Navigating Mental Health in Turbulent Times for Displaced Adults: Integrating Psychological Resilience and Socio-economic Realities in Nigeria

Abstract

Persistent exposure to displacement, insecurity, flood, economic recession, conflicts and social inequality in Nigeria has intensified mental health burdens, particularly among displaced adults. However, few studies integrate psychological resilience with prevailing socio-economic realities to explain mental health outcomes and maladaptive responses such as aggression in these populations. This study investigated the relationship between psychological resilience, socio-economic conditions, and mental health outcomes among displaced populations in Nigeria during periods of socio-political and economic turbulence. It also identified proactive measures for mental health improvement. An ex-post facto correlational survey design was employed. The population for this study comprised 5000 participants from various displaced camps in Nigeria. The purposive sampling procedure was used to draw a sample of 350 displaced participants from the study area. Data were collected using the Mental Health in Turbulent Times Questionnaire (MHTTQ), a 4-point Likert scale instrument that demonstrated strong internal consistency (Cronbach’s ? = 0.85). All 350 questionnaires were administered and retrieved, with ethical protocols for consent and debriefing observed. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, including mean and standard deviation with a 2.50 benchmark, and Pearson Product-Moment Correlation at a 0.05 level of significance. Results indicated that turbulent conditions such as displacement, flooding, insecurity, recession, conflicts and inequality significantly strain mental health without initial psychological attention to the displaced. Nevertheless, higher levels of psychological resilience were positively correlated with improved mental health outcomes, even under adverse socio-economic circumstances r (348) = .102, p <.05. Respondents agreed that resilience aids adaptation and recovery, but disagreed that it protects mental health under severe socio-economic strain. Achieving sustainable mental well-being in uncertain contexts necessitates integrated, hybrid strategies. At both individual and community levels, fostering adaptive mindsets and resilience skills is crucial to relieve the feeling of frustration and aggression. Structurally, policy interventions must address psychological and physiological needs to strengthen sense of self-worth and regulate aggressive behaviour. Collectively, these approaches can transform turbulence from a threat to survival into an opportunity for collective resilience and human flourishing.