R. Olukayode Jegede

Psychometric Attributes of the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale:

The Self-rating Anxiety Scale recently introduced by Zung was administered to 206 normal male and female subjects and 142 psychiatric outpatients of both sexes. Coefficient alpha and average item-total correlations were high for the two groups. The mean scores for these two groups were significantly different. These results suggest that the instrument has sufficient reliability and construct validity to justify further use in Nigeria.

Attitude to Aging among Different Groups in Nigeria

Attitude to aging and the aged was surveyed in three groups of Nigerians, 1) caregivers living at home with the elderly, 2) various categories of hospital workers, and 3) the general public. Based on scores of an eleven-item questionnaire the best attitude was in caregivers, and the poorest in hospital workers. Years of education had an overall negative effect on attitudinal measurement. An inference from this study is that the elderly are still valued, but caregivers could be under some stress and would appreciate assistance. It is important for developing countries like Nigeria to begin to think seriously of what types of public assistance the elderly and their families would need.

Self-Concepts of Young Nigerian Adolescents

A longitudinal study of 375 boys and 380 girls just beginning the seventh grade was started in November 1977. The sample, whose mean age was 13.06 yr. (SD = 1.66), was representative of seventh grade students in Oyo State, one of the 19 states in Nigeria. Health, height, onset of menarche in girls, intellectual maturity, and certain social factors were most closely associated with self-concepts.

A Cross-Sectional Study of Self-Concept Development in Nigerian Adolescents

Abstract In 1977 the Piers-Harris Self-concept Scale and a 47-item general questionnaire were administered in class to 1380 (552 girls, 828 boys) secondary school students in Ibadan, Nigeria. Subjects mean age was 14.76 years (SD 2.11, median 14.69). Total self-concept score had a mean of 58.19 (SD 10.06, median 59.47). Univariate and multivariate statistics demonstrated that the following variables were significantly associated with self-concept: self-concept stability, age, sex, self-assessed health, physical maturity (indexed by height, weight, and, in the case of girls, onset of menarche), quality of school attended, religion, and how active Subjects were in religious matters. A model of self-concept development based on the findings of this study and on previous work by other writers is presented.

Intellectual Maturity in Nigerian Primary School Children

This study was done with the aim of assessing the intellectual maturity of children attending typical free primary schools in Ibadan. Human figure drawings produced by 416 boys and 766 girls attending two non-fee paying primary schools were scored using the scoring system introduced by Koppitz. Data analysis shows that intellectual maturity, measured by the scores on the human figure drawings, is significantly related to age. In addition there is a significant interaction between age and sex: girls tend to score higher than boys at certain ages. The findings are discussed in relation to the effects of age, sex and social class, and the use of human figure drawings to measure intellectual maturity.

A Longitudinal Study of Psychological Differentiation in Nigerian Children

Summary The results of a three-year followup study of the development of psychological differentiation in Nigerian children is presented. In 1977 204 subjects consisting of 108 males and 96 females aged seven to 14 years made human figure drawings which were analyzed using Witkins Articulation of Body Concept (ABC) scale. The results were compared with those obtained by scoring drawings produced by the same subjects in 1974. The 1977 data showed that subjects were more advanced in their psychological differentiation. The Pearson correlation coefficient between 1974 and 1977 ABC scores was significant but low, .37. Analysis of variance of regression of 1974 scores on 1977 scores showed that the regression slope was statistically significant.