PERCEIVED SOCIAL STIGMATIZATION AND COPING STRATEGIES AS PREDICTORS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING AMONG FEMALE PARTNERS OF PRISONERS

Abstract

The objective of this study is to examine how coping strategies and perceived social stigmatization predicts the psychological wellbeing of female partners of prisoners in Ibadan, Nigeria. Using the purposive sampling techniques, a total of one hundred and nine (109) female partners of prisoners in Ibadan participated in the study. The ages of the participants ranged between 20 years to 65 years. Data collection was through the use of questionnaires. 2×2×2 ANOVA and T-test was used to test the hypothesis. Findings indicates that coping strategies (problem focused and emotion focused) and perceived social stigmatization jointly predicted psychological well-being with (F (1, 101) = 13.50; p<0.001). Also there was significant difference between the psychological wellbeing of partners with low (X = 72.76, SD = 10.28) perceived social stigmatization and High (× = 66.39, SD = 7.37) perceived social stigmatization, (t = 3.65; df = 107; p<0.05).