Depressive symptoms in the adolescent child

Examining the moderating roles of maternal employment and paternal absence

Authors

  • Chiedozie Okechukwu Okafor Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
  • Uzochukwu Chukwuka Chinweze Nigeria Police Force Enugu State Command, Nigeria
  • Ifeoma Loveleen Nwagbo Nigerian Airforce, Enugu

Keywords:

adolescent child, maternal employment, paternal absence, adolescents’ depression, caregiving, parenthood

Abstract

The study investigated influence of maternal employment and paternal absence on adolescents’ depression. The participants comprised two hundred and sixteen (216) students drawn from secondary schools in the Southeast of Nigeria. Participants’ age ranged from 12 -18 years with a mean age of 14.6 years. The instrument used for data collection was Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) (Beck, 1961). A 2- way analysis of variance (F- test) used for data analysis indicates statistically significant influence of maternal employment on adolescents’ depression, F(1, 212) = 4.13, p< 05; non-significant influence of paternal absence on adolescents’ depression, and non-significant interaction of maternal employment and paternal absence on adolescents’ depression. It was concluded that the provider-status of the mother is psychologically healthy for the adolescent child.

Author Biographies

Chiedozie Okechukwu Okafor, Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Department of Psychology

Ifeoma Loveleen Nwagbo, Nigerian Airforce, Enugu

Intelligence Department

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Published

2018-08-12

How to Cite

Okafor, C. O., Chinweze, U. C., & Nwagbo, I. L. (2018). Depressive symptoms in the adolescent child: Examining the moderating roles of maternal employment and paternal absence. Practicum Psychologia, 7(2). Retrieved from https://journals.aphriapub.com/index.php/PP/article/view/412

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 2 (2017)

Section

Articles