Childhood Trauma and Depression as Predictors of Anti-social Behaviour Among Secondary School Adolescents in Keffi, Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

Childhood trauma and depression are significant predictors of anti-social behaviour among adolescents. This study examined the relationship between childhood trauma and depression as predictors of antisocial behaviour among secondary school adolescent in Keffi, Nasarawa State, Nigeria. A total of 145 participants were randomly selected and 3 standardized instruments collected data on childhood trauma, depression and anti-social behaviour. Data collected were analyzed using correlation and t-test analysis to test the stated hypotheses. Hypotheses 1 and 2 were tested using Pearson-r correlation to measure relationship between childhood trauma, depression and antisocial behaviour. Also, hypothesis 3 was tested using multiple regression to measure joint influence of childhood trauma and depression on antisocial behaviour. The findings revealed that childhood trauma (0.062**) and depression (0.055**) independently associate with antisocial behaviour. Also, there is a combined influence of childhood trauma and depression on ant-social behaviour among adolescents in Keffi [F(2, 143) = 68.25, p < .05]. This means that adolescents who experienced higher levels of childhood trauma and depression are more likely to engage in anti-social behaviours, such as aggression, truancy, and other forms of behavioural misconduct.