Browsing by Author "Amissah, C.M."

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Assessing psychosocial distress associated with homelessness in Ghana: A springboard for interventional policy design
(Journal of Health Psychology, 2022) Amissah, N.BF.; Amissah, C.M.; Amponsah, B.
This study investigated the causes of homelessness in Ghana and associated psychosocial distress. A sample of 86 homeless participants listed perceived causes of their homelessness and completed measures of psychosocial distress, and 97 non-homeless participants completed the same measures psychosocial distress. Causes of homelessness among the participants included poverty (30.1%), migration (10.4%), unemployment (2.2%), parental demise (2.2%), parental neglect (0.5%), and parental divorce (0.5%). Multivariate analysis revealed higher psychosocial distress among the homeless than the non-homeless. Homeless females reported higher levels of stress and suicidality than their male counterparts. The study demonstrates the need for timely and effective implementation of interventions such as provision of affordable housing, financial assistance, job-creation, and skill training for the homeless directly related to known causes of homelessness and accounting for gender differences.
Changing Attitudes toward Homosexuality in Ghana: The Power of Attributional Discourse
(SAGE Open, 2019-06-12) Gyasi-Gyamerah, A.A; Amissah, C.M.; Danquah, S.A.
It is overwhelmingly documented that attitudes toward homosexuals in Africa are largely negative, yet there is little exploration on interventional measures for change. This study therefore examined the effectiveness of using attributional discourse to change attitudes toward homosexuals in Ghana. In a pretest–posttest between-group design, 143 university students were randomly assigned into four experimental conditions (i.e., biological, choice, biological transgender, and choice transgender) with informative vignettes serving as the intervention. Posttest evaluation results showed a significant reduction in participants’ negative attitudes toward homosexuals across all four treatment conditions. There were no significant between-group differences and no significant gender differences in attitudinal change after controlling for pretest evaluation. The findings suggest the need to encourage healthy attributional discourse over the rationality in homosexual decisions and behaviors. Particularly, educating the public on the probable reasons behind homosexuality can potentially reduce negative attitudes toward homosexuals and impact legislative policies in Ghana.
The effect of child abuse on children’s psychological health
(Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, 2014-07) Nyarko, K.; Amissah, C.M.; Addai, P.; Dedzo, B.Q.
The study examines the impact of child abuse on children’s psychological health. Child abuse was defined as physical and psychological abuses against children whilst psychological health was defined in relation to children’s self-esteem, depression, and anxiety. 109 children were purposively sampled to partake in the study. The sample consisted of both males (n = 68) and females (n = 41) from diverse socio-economic backgrounds, whose ages were from 9 to 18 years. The research design used was a survey, and the independent samples t-test was used to analyze the data. Some of the participants have histories of abusive treatment (n=57) whilst others were without any such history (n=68). Among those who had suffered abusive treatment, 36 suffered physical abuse and 21 suffered psychological abuse. Standardized measures were used to rate each participant’s level of depression and anxiety. The analyses of the data show that both physical and psychological abuses lead to a significant increase in children’s depression and anxiety. These findings are discussed with reference to existing psychological literature and theories.
Facing the Ills of Unemployment: The Role of Religiosity and Social Support
(Journal of Religion and Health, 2020-01-07) Amissah, C.M.; Nyarko, K.
The study examined the role of religiosity and social support in coping with mental health problems associated with unemployment among 362 Ghanaian youths. Through a cross-sectional survey, participants’ mental health (i.e., depression, cognitive distortions, and suicidality), religiosity, and degree of social support were assessed. The data revealed significant buffering effects of religiosity on mental health problems associated with unemployment. Social support had direct, but not buffering, effects on mental health. The findings highlight the need to promote religiosity as a coping mechanism for the adverse effects of unemployment, especially in the absence of immediate economic interventions.
Influence of childhood attachment on adolescents’ interpersonal relationship and self-esteem among undergraduate students of the University of Ghana
(British Journal of Education, Society & Behavioural Science, 2014-11) Nyarko, K.; Addai, P.; Amissah, C.M.
Childhood insecurities may affect a wide range of personality development such as interpersonal relationship and self-esteem during adolescence. The present study explores the effect of childhood attachment on adolescents’ interpersonal relationship and self-esteem among undergraduate students of the University of Ghana. The study also examines gender differences in interpersonal relationship and self-esteem. A total of two hundred undergraduate students from the University of Ghana were selected using convenient sampling to complete the Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale, the Perceived Interpersonal Relationship Scale (PIRS) and the Childhood Attachment Inventory (CAI). Data were analyzed using the multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). Results reveal that adolescents who have secured childhood attachment have good interpersonal relationship and higher level of self-esteem than adolescents who have unsecured attachment. There was however no gender differences found in adolescents interpersonal relationship and self-esteem. Based on the findings, it is recommended that parents assess how they relate with their children and not to inculcate trepidation in their children since these have the tendency to affect personality development during adulthood.
Psychological Effects of Youth Unemployment in Ghana: A Case Study of the Greater Accra Region
(University Of Ghana, 2016-05) Amissah, C.M.; Asumeng, M.; Nyarko, K.; University Of Ghana, College of Humanities, School of Social Sciences, Department of Psychology
This study investigated the psychological effects of youth unemployment in Ghana and the buffering role of religiosity and social support. Youths within the ages of 18 and 35 years in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana constituted the research population. A sample of 362 youths were purposively selected for the study. They comprised both the employed (n=172) and the unemployed (n=190). The employed youths served as a control group for comparative analyses. The cross-sectional survey research design was adopted. Standardized measures were used to assess psychological health in terms of depression, cognitive distortions, self-esteem, and suicidality. The Pearson r test, the Linear Regression test, and the Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) test were used to analyze the data. The findings showed poorer psychological health among unemployed youths than employed youths. Duration of unemployment significantly predicted poorer psychological health among the youths. Religiosity moderated the psychological effects of youth unemployment except for depression. However, social support predicted but did not moderate the psychological effects of youth unemployment. The findings and their implications are discussed with references to the existing literature and theories.
Relationships among body image, eating behaviour, and psychological health of University of Ghana students
(International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 2015-06) Amissah, C.M.; Nyarko, K.; Gyasi-Gyamerah, A.A.; Anto-Winne, M.N.
The study examines the relationship among body image, eating behavior, and psychological health among undergraduate students of University of Ghana. A total of 140 students comprising males (n=70) and females (n=70) from collectivistic cultures (n=117) and individualistic cultures (n=23) were conveniently sampled as respondents for the study. Questionnaires containing Body Image Scale (BIS), Eating Attitudes Test-16 (EAT-16), and the General Wellbeing Schedule (GWB) were administered to the respondents. The analyses of data revealed a significant positive relationship between body image and eating behavior, but a negative relationship between body image and psychological health. There was no significant relationship between age and body image and no significant sex differences in body image, eating behavior and psychological health.. Culture had a significant influence on body image and psychological health. Students from individualistic cultures had a more positive body image, but a poorer psychological health than those from collectivistic cultures. These findings are discussed with references to the literature.