greater than one with scree plot illustrating two factors exactly before the bend. These verified the two-dimensional structure of HADS and its usefulness in assessing its’ constructs among outpatient stroke survivors. Therefore, the HADS is reliable and valid for use among stroke survivors in Northwest Nigeria.

PREDICTIVE ROLES OF SELF-ESTEEM, SCHOOL TYPE AND TRUANCY ON CAREER DECISION-MAKING AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN OWERRI NORTH, IMO STATE, NIGERIA

Miracle I Kennedy — 2025-12-11

This study investigated the predictive role of self-esteem, school type, and truancy on career decision-making among 624 secondary school students (306 males, 318 females) in Owerri North, Imo State, Nigeria. Participants, aged 13-18 years (M = 15.50, SD = 1.23), were drawn from five secondary schools (two public and three private): Government Boys College, Imo Girls Secondary School, Premier International School, Madonna Model Secondary School, and Noble-Star Academy. Three hypotheses were postulated and tested using a cross-sectional survey design. Data were collected using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), School Truancy Questionnaire (STQ), and Career Decision Making Scale (CDMS). Multiple regression analysis revealed that self-esteem strongly and positively predicted career decision-making, while school type weakly and positively predicted career decision-making. Truancy, weakly and negatively predicted career decision-making. The findings suggest that comprehensive career development programs and interventions incorporating self-esteem enhancement, career exploration, and education on regular school attendance can help students make informed career decisions. The study recommends among other things that educators and counsellors design and implement such programs and interventions to promote self-esteem and career development among secondary school students.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SPIRITUALITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG HEALTHCARE WORKERS

Emmanuel Sochukwuma Ezaka — 2025-12-11

This study examined relationship between spirituality and quality of life among healthcare workers and investigated the moderating role of emotional intelligence. A total of 141 healthcare professionals (74 males, 67 females), aged 18–53 years, participated in the study. The sample consisted of 84 single, 55 married, and 2 divorced individuals. Participants completed the WHOQOL-BREF, the Schutte Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test (SSEIT), and the Spiritual Index of Well-Being (SIWB). A correlational research design was adopted, and six hypotheses were tested using moderated multiple regression analysis. Results indicated that emotional intelligence did not significantly predict quality of life among healthcare workers. However, emotional intelligence significantly moderated the relationship between spirituality and quality of life. Of the emotional intelligence dimensions, utilizing emotion and managing others’ emotions significantly moderated the spirituality–quality of life relationship, whereas emotional perception and managing self-relevant emotions did not. These findings highlight the value of integrating spirituality and components of emotional intelligence within healthcare settings. Programs that foster spiritual reflection, meaning-making, and emotional regulation may help reduce stress and burnout among healthcare providers. Furthermore, incorporating emotional intelligence and spirituality training into healthcare education curricula may enhance the development of self-awareness, empathy, and compassion among emerging profession. The study is limited by the sample size, its reliance on self-report measures, which may introduce social desirability bias, and by the use of a non-random, region-specific sample, which may restrict the generalizability of the findings to other healthcare populations.

SOCIAL SUPPORT AND MALADAPTIVE COGNITION AS PREDICTORS OF MARITAL SATISFACTION

Joy Uche Nzenweaku — 2025-12-11

This research delved into social support and maladaptive cognition as predictors of marital satisfaction. The study involved a sample of three hundred and fifty married adult (175 males, and 175 females), comprised of academic and non-academic staff of the University of Nigeria Nsukka. Selected from Odenigwe, Odim, and Hilltop residential areas, and within an age bracket of 27 to 66 years, with a mean age of 22.17 years (SD = 2.80). The study hypothesized that maladaptive cognition would not significantly predict marital satisfaction, social support would not substantially predict marital satisfaction, and social support would not significantly have a positive association between maladaptive cognition and marital satisfactionmong married adults. The investigation employed three assessment tools: the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), the Maladaptive Interpersonal Belief Scale (MIBS), and the Marital Satisfaction Scale (MSS). Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was utilized to empirically examine the study. The findings of the hierarchical multiple analysis indicated that maladaptive cognition did not significantly predict marital satisfaction, social support distinctly and positively predicted marital satisfaction, and ultimately, social support did not moderate the interplay between maladaptive cognition and marital satisfaction. The implications and constraints of this research encompass the limited sample size and potential social desirability biases in questionnaire responses, suggesting that future investigations should encompass larger population sizes and encompass diverse geographic locations and ethnic demographics.