THE ROLES OF PARENTIFICATION AND CHILDHOOD TRAUMA AS PREDICTATORS OF PERCEIVED DEPRESSION AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN A SAMPLE OF BAZE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS, ABUJA
Abstract
Adolescent mental health remains a critical but underexplored issue in Nigeria, where cultural expectations, family dynamics, and childhood adversity shape psychological well being. This study examined the predictive roles of parentification and childhood trauma on perceived depression among adolescents at Baze University, Abuja. Parentification, the premature assumption of adult caregiving responsibilities by children, and childhood trauma, including abuse and neglect, were hypothesized to contribute individually and jointly to depressive symptoms.
A descriptive correlational design was adopted, with data collected from 100 undergraduate students aged 17 24 years through standardized self report measures: the Parentification
Inventory (PI), Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ SF), and Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI II). Descriptive statistics summarized demographic trends, while Pearson correlation and multiple regression analyses tested the study hypotheses.
Results revealed significant positive relationships between parentification and depression, and between childhood trauma and depression. Regression analysis indicated that both parentification and childhood trauma jointly predicted adolescents‟ levels of perceived depression, accounting for a substantial proportion of variance in depressive symptoms. These findings highlight that the dual burden of role reversal and early adversity significantly elevates risk for depression among Nigerian university adolescents.
The study contributes novel evidence to the limited literature on family role dynamics and youth mental health in Sub Saharan Africa. It underscores the urgent need for culturally sensitive interventions, preventive counseling, and family based mental health programs to support at risk youths. By situating parentification within broader discussions of trauma, culture, and adolescent development, this research provides a foundation for policy and practice aimed at reducing the silent burden of depression among Nigerian adolescents.
Keywords: Trauma, Childhood, Parentification, Depression, Adolescents
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