THE ROLE OF PERSONALITY TRAITS ON HEALTH BEHAVIOR AMONG ORPHANS IN MAKURDI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

ABSTRACT This research investigated personality traits as predictors of health behaviours among orphans in Makurdi Metropolis. A cross-sectional survey design was used for the study the researcher used 213 orphans for the study comprising of 106 (49.8%) males and 107 (500.2%) females.Kals and Coobs (1995), the questionnaire was used to measure individual Health Behaviour and the Big Five Inventory (BFI) was used to measure personality traits of individuals.Six hypotheses were formulated and tested and result from the first hypothesis showed that there was a significant prediction of revealed that there is a significant prediction of personality traits on health behaviours among orphans in Makurdi metropolis. On individual basis the results indicated that Openness made the highest positive contribution to health behaviours among orphans by Conscientiousness, Extraversion while Agreeableness has a positive contribution on health behaviours among orphans and by Ncuroticism. Furthermore, the results indicated that Conscientiousness Extraversion made the lighest negative contribution to health behaviours among orphans in Makurdi. The findings of the study wvere discussed in line with other studies and conclusions were drawn. It was recommended among others that efforts should be made by government and non-governmental organizations to curb the menace of personality traits and health behaviours among orphans in the society as it have become a societal pandemic affecting the general population as well. This will help in increase their level of health related behaviours.