Exploring Psychological Distress, Burden of Care and Emotional Intelligence as Correlates of Psychological Well-being in Family and Non-family Caregivers of Individuals Living with Cannabis-induced Psychotic Disorder
Gbenusola Abike Akinwale 
, Victor Ojakorotu & Ikechukwu Gbogboade
Issue: Vol.5 No.2 Issue Article 6 pp.135 -148
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.2024526 | Published online 23rd February, 2024
© 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Caring for individuals living with cannabis-induced psychotic disorder poses unique challenges that significantly impact caregivers’ psychological well-being. This study delved into this complex caregiving landscape, exploring how psychological distress, the burden of care, and emotional intelligence collectively influence caregivers’ psychological well-being. The study was conducted at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Lagos Nigeria. The research adopted purposive sampling, involving one hundred (100) participants encompassing both family and non-family caregivers. Participants completed four key instruments: The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) – 12, Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (TEIQue), and Psychological Well-being Scale (PWB). Descriptive statistics provided mean and standard deviation values for psychological distress, burden of care, emotional intelligence, and psychological well-being, with the reliability of each scale assessed. Hypothesis testing included t-tests, simple linear regression, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression, yielding significant findings. Notably, family caregivers did not bear a significantly higher burden of care compared to their non-family counterparts (t = -.108, p<.05). Furthermore, female caregivers exhibited superior psychological well-being in contrast to male caregivers (t = -4.594, p<.05). Emotional intelligence significantly impacted psychological well-being (R square =.262), and a positive relationship existed between psychological distress and well-being (r = .596, p<.05). Lastly, psychological distress, emotional intelligence, and the burden of care collectively shaped psychological well-being (R square =.526). This research unravels the intricate dynamics faced by caregivers of individuals with cannabis-induced psychotic disorder, highlighting the pivotal roles of emotional intelligence and psychological distress. These insights deepen understanding of caregivers’ experiences and provide a foundation for tailored interventions to bolster their overall well-being.
Keywords: Caregivers, Psychological Distress, Burden of Care, Emotional Intelligence, Psychological Well-being, Cannabis-Induced Psychotic Disorder
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Gbenusola Abike Akinwale (PhD) is a Developmental Psychologist trained at the University of Lagos, Nigeria. A trained Psychologist and behaviour analyst, who also works as a gender specialist. She is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Department of International Relations and Politics, North West University, South Africa. She teaches Psychology at Undergraduate and graduate levels at the University of Lagos.
Victor Ojakorotu is a scholar of International relations and an astute professor at North West University, South Africa. He holds a PhD in International Relations from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. A First Class Honours graduate (BSc) from the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria in International Relations and an MSc. Degree in the same school. He has actively worked at various capacities as an academic of repute in the last 28 years, specifically, he worked for Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, University of Kwazulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, and Monash University, Johannesburg. Currently, he holds a position as Deputy Director, School of Government Studies, North West University, Mafikeng – South Africa and recently appointed as an Honorary Professor at the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) South Africa. His research interests span across several areas which are not limited to peace and conflict issues, social movements, environmentalism, peace advocacy and inter-ethnic harmony in local communities in Africa.
Akinwale, Gbenusola Abike, Ojakorotu,Victor & Gbogboade, Ikechukwu.“Exploring Psychological Distress, Burden of Care and Emotional Intelligence as Correlates of Psychological Well-being in Family and Non-family Caregivers of Individuals Living with Cannabis-induced Psychotic Disorder.” E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 5, no.2 (2024): 135-148. https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.2024526
© 2024 The Author(s). Published and Maintained by Noyam Journals. This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
