Psychophysiological Symptom as a Predictor of Depression among Institutionalized Persons in Nigeria: The Moderating Role of Social Support

Abstract

Institutionalized persons seem to encounter negative life such as restrictions on freedom of movement, which may put them at risk to develop feelings of hopelessness, depression and anxiety. Such development caused by lack of freedom may result to psychophysiological symptoms. Thus, the need to ascertain the role of social support in mitigating any possible relationship between psychophysiological symptom and depression. The participants were drawn using available sampling technique from three institutions: Nigerian Correctional Service, Home for the Elderly and ESUT psychiatric hospital all in Enugu, Enugu State Nigeria. One hundred and eighteen (86 males and 32 females) whose age ranged from 18-70 years (mean age 37.93 and standard deviation 13.93) took part in the study. They responded to four instruments: Psychophysiological Symptoms Checklist, Self-rating Depression Scale and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. The study adopted cross-sectional survey design and moderated regression for the data analysis which indicated a positive correlation between psychophysiological symptom and depression β = 1.06, t(118) = 3.00 p<.001. The results were discussed in relation to relevant literature. It was concluded that institutionalized persons with psychophysiological symptoms equally experience depression. Thus, psychophysiological symptoms should be checkmate among institutionalized persons in order to forestall the episode of depressive symptoms.