Gender, locus of control and smoking habits of undergraduate students

Health psychologists believe that a significant proportion of human morbidity and mortality could be significantly reduced and humans’ quality of life greatly enhanced if people could be helped to correct their health-impairing habits and behaviours, such as smoking and other forms of substance abuse. The present study investigated the influence of gender and locus of control on smoking habit of 230 smoking student-patrons of two relaxation centers in Ago-Iwoye, the host community of Olabisi Onabanjo University. Participants were 137 (59.6%) male and 93 (40.4%) female students with a mean age of 24.93 (SD = 4.58). Relevant data were collected using snowballing technique over an eight-week period, with a standardized, three-sectioned questionnaire. Results showed that locus of control had a significant influence on smoking habit {t (2,226) = 21.21, p0.05}. These and other findings in the study were discussed and their implications for intervention programmes on smoking reduction or (and) cessation were highlighted. Key Words: Smoking habits, student-patrons, locus of control, gender, Ago-Iwoy

Social network characteristics, perceived drinking norms and hazardous alcohol use

Efforts by researchers, policy makers and other stakeholders to bring about significant reductions in alcohol use among the youth appears not to be yielding desired results, as the problem of hazardous drinking among the youth has persisted. One possible problem is that studies and policies on alcohol have not adequately situated the problem within relevant social contexts. This cross-sectional study examined the influence of social network characteristics, perceived drinking norms and demographicvariables on hazardous drinking among 1,315 adult males newly recruited into a youth empowerment scheme in a state in Southwest Nigeria. Data were collected using structured questionnaire. Results showed that about 18% of the respondents reported scores falling within the hazardous drinking zones while 13% were abstainers. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were performed to explore the extent to which each of the network characteristics and other factors predicted hazardous drinking. Age (â = -.19; p<.05) and educational status (â = -.16; p<.05) of participants significantly predicted hazardous drinking by accounting for about 15% of the explained variance in hazardous drinking. Social network characteristics accounted for about 33% of the explained variance in hazardous drinking. The importance of these and other findings of the study, and the need to factor in normative and social influences in alcohol-reduction intervention programmes were highlighted

Use of mixed methods designs in substance research: a methodological necessity in Nigeria

The utility of mixed methods (qualitative and quantitative) is becoming increasingly accepted in health sciences, but substance studies are yet to substantially benefit from such utilities. While there is a growing number of mixed methods alcohol articles concerning developed countries, developing nations are yet to embrace this method. In the Nigerian context, the importance of mixed methods research is yet to be acknowledged. This article therefore, draws on alcohol studies to argue that mixed methods designs will better equip scholars to understand, explore, describe and explain why alcohol consumption and its related problems are increasing in Nigeria. It argues that as motives for consuming alcohol in contemporary Nigeria are multiple, complex and evolving, mixed method approaches that provide multiple pathways for proffering solutions to problems should be embraced

Beyond negative thinking: illness cognitions and demographics as correlates of psychological health among selected PLHAs in Lagos

Despite ample research evidence suggesting a strong link between illness cognitions and patients\' psychological health, research in this direction in Nigeria is rather scanty, especially in a chronic condition like HIV/AIDS. This study explored the relationship between illness cognitions (helplessness, acceptance and perceived benefits) and psychological health of 46 outpatient persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLHAs) in a Lagos General Hospital. Thirty-two of the participants were females while 14 were males. Participants\' mean age was 37.1 (SD = 13.6) while mean duration of illness was 4.3 years (SD = 3.5). Results indicated that helplessness was negatively related to psychological health (r=-.49;

Anxiety and Depression among Caregivers of Persons Living With HIV/AIDS In Lagos State, Nigeria.

As focus is gradually shifting towards quality care for persons living with HIV/AIDS, more people are getting involved in providing care for this large number of people. Empirical research in this direction is rather scanty, especially in Nigeria where the large number of people living with the disease portends a huge HIV/AIDS care burden. The present study investigated self-reported anxiety and depressive symptoms among professional caregivers (n=26), volunteer caregivers (n=35) and family caregivers (n=46) in Lagos state, Nigeria. Participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Burns Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and a socio-demographic prototype. Results showed that caregivers generally reported high levels of anxiety and depression but there were no marked differences among the three categories of caregivers on measures of anxiety and depression. Male caregivers and relatively younger caregivers reported higher anxiety and depression levels than females and old caregivers. These and other findings were discussed and the need for psychosocial support for HIVcaregivers was highlighted

Demographic Predictors Of Burnout Among Hiv/Aids Counsellors

Counsellors have been identified as an at-risk group for burnout, especially when the setting is HIV/AIDS counselling center. Considering the nature of the illness, the multifaceted needs of the client, the relative paucity of available counsellors/counselling centers and various psychosocial issues connected with HIV/AIDS, the potential for burnout is particularly high among HIV/AIDS counsellors. Despite these problems, little or nothing is being done by way of rigorous research and ameliorative activities on this important issue. This study represented an attempt at empirically investigating the experience of emotional exhaustion among HIV/AIDS counsellors in Lagos State, Nigeria. Two hundred conveniently selected counsellors participated in this cross-sectional survey. Participants were 170 females and 70 males with an average age of 34.19 years and a standard deviation of 6.82. Results indicated that respondents were very high on emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation but very low on personal accomplishment. Additionally, age, education and work experience significantly predicted emotional exhaustion{R=.50; F=26.01;

Psychological Consequences of Wife Abuse

The present study represents an attempt at contributing to literature by addressing an underresearched topic of considerable health concern. The study investigated the psychological consequences of wife abuse in three high density residential areas in Ibadan North Local Government Area of Ibadan. Four hundred and eighty women who were visited at home by the researchers participated in the study. Participants' mean age was 35.4 years with a standard deviation of 6.27. Interviews were conducted for participants, using standard and widely used measures of depression, self-esteem and wife abuse. Results indicated that all the participants reported at least some forms of spousal abuse. However, women who reported severe absue were significantly higher on the depression measure, t(2,478)=-10.22;

Gendered Sexual Uses of Alcohol and Associated Risks: A Qualitative Study of Nigerian University Students

Background: Alcohol misuse among young people is a global phenomenon. In many countries, young people engage in heavy drinking and this exacerbates risky sexual behaviour. In Nigeria, alcohol held multiple roles in the traditional era but was mainly consumed by adult males for pleasure. Adult females and young people were culturally constrained from drinking in most communities. In contemporary Nigeria, young people’s drinking is increasing, and many engage in sexual intercourse under the influence of alcohol. Methods: This study draws on the traditional gender and social sexual scripts to explore the factors that motivate young people to use alcohol for sexual purposes. In-depth interviews were conducted with 19 to 23-year old male and female undergraduate students from a Nigerian university. Thematic analysis was conducted with the aid of NVivo 10 software. Results: Men drink to become confident to initiate sexual relationships, stimulate sexual urges, prolong erection, increase sexual satisfaction and become more aggressive during sexual intercourse. Women also drink to be bold in initiating sexual relationships, for sexual arousal and to increase satisfaction. Relatedly, not every brand of alcohol is used for sexual purposes. For example, while men use ‘herbal’ alcoholic beverages and a mixture of locally-produced gin and marijuana, women use champagne and other flavoured alcoholic beverages. The results also revealed that young people use alcohol or salt in a bid to prevent conception after sexual intercourse. Conclusions: Adherence to the traditional gender (masculinity) and social sexual scripts amongst men and the enactment of what appears to be a new form of femininity script amongst women contribute to a culturally specific understanding of the motivations to use alcohol for sexual purposes. Evidence-based strategies should be employed to distribute information about the consequences of sexual intercourse under the influence of alcohol

What a man can do, a woman can do better: Gendered alcohol consumption and (de)construction of social identity among young Nigerians

The misuse of alcohol and other drugs among young people, especially students, is a growing global phenomenon. In traditional Nigerian society, different locally-produced alcoholic beverages served complex roles but were mainly consumed among adult males for pleasure. Though adult females in some communities consumed alcohol, the practice of drinking was culturally controlled. In contemporary Nigeria, available quantitative studies reveal changing patterns of alcohol use amongst youth but fail to unravel the social variables that motivate alcohol use among this group. Methods: Qualitative data were collected through in-depth interviews with 31 (22 males and 9 females, aged 19-23 years) undergraduate students attending a university located in a metropolitan city in Anambra State, south-eastern Nigeria. Data were collected and analysed to generate themes with the aid of Nvivo 10 software. Results: There appears to be a resilient socio-cultural belief in which men see alcohol as 'good for males' while the females in contrast believe that alcohol does not discriminate according to gender and should be drunk by both males and females. Findings also point to the ways in which male-gendered drinking behaviours, such as heavy or fast drinking are employed by women to develop social capital. Conclusions: These results do suggest how gendered constructions of alcohol consumption create risks for both men and women, how they negotiate and ameliorate those risks, and how women challenge gender roles through their use of alcohol. Some focus on formulating evidence-based policies and comprehensively evaluated campaigns are needed to disseminate information about the risks and potential consequences of heavy alcohol consumption in order to promote safer alcohol use by young people