Nnadiebube Journal of Social Sciences

AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON THE EFFECTS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS AND LIFESTYLES ON CARDIOVASCULAR REACTIVITY AND RECOVERY FROM ACUTE STRESS AMONG COVENANT UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Samson F. Agberotimi — 2025-10-11

Cardiovascular reactivity (CVR) and recovery are physiological responses that reflect the body’s adaptation to stress. While these responses are typically adaptive, exaggerated or blunted cardiovascular reactions to acute stress have been linked to adverse health outcomes, including cardiovascular diseases (CVD). This study investigated the effects of acute stress on CVR and recovery among Covenant University students and examined the moderating roles of emotional regulation and physical activity. Sixty undergraduate students (42 female and 18 male) from Covenant University participated in an experimental study involving exposure to an acute stressor (serial subtraction task), during which systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and pulse rate (PR) were measured across baseline, stress exposure, and recovery. Emotional dysregulation was assessed using the Brief Emotion Dysregulation Scale, while physical activity levels were self-reported. Results from paired samples t-tests and repeated-measures ANOVA showed significant increases in SBP, DBP, and PR during stress and significant reductions during recovery, confirming the physiological impact of acute stress. Moderation analyses revealed that emotional regulation, specifically the lability dimension, significantly moderated PR recovery, suggesting that emotional instability can impair autonomic recovery. Meanwhile, physical activity significantly moderated SBP reactivity, with more active individuals showing higher blood pressure responses to stress. However, neither emotional regulation nor physical activity significantly moderated cardiovascular recovery for SBP or DBP. These findings show that psychological and lifestyle factors can influence how the cardiovascular system responds to stress, but their effects are parameter-specific. The study emphasises the need for integrated interventions to improve cardiovascular resilience in Covenant University students within Nigeria.

A CRITICAL COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF EMPLOYEES’ PERCEPTION OF JOB SATISFACTION IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES IN CROSS RIVER STATE, NIGERIA

Grace Jamie Pepple — 2025-10-11

This study carried out a critical comparative analysis of employees’ perception of job satisfaction in public and private universities in Cross River State, Nigeria. It was conducted to critically explore the perception of job satisfaction among lecturers in public and private universities in Cross River under the Job Characteristics Model. To this end, primary research was carried out to understand the differences in the level of skill variety in academic roles between lecturers in public and private universities; understand how lecturers in public and private universities perceive the significance of their work in terms of its impact on society; and critically compare the differences in the degree of autonomy experienced by lecturers in public and private universities regarding their job responsibilities. The research design was a multiple case study design, which relied on semi-structured interviews to collect primary data from 14 lecturers (7 each from a private university and public university) in Cross River State. Snowball sampling technique was applied. The data obtained were thematically analysed. The findings revealed that lecturers in both public and private universities experienced a high level of skill variety through their engagement in multiple roles such as teaching, supervising, curriculum development, administrative duties, and student mentoring. However, significant differences emerged in how this skill variety was perceived and experienced across the two institutional types. It was also found that lecturers in both sectors in Cross River State view their work as highly significant to societal development, though shaped by their institutional contexts. In addition, it was found that lecturers in public universities enjoyed considerable academic freedom, allowing them to independently plan their courses, design assessments, and engage in research with minimal institutional interference. Whereas, lecturers in private universities reported significantly limited autonomy, as they were often required to adhere strictly to pre-determined curricula, institutional guidelines, and administrative controls, which restricted innovation and undermined intrinsic motivation. On the basis of these findings, the study recommended that public and private universities should adopt structured role diversification, visible recognition of societal contributions, and flexible academic autonomy frameworks to align lecturers’ tasks with their strengths, validate their wider impacts, and empower their teaching and research choices. This would enhance their motivation, reducing burnout, and promoting deeper professional engagement across both sectors.

MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY

Abiodun M. Gesinde — 2025-10-11

Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) is a distinct and impactful form of psychotherapy that focuses on treating relational dynamics rather than solely individual pathology. This paper explores this field's core concepts, approaches, and challenges. It begins by differentiating between marriage and family counselling, which is often short-term and skills-focused, and therapy, which delves into deeper, long-term emotional and psychological issues. The historical development of MFT is traced from its roots in early marriage counselling to the rise of systemic family therapy in the mid-20th century, highlighting key pioneers like Murray Bowen, Salvador Minuchin, and Jay Haley. Furthermore, this paper contrasts MFT with traditional individual and group therapy, emphasising MFT's unique systemic perspective. Unlike individual therapy, which focuses on intrapersonal issues, MFT views the family as an interconnected unit where a member's problem affects the entire system. This paper also discusses how hybrid approaches increasingly blend these modalities to provide more holistic and effective treatment. Finally, the paper outlines the multifaceted goals of MFT, which include enhancing communication, building resilience, setting realistic expectations, and fostering empathy among family members.

AFFILIATED SELF AND PSYCHOLOGICAL RELATIONS IN OKPEWHO'S CALL ME BY MY RIGHTFUL NAME AND ARMAH'S OSIRIS RISING

Ngozi Jacinta Ozoh — 2025-10-11

The stories of Africans affirm a lot of economic, social and political changes from precolonial period to the present era. Africans migrate and most of them find themselves in dilemma and may rush back home. African migration is now in quadrangle form, in addition to leaving the country and working there, there is this last stage which is homecoming. Using qualitative method of research, this work examines the psychological dispositions of the characters at home (Africa) when they finally return home through a comparative study of Okpewho’s Call me by My Rightful Name and Armah’s Osiris Rising. Analyzing the work with trauma theory, the researcher looks at the relationship between the individual and his or her nation of origin and the working of filiation and affiliation in contemporary Africa. The findings reveal that transnational migration is a perennial issue in Africa and a lot of returnees face psychological issues that may be fatal.