The Moderating Role of Resilience on Loneliness as a Predictor of Suicidal Ideation among Enugu Custodial Centre Inmates

Abstract

The study investigated the moderating role of resilience on loneliness as a predictor of suicidal ideation among inmates. A sample of 84 male inmates sampled from Nigerian Correctional Centre Enugu, Enugu State Nigeria took part in the study. The age range of the participants is 18-68 with mean age of 36.10 and standard deviation of 11.29. Thirty-three (33) were asylum inmates while the remaining 51 were non-asylum inmates. An available sampling technique was used in sampling the participants. Information was obtained from the participants through the administration of three instruments: Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), revised UCLA Loneliness Scale and Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation. The study adopted a correlational research design while moderated linear regression analysis was applied on the data. The result shows that the predictor variable (loneliness) accounted for 48.22% (R² change) variance in suicidal ideation which is significant to F change (3, 80) = 24.84, p<. 01. Loneliness negatively predicted suicidal ideation t(-.3.16, p<.001). This indicates that lonely inmates are most likely to experience suicidal ideation. Resilience predicted suicidal ideation t(-1.98) at p< .05, Finally, resilience moderated the negative prediction of suicidal ideation by loneliness t(-1.7129) at p< .05. It was concluded that Inmates who are lonely are most likely to experience suicidal ideation than those who are not lonely, hence, Nigerian correctional centres should intensify effort in the programs that minimizes loneliness in order to forestall suicidal ideation among inmates.