Mediating Roles of Hopelessness and Resilience in the Relationship between Perceived Social Support and Depressive Tendencies among Some Nigerian-Libya Returnees
Most studies conducted on depression, social support, resilience and hopelessness tend to focus more on cancer and HIV victims thus, less attention has been on the mediating role of hopelessness and resilience in the relationship between social support (rehabilitation) and depressive symptoms among victims of traumatic life events, This study therefore investigated the mediating role of hopelessness and resilience on the relationship between perceived social support and depression among Nigerian Libya returnees. Using a cross-sectional survey involving 251 returnees (male=128; female=123) whose ages ranges between 23 and 48 years (mean=30.13; SD=5.27) randomly selected across three Nigerian cities (Lagos=91; Porthacourt=76 and Benin=84). Five hypotheses were tested using simple regression, multiple regression and Sobel test analysis. The result revealed that perceived social support predicts resilience [â= .46, p <.001], hopelessness [â= -.22, p <.001] and depression [â= .46, p <.001] such that social support lead to an increase in resilience but reduces hopelessness and depression. Social support and hopelessness jointly predicted depression [R=.43, R2=.18, F (2,248) = 16.29, p<0.01], social support and resilience jointly predict depression [R=.47, R2=.20, F (2,248) = 74.67, p<0.01]. Lastly mediation analysis showed that hopelessness (Z=-7.64, P <.001) and resilience (Z= -7.49, P <.001) mediate the relationship between social support and depression. Conclusively, the relationship between social support and depression is affected by the inclusion of the mediating variables resilience and hopelessness. We recommended a proper rehabilitation system to boost victims’ resilience trait which will inversely serve as a counter measure against depression and hopelessness.