Abstract:
The research investigated perceived stress reactivity, resilience and emotional intelligence as predictors of psychological health among two hundred and seventeen (217) caregivers who have stayed for at least one month with a psychiatric patient drawn from Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu. The participants comprised of males (n=41) and females (n=176) with mean age of 26.89. Thirty-nine (39) of them had primary education; one hundred and two (102) had secondary education while seventy-six (76) had tertiary education. Two hundred and fourteen (214) were Christians while three (3) were traditionalist. Three hypotheses were tested in the study. Four instruments namely; perceived stress reactivity scale, resilience scale, brief emotional intelligence scale and general health questionnaire were used to elicit responses from the participants. The result showed that, perceived stress reactivity significantly predict psychological health among caregivers of psychiatric patients (β=.29,t=4.72, P<.001). The result also showed resilience as a significant predictor of psychological health among caregivers of psychiatric patients. (β = -. 18, t= -2.31, P< .01). The result equally indicated emotional intelligence as a predictor of psychological health among psychiatric patients’ caregivers. (β = - . 31, t= -4.06, P<.001). Discussions on the result of the findings, implications and limitations of the findings were highlighted and suggestions made for further study.
