Construction and Initial Validation of Trauma Symptom Inventory among Young Adults in South West Nigeria

Abstract

Contemporary development in Nigeria including insurgency, terrorism, pandemics, frequent vehicular accidents and excruciating poverty have exerted enormous pressure on the mental health of the citizens. While many Nigerians have developed mechanisms to cope with these maladies, some others great difficulty in coping and consequently experience traumatic feelings. Exploratory and descriptive survey research designs were employed for this study. The Sample comprised of 412 Nigerian young adults, with 212 participants for first session and 200 for the second, among them were survivors of fatal accidents, major surgical operations and some internally displaced persons living in Debojo settlement, Ibeju LGA, Lagos State. The instruments used for data collection were Demographic Data Inventory (DDI), Antonia Trauma Symptoms Inventory (ATSI), Psychological well-being scale (PWBS), Trauma Symptom Questionnaire (TSQ), and Becks Hopelessness Scale (BHS). Descriptive statistics, Principal Components Analysis, Cronbach Alpha, and Multiple Regression Analysis were used to analyze the 7 research questions generated, results were tested at 0.05 and 0.01 level of significance respectively. The finding for the ATSI revealed the psychometric quality of the ATSI was very good. The reliability of the one-dimensional trauma scale (ATSI) was r ≥ 0.72. The rating scale using four categories was observed to be working properly. The inventory is can be used consistently, not too lengthy and evenly distributed with ability to be easier versus harder to agree with Antonia Trauma Symptom Inventory complies with all the parameters of a valid Trauma scale capable of measuring the level of trauma, in the lives of the Nigerian young adults. The feedback generated from ATSI would enable an evidence based decision on counseling in educational institutions or workplace. This inventory is recommended to be used by clinical counselors and researchers in psychology and educational related fields for the diagnosis of Trauma.