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ISSN 1117-7314
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-ssoes in tieettt: psychology vol. 14 Copyright June 2011. ISSN 1117-7314
Content
Issues in Health Psychology
An African Perspective On Gender And Adjustment Issues
In Finns' Entrepreneurial Orientation - John O. Ekore, Ph.d
Department Of Psychology, Faculty Of The Social Sciences,
University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria .
Impact of Dental Anxiety, Age, and Gender on Oral
Health-Related Quality of Life among Dental Patients
. in Benin, Nigeria. ~Olaide N. Koleoso" & Osawe Omoregie.
Department of Mental Health": Oral Pathology, Dentistry
Clinic University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City........... 8
Relevance Of Clinical Psychologist To Patient Health
Treatment In The General Hospital: Case Illustrations on Prospects
And Challenges of Clinical Psychologists roles in Specialists
Hospital, Akure, Nigeria. - Tomoioju Olubusayo Christiana Clinical
Psychology In State Specialist Hospital, Akure............................ 24
Personality Profile Of Drug Dependants At The Neuropsyehiatric
Drug Hospital, Arc, Abeokuta - Sodeinde, 0.0; Isikwe, OJ;
Adegbola, Akilihanm i; A.E; Ibikunle, A.O Nuropsychiatric
Hospital; Aro, Abeokuta................................ 31
Stress As A Predictor Of Hypertension In Benue State Civil
Servants Living In Makurdi. -Alex C.i.d. Shaahu Department Of
Psychology, Benue State University, Makurdi " ..43
Social Support, Social Maladjustment, And Psychological
Wellbeing As Determinants Of Psychopathic Deviance Among
Civil Servants In Akure, Nigeria - Adebayo O. Adejumo : 64
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Issues in tiesur: [:sycnQ!ogy vet. 14 Copyright June 2011, ISSN 1117-7314
SOCIAL SUPPORT, SOCIAL MALADJUSTMENT, AND
PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLBEING AS DETERMINANTS OF
PSYCHOPATHIC DEVIANCE AMONG CIVlLSERVANTS IN
AKURE, NIGElUA
By
Adebayo O. Adejumo (Corresponding Author) Department of
Psychology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
ABSTRACT
The influence of social support, social maladjustment and psychological
wellbeing on psychopathic deviance (PD) among civil servants in Akure,
. Nigeria was investigated. The survey adopted a cross-sectional design
including 194 male and 153 female participants with a mean age of 33.97
years.aelected using multi-stage sampling. Data was collected using an 89-
itemstructured-questionnaire, Four hypotheses were tested of which two
were confirmed. Social maladjustment (F [1, 339]= 120.49; p= .001), and
general health (F [1, 339} = 41.83; p= .001); as well as a combination of
social support, social maladjustment, and general health (F [1, 3092] ;,
52.47; p= .001) significantly influenced PD; General health (GH) predicted
PD (R2=.51, F [3,343] "= 90.21; P<.Ol). There Were significant differences
between participantshigh and low social maladjustment (t [345] = -9.52; P>
0.00), and GH (t [345] = -9.08; P = 0.00) on PD, but not between participants
with high and low social support (t [345] = -0.23; P = 0.82). This shows that
the psychological factors determine PD among civil servants. Prospective
employers should investigate these variables among civil service applicants,
while psychological interventions would be imperative for secondary PD
prevention in having mentally-healthy civil servants.
Key words: Psychopathic deviance, psychological factors, civil servants,
influence, Nigeria~
Social support, social maladjustment, and psychological wellbeing as
determinants of psychopathic deviance among civil servants in Akure,
Nigeria .
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Introduction
The Merriam- Webster Online Dictionary (201 I) describes
psychopathy as an antisocial personality disorder characterized by
abnormal lack of empathy combined with strongly amoral conduct but
masked by an ability to appear outwardly normal. Features such as
deceitfulness, manipulation of others, impulsivity, irresponsibility, and
aggression are also common (Cleckley (1941).
. .Workplace psychopathic behaviour is fast becoming uncontrollable
?eca.u~e of the in.terpersonal conflicts thoat exis~ among employee~ ~the
inability of management to pay adequate attention to abnormal beflavlOurs
among employees (Speedy, 2005). For instance, it has been widely reported
that sexual harassment, bullying, emotional disturbances and so on are very
common in many workplaces (Patrick 2001,2007), yet management of
many public and private institutions hardly give it its due attention. This
might have contributed to poor interpersonal relation among employees,
reduced workplace safety, and reduced team-efficiency in organisations.
The civil service, a section of public service serves as a lasting
instrument through which governments drive, regulate and manage all
aspects of the society. However, the magnitude of attitudinal decay and
character in the public service of developing nations in contemporary times
is worrisome. Unethical activities have become so pervasive arid even
institutionalized, manifesting as un-civilised conducts, and other counter-
productivebehaviours (Ezeibe, & IWlloha,2011). .
The Nigerian civil service has undergone changes over the years
such as the Udoji recommendations of the mid-1970s.However,
successive reforms aimed at achieving efficiency have failed to make
significant impact in assessing and assuring the character of civil servants
(Ezeibe, & Iwuoha, 2011). On April 3, 2009, the number one public
servant, the ex-governor of Ondo state was arrested by the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission for allegedly squandering 25 billion naira
(over $156 million USD) voted for the State development (Ezeibe, &
Iwuoha, 2011).
. Often, researchers have paid scant attention to the existence of
psychopathic deviance (PD) in the workplace because most people
probably feel that individuals who suffer from such disorder are either
incarcerated or found on the streets. However, Patrick and Lang (1993),
and patrick (2007) reported the existence ofPD in non-clinically diagnosed
samples. While these authors reported the features of psychopathic
deviance; its etiology and antecedents, there has been insufficient effort to
empirically examine workplace PD, and the role of psychological factors in
predicting PD among workers in public service. Research efforts in this
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become imperative not only for diagnosis, but to serve as evidence-based
reason for primary and secondary prevention and management.
A number of factors have been implicated in the development of
dysfunctional behaviours in different settings; these include social support,
social maladjustment-and psychological well-being. In The Mask a/Sanity,
Cleckley (1941) presented a series of highly detailed case studies from his
own practice, in which he highlighted several features which distinguished
psychopathy from other psychiatric disorders. This has also been supported
by another investigation conducted later (Phillips, 2004).
The relevance of social support in improving psychological well-
being is recorded in literature (Hardee, Eggleston, Wong, Irwanto, and Hull
2007).in stress buffering, social support protects people from the bad effects
of stressful life events (e.g., job loss) by meeting the emotional and physical
needs of people facing either physical, mental, social, and spiritual
challenges. It is akin to helping affected people to fill up a critical gap.
Perceived social support also shows consistent main effects on mental health
outcomes (Lakey & Cronin, '2008). It is however unclear whether an
individual's level of social support would affect his tendency to suffer PD,
especially in the workplace.
Social mal-adjustment is the inability to adjust to the demands of
interpersonal and social relationships, and the stresses of dai Iy living. This is
in some ways related to psychopathy. Psychopathy has been shown not only
to predict Violent recidivism in male offenders (Harris, Rice, & Cormier,
1991), but also predicts antisocial behavior in college samples (Nathanson,
Paulhus, & Williams, 2006). Brackett, Mayer, and Warner (2004), for
example, reported an association between lowemotional intelligence (EI)
and illegal drug use and deviant conduct in college men but not women.
Over the last few years, academic debate has, from a scientific
perspective gone back to two ancient philosophical orientations namely
hedonism and eudemonia. The hedonic approach considers wellbeing as the
presence of positive affect and lack of negative affect while the eudaimonic
perspective regards wellbeing as the consequences of full psychological
actualisation from wh;e1~le develop their potential. Whether assessed
from a hedonic or eudaimonicperspective; wellbeing seems to playa role in
the prevention of and in the recovery of physical conditions and diseases;
and so possibly contributes to general healthy functioning and life
expectancy (Vazquez, Hervaz.Rahona, &Gomez, 2009).
The civil service inOndo state, Nigeria is the focus of this study. For
many ofthe civil servants.in recent years, appointment into the public service
has become an instrument of campaign and indeed a token in exchange for
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, Issues in beettn psychology vot. 14 Copyright June 2011. ISSN 1117-7314electoral votes (Adeyern o & Osunyikanmi, 2009). Consequently, the
f size of the civil service has increased from 23,597 in July 200 I to
f. 27,719 in May 2003 (Adeyemo & Osunyikanmi, 2009), withoutadequate assurance of the mental health of new appointees (Erero, 1988:
~ . 181).
I The prolonged strike action over the quest for minimum wage in 20 11
I by civil servants in Ondo State could also be a reflection of the mentalcharacter of the civil servants. Additionally, as it stands now, 65.31 % ofrevenue accruable to the State goes to the payment of the emolument ofpublic servants who constitute just I % of the entire population. The
consequences of this, according to Erero (1988: 181) is that poor policy
artjclll~tion, an~ implementation wou~d likely hold sJ:'ay; eyentual~y
becoming a major obstacle to the achievement oLefflclency III public
administration (Adebayo, 1997: 93) thus denying the larger populace the
real dividends of democracy; and possibly eroding the confidence of the
public inthe service.
Objectives
This study is to determine whether:
. i. levels of the psychological factors (social support, social
maladjustment, and general health) have influence on psychopathic
deviance
ii. the four dimensions of general health will significantly independently
and jointly predict psychopathic deviance among participants
iii. participants with high levels of social support, those with high scores in
social maladjustment and also those with high scores in general health will
score significantly lower in psychopathic deviance than those with low
scores in social support, those with low scores in social maladjustment, and
those with low scores ill general health
Hypotheses .
1. Psychological factors will have significant main and joint effects on
psychopathic deviance.
2. The four dimensions of general health (somatic symptoms,
anxiety/insomnia, social dysfunction, and depression) will significantly
independently and jointly predict psychopathic deviance among
participants
3. Participants with high levels of dimensions of general health will report
lower scores in psychopathic deviance than those with lower scores on
dimensions of general health
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general health will score significantly lower in psychopathic deviance
than those with low scores in social support, those with low scores in
social maladjustment, and those withlow scores in general health.
Method
Design: This cross sectional 'survey examined the influence of social
support, social maladjustment and psychological wellbeing on psychopathic
deviance.
Setting: The study took place in Akure, the capital city of Ondo State,
Nigeria, with a population of about 3.4 million people in 2006 (National
Population Comm ission, Nigeria, 20 11).
Participauts and sampling: Participants were civil servants (N,347) from 7
of the government ministries. The inclusion criteria included: currently in
the employment of the Ondo State government, English literate, and
willingness to participate. to calculate the sample size, a 95% confidence
interval, 5% for possible attrition, and a population of 27,719 based on
officially published staff strength in 2003 (Adeyerno, & Osunyikanmi,
2009) were inputed into the MACORR Research Solutions online software
(MACORRResearch Solutions Online, 20 11), yielding a sample size of377.
Participants were selected following multi-stage sampling. The list of the
State In inistries/clusters was obtained from where 7 (about 50%), were
selected through balloting i.e. the Ministries of Health, Finance, Education,
Establishment, Information, Natural Resources, and Works and Housing.
Procedure: 'The. researcher obtained permission to conduct the study. In
each of the selected ministries, potential participants were approached
personally (accidentally) at work. The purpose of the study was explained,
their informed consent obtained, followed by administration of the
questionnaires to willing participants. Consenting participants were given a
day to complete the questionnaire, which was collected the following day.
Sixty questionnaires were accidentally administered in each ofthe 7 selected
ministries, making 420 in all. Of these, only 347 were correctly filled and
returned, representihg830/0vesponse rate. Of these, male participants were
194 (55.9%) while their female counterparts were 153 (44.1%). Two
hundred and fifty-one (72.3%) were married, while 96 (27.7%) were single.
Their ages ranged from 19 toSS years with a mean age of33.97 years and
standard deviation of? .65. Participants' work experience spanned between 1
to 28 years with 2. mean of8.1 0 years and standard deviation of5.16.
Instrument: An 89-item self-reportstructured questionnaire divided into 5
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Instrument: An 89~itein self-report structured questionnaire dividedinto
5 sections was used for dataccllection. The 9-itern Section A was designed
to obtain the socio-demographic information about the. participants
such as age, sex, work experience, marital status.rete. Section B contained
the 12 =-item Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (Zimet,
Dahlem, Zimet and Farley, 1988). Coefficient alphas for the scale ranged
from .85 to .91. Also, test-retest values ranged from. 72 to .85withthe same
sample. The scoring of this scale is in such manner that high scores
represent high level of social support, while low scores are indicative of
. low social Support. The norm established during the re-validation for the
present study was (N347, x=62.63). This is broken down in the subscales
as; somatic symptoms (x= 15.05), anxiety/insomnia (x, 12. 78), social
dysfunction <.20.50), and social dysfunction (x:l'43.ure·spectively.
The-analysis of the data was done with the aid of the SPSS software for
windows version 15.0. The socio-demographic information was analyzed
using descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation etc, while.
inferential statistics were employed to test the hypotheses. All the
hypotheses were.tested at b.05level of significance, while Scheffe test was
considered appropriate for post hoc analysis.
Results
In order to discover facts from the data obtained toward providing
answers to meeting tl~e research objectives, a combination of both
descriptive and inferential statistics were conducted. The results are
presented in this section. To determine .which level of each of the
psychological variables that will lead to the highest level of psychopathic
deviance, a descriptive statistic was conducted with the result presented in
Table 1 below.
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Table ll:Descriptive statistics Table showing the influeuce oflevels of
psychological variables 011 psychopathic deviance
Psychological variables I N Ix ISD 1Rank
Social Support
Low I 145 I 33.88 I 8.51 I 8"'
High 1202 134;15 112.90 I 5uI
Somatic svmntorns
~':V -!-185 128.69 18.48 I 11 U)
lIig~--T62 140.15 110.96 I 2nd
Anxietv/insomuia
~- 1176 129.35 17.86 19"'
General fIblth High 1171 I38.8.6 \12.19 14
Social dysfunction
Low \161 134;03 19.04 17"'
High \186 134.04 \12.91 \6"'
Denression
Low I 185 128.09 18.68 \ 12th
I:~ 1162 T 40.83 \9.97 I 1"
Social Low 1179 \28.84 \ 7.93 i 10'"
Maladjustment High I 168 139.57 111.67 13m
Table 1 shows that participants with high level of depression have the highest
meanscore (x = 40.83), i.e. they reported the highest level of psychopathic
deviance (PD), while participants with low depression reported the lowest
level ofPD(x=28.09), ranking 12th.
Hypothesis one, which stated that social. support, social
maladjustment and general health will have significant main andjoint effects
on PD was tested using 2x2x2 Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The result is
presented in Table 2.
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Table 2: 2 x 2 x2 ANOYA showing the main and interaction effect iJf
socialsupport, social Mal-adjustment and general health on PD
Type III
Sum of Mean
Source Squares Df Square' F Sia,
Social support (A) .303 I .303 .005 .943
Social
maladjustment 7132.202 1 7132.202 120.488 .000
(B)
General health )
«» 2476322 I 2476.322 .~4 .000
A'B 3723.904 I 3723.904 62.910 .000
A'C 72.464 I 72.464 1.224 .269
B*C 3819.436 1 3819.436 64.524 .000
A *.B * C 3092.753 I 3092.753 52.247 .000
Error 20066:884 339 59.194
Corrected Total 43912.513 346
Table 2 reveals significant main effects of social maladjustment (F [1,339]
== 120.49; p= .001); general health (F [1,339] = 41.83; p= .001); significant
joint effects of social support and social maladjustment (F [1,339] = 62.91;
p= ;001); as well as social maladjustment and generalhealth (F [1,339] ==
64.52; p= .001). There was no significant main effect of social support (F
[1 ;339] = 0.005; p = ,94); nor significant interaction effectofsocialsupport
and general health (F [1,339] = J .224; p = .27).
In order to further determine the level of variables responsible for
the significant interactive effect ofthe above combination of variables, the
-.psychological. factors were cross-tabulated and the influence on PD
determined.
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Table 3: Scheffe testshowing cross-tabulation of the influence of
social support, social maladjustment and general health on PD among
Civil Servants
Soc. Soc. Gen N X so I 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
'Sun Mal' Healtil
1 Poor 3 28.2 8.3
f.---- Low 2 5 6
2 Low Good 3 34.6 4.6
2 3 8 6.38 -
--c-
3 Poor 2 30.3 9.9
.- High
4.27
5 6 3 2.11
4 Good .
5 38.2 7.1
6 ,10.0 -3.635 5 7.89'
"5
Poor 9 28.7 7.7 5.93 1.66 9.55'
Low 9 0 2 0.45
'6 High Good I 19.3 0.8 .15.25 .10.99 .18.888.88 9.32'6 8 I -.-c--!'
7 , Poor 3 32.1 8.8 - 2.48 -1.77
3 4 6.12'
-3.44 -12.76'
High 8 3.88 -
8 Good 4 51.5 8.3 .16.93 -. " 19.423.3 2U9 13.30 22.85 -32.18'9 5 0 • * • 2'
*P<.05
Table 3 shows that there is significant difference in the means
reported in the interaction among participants with high social support, high
social maladjustrrient,and good general health compared to participantswith
high social support, high social maladjustment, and poor general health'
(n=49,~ _19.42, P <.05). Similarly, the means reported by participants with
high social support, low social maladjustment and good general health was
significantly different from that of participants with low social support, high
social maladjustment.rand good general health (n=16,x •.18.88, P <.05).
Basedon Tables ZandJ, hypothesis one was confirmed.
Hypothesis Two, which states that the four dimensions of general
health (somatic symptoms, anxiety/insomnia, social dysfunction, and
depression) will significantly independently and jointly predict PD was.
tested with the use of multiple regression analysis.
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Table 4: Showing multiple regression analysis of influence of'
. dimensions of general health on PD
Variable SEB Beta t-value P F R R P
Somatic symptoms 1.00 . 0.404 6.695 <001
Anxietv/lnsomma 0.25 0.120 1.965 <.05
Social dysfunction -0.47 -0.172 -4.374 <.001
Depression 0.54 0.255 4.402 <.001 90.21 0.717 0.513 <.001
Table 4 shows that General health (somatic symptoms, anxiety/insomnia,
social dysfunction, and dep~'essiol1jolntly pred.icted PD (R'=.5'IY[3,343]
,= 90.21; P<.OI) accounting .for 51% variance. Som~ymptoms
(P=OA04, t=G.695, p<.OO1); anxiety/Insomnia (P=0.120,t= 1.965, p<.05);
social dysfunction (p=-O.ln, t=-4.374, p<.OOl); and depression (P=0.255,
t=4.402, p<.OOl) also significantly independently influenced PD. The
hypothesis was therefore confirmed.
Hypothesis three which states that participants with high level of
dimensions of general health will report lower scores in PD than those with
lower scores on dimensions of general health was tested with the use oft-
test.
Table 5: t-test analysis showing differences between high and low
dimensions of general health on PD
General Health. Levels N X SD DF T P
Low 185 28.69 8.48
Somatic symptoms High 162 40.15 10.96 345 -10.78 0.001
Low 176 29.35 7.86
Anxiety/Insomnia High 171 38.86 12.19 345 -8.61 0.001
Low 161 34.04 9.04
Social dysfunction High 186 34.04 12.91 345 -0.01 0.992
Low 185 28.09 8.68
Depression High 162 40.83 9.97 345 -12.61 0.001
The result in Table 5 shows that there were significant differences between
the high and low dimensions of general health factors as follows: somatic
symptoms (t[345] = -10.78; P ee 0.00 1); anxiety/insomnia (t[345] = -8.61; P
= 0.001); and depression (t[345] = -12.61; P= 0.001) with no significant
differences among participants with high and low social dysfunction (t
[345] = -12.61; P= 0.992). Therefore, hypothesis three was not fully
supported.
The hypotheses which states that participants with high level of
social support, those with high level of social maladjustment and also those
with high level in general health will score significantly higher in PD than
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maladjustment, as well as those with lowscores in general health was
tested with the use of t-test.
Table 6: T-test analysis showing the significant differences between high
and low levels of social support, social maladjustment, and general
health on PD
Variables Levels N X SD DF T P
Low 145 33.88 8.51
Social support High 202 34.15 12.90 345 -0.231 0.82
Low 179 28.84 7.93
Social Maladjustment High 168 39.57 11.67 345 -9.52 0.00
Low 194 - 29.51 8.41
General health High 153 39.78 11.82 345 -9.08 0.00
The result in Table 6 shows that there were significant differences between
high and low levels of social maladjustment (t [345] = -9.52; P = 0.00), and
general health (t[345] = -9.08; P == 0.00), while no significant difference was
noticed between those with high and low social support (t [345] = -0.23; P =
0.82). Therefore, hypothesis four was not fully supported. -
Discussion'
Of the four hypotheses stated,two were fully confirmed, while the
remaining two were partially supported. This study revealed that social
maladjustment and general health had significant main effects on PD. Social
support and social maladjustment, as well as social maladjustment and
general health also had significant interactive influence on PD, There was no
significant main effect of social support; nor significant interactive influence
of social support and general health on PD. Participants with high level of
depression reported the highest level of PO, wl;loport;';p.nts.w;thlowdep",,,;on,epo"odthelo";,,levd
of PD. The four dimensions of general health (somatic symptoms,
anxiety/insomnia, social dysfunction, and depression) jointly predicted PD.
Social dysfunction; and depression also significantly independently
. influenced PD. There were significant oifferences between the high and low
levels of the dimensions ofgeneral health and scores in PO, except among
participants with high and low social dysfunction. Participants with high and
-low teVel:nJ[-suclal maladjustment-and-general health.were ...s.ignificantly .
diffentfifintileir reported scores in PO; while no significant differences was
noticed between those with high and low social support.
The finding that psychological factors have significant independent
influence onPDis also supported by earlier case studies presented by
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Cleckley (1941), and later confirmed through investigations conducted
by Phillips, (2004). However, the revelation of the interactive influence
of the psychological factors on PD is fairly new, and has not been
commonly reported in psychology literature. Succinctly, thismeans that
the psychological factors considered in this study (socialsiipport, social
maladjustment, andgeneralhealth) should be given attention when
determining factors that could affect workplace PD.
The significant influence of social support on PD could be related to .
the possible protection that social s.upport offers people from the bad
effects of stressful life events. Challenges of employment, poor
organisational support, and work-family conflicts among others could
over-stretch an individual's coping ability, leading to stress, possibly
manifesting inPD-related symptoms at work if not promptly controlled.
These could be worsened in situations where the individual affected has
genetic tendencies for PD, in which case unfavourable workplace
challenges may serve as catalysts for epigenetic foundations for the
manifestation of workplace PD. Inthis context, the role of social support is
therefore to help affected people to fill up a critical gap by supplying
required physical, mental, social, and spiritual needs as observed by
Hardee, Eggleston, Wong, Irwanto, and Hull (2007) as well as Lakey &
Cronin, (2008). This buffers the individual coping ability, and by
extension, diffusing the impact of the underlying stressors, thereby
providing the basis for restoring psychological wellness.
Social maladjustment was also discovered to have significant main
effect on PD in agreement with the findings of Nathanson, Paulhus, &
Williams, (2006) in a study among college students with antisocial
behaviours. Social mal-adjustment is a reflection of an individual's
inability to adjust to the demands of interpersonal and social relationships,
and the stresses of daily living. As observed by Adeyerno and
Osunyikanmi,(2009), these factors are preponderant in the Ondo State
civil service. Possibilities thus exist that civil servants with difficulties in
adjusting positively to environment-work-conflicts may become gradually
characterizedby unethical and antisocial work-related behaviours; and
where required .socio-psychological interventions are lacking, affected
individuals may further manifest PD-related symptoms in the workplace,
as earlier reported by Erero, (1988). .
Concerning the different dimensions of general health, it was
discovered that civil servants with high and low levels of somatic
symptoms,anxiety/insomnia, and depression were significantly different
in the level ofPD reported. Participants with high (or worse) levels of these
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PD reported. Participants with high (or worse) levels of these indicators of
general health also recorded higher levels of PD. This shows the relevance
of the indicators in determining whether an individual will report high
levels of PD. It also further confirms the discovery of the significant main
effect of the psychological variables investigated in this study on PD.
Contrary to these, there was no significant difference in the means
recorded in PD among participants with high or low levels of social
dysfunction, especially when considering their potential influence or
tendency to develop workplace PD. This implies that an individual's level
of social dysfunction may not reveal differences in their tendencies to
develop workplace PD. This finding is in agreement with that of Vazquez,
Hervaz, Rahona, and Gomez, (2009). A further argument is that whether
assessed from a hedonic or eudaimonic perspective; wellbeing seems to
playa role in the prevention of and in the recovery of physical conditions
and diseases; and so possibly contributes to general healthy functioning.
Further from above, the Table 6 containing t-test comparing the
mean scores reported by participants with high and low levels of social
support, social maladjustment and general health on PD shows that there
were significant differences between high and low levels of social
maladjustment, and general health; while no significant differences was
noticed between those with high and low levels of social support. This shows
that an individual's level (of either scoring high or low) on social
maladjustment and general health could lead to significant differences in the
indiv.idual's score in PD, with low scorers reporting lesser scores in PD. This
suggests that provision of required social, physical, and psychological
environment at the workplace is necessary for reducing workplace PD
among civil servants.
Conclusion
From the above findings, it could be summarized that even though
general healthappeared to have a very significant influence on PD, the factor
of high levels of depression and somatic symptoms underlie the strength of
the variable to affect PD scores. The next critical variable that affects
workplace PD score is high level of social maladjustment. These imply that
civi I servants should be screened for general health, and more specifically
depression, as well as social maladjustment at the point of pre-employment
screening; andalso periodically during their careers in the civil service to
avoid tendencies for workplace PD. The corollary ofthis is that civil servants
with low levels of depression, somatic symptoms, social maladjustment (in
that 0escenaing order) are less likely to develop PD in their civil service
career; and should therefore be considered for civi Iservice appointments,
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. especially if they met other required criteria. .
The need for assuring the mental health of civil servants cannot be
over-ernphasised. It is the fulcrum on which good governance revolves.
Failure to assess civil servants for PD, coupled .with appropriate
psychological intervention could be potentially risk-laden. A civil service
filled with people with PD will lead to poor policy articulation, and
implementation; eventually becoming a major obstacle to the achievement
of efficiency in public administration (Adebayo, 1997). This till deny the
larger populace the real dividends of democracy; and possibly ~ing the
confidence of the public in the service.
It is further suggested that the establishment arm of government
ministries.vcomrnunity members, and all stakeholders should be more
conscious of the psychological health of civil servants, with a greater focus
011 the variables investigated in this study. Doing these through the
application of primary, 'secondary, and tertiary prevention schemes will
reduce the manifestation of workplace PD, considering the quandaries of
the contemporary political, economic and social challenges especially in
many parts of Nigeria
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