The Relationship Between Family Structure and Psychopathology Among Adolescents and Young Adults in Lagos, South-Western Nigeria

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between interpersonal relationship in family structures and manifestations of symptoms of anxiety and depression in adolescent from different family structures.
Methods: Two hundred and fortyseven students attending a Federal Technical College in Lagos were randomly selected to participate in this study. The participants were classified and divided into four different family structures such as single-parent family, two-parent family, polygamous and extended family structures. The participants completed a demographic form, Index of Family Relations (IFR), State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAIY2) and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS).
Results: There were 127 males and 120 females and their ages ranged from 17 to 22 years. The findings showed a significant relationship between family relationship and anxiety and depression (r =0.371, df 246, P< .05). The participants had certain degrees of anxiety but less of depres s i ve s ymptoms . The differences in family relations among the different family structures was were found not to be significant at F3,228=.650, P>.05.
Conclusion: This study also demonstrated that there was a relat ionship between family structure, adolescent and young adult psychopathology particularly with regards to symptoms of anxiety but less of symptoms of depression.

Key Words: Family structure, interpersonal relat ionship, anxiety, depression, adolescents, young adults, Nigeria