Browsing by Author "Gyasi-Gyamerah, A.A."
Now showing 1 - 7 of 7
Results Per Page
Sort Options
Item Is cohabitation a prerequisite for marriage?: Exploring Ghanaian emerging adults’ attitudes and intentions(Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 2023) Gyasi-Gyamerah, A.A.; Quansah, C.; Annor, F.; Gyasi-Gyamerah, K.With cohabitation increasingly becoming a relationship option for many young adults, understanding the attitudes and intentions that fuel the decision to cohabit is important. Using a generic qualitative research design, we set out to explore this among emerging adults in a Ghanaian university. Our sample included 44 students who participated in a discussion focused on determining what cohabitation means to them, the significance they attach to cohabitation, their evaluations and whether they intend to cohabit. Regarding participants’ attitudes, four themes were generated from analyses of the data including ‘Meaning of Cohabitation’, ‘Cohabitation before Marriage is Crucial to Marital Success’, ‘Cohabitation is a Gateway to Moral and Institutional Transgressions’, and ‘As Long as We Marry’. Findings also showed significant gender differences in intention to cohabit al though the consensus among participants was that one’s intention to cohabit is dependent on the individual’s personal and vicarious experiences within their environment. Based on these findings, we recommend that counsellors and guardians be equipped with the knowledge base and skills required to help young adults navigate cohabitation rela tionships and advocate for strengthening policy and education on cohabitation.Item On being gay in Ghana - Young men's life experiences(University of Ghana, 2015-04-17) Gyasi-Gyamerah, A.A.In Ghana, individuals who are gay or homosexuals are not likely to disclose their status because of the generally negative attitudes toward homosexual behavior. This general negative attitude has been well documented in the scientific literature. In Ghana, there has been a raging debate on the subject of morality of homosexuality in the mass media for quite a long time. Despite this negative attitude, there are some individuals who have disclosed their status, largely in secret. This paper seeks to discuss the life experiences of nine (9) male university students and the challenges they face due to their sexual orientation. We examine four themes derived from analyses of transcripts of in-depth interviews. The discussion centers on what they believe to have caused their homosexuality, their openness about their sexual orientation, reactions by society and fellow students towards them and the vulnerability they feel due to these reactions. The paper concludes with the thoughts of these gay students on what the university as an entity and Ghana as a whole should do to protect the rights of homosexuals as human beings.Item Predicting risk and protective factors of generalized anxiety disorder: a comparative study among adolescents in Ghana(International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 2019-12-03) Gyasi-Gyamerah, A.A.; Ahulu, L.D.; Anum, A.In this study, we investigated psychosocial factors associated with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) among adolescents in two socioeconomically and ethnically different communities in Ghana. We examined two objectives; to test the predictors of GAD and to examine differences between the two groups on the predictors of GAD. We studied 300 adolescents aged between 13 and 19 years who responded to a sixscale questionnaire that measured GAD, parental perception, adolescent coping, adolescent religiosity, peer pressure, and self-esteem. We found a higher prevalence of GAD in Obuasi and consistent patterns of risks and protection in both communities. Non-productive coping and low parental involvement were found to be risk factors while self-esteem was found to be a protective factor against GAD. We discuss these findings in the context of socioeconomic and psychological differences among the adolescent population in GhanaItem Psychological Factors Associated With Mental Adjustment to Breast Cancer: A Hospital-Based Observational Study(Illness, Crisis & Loss, 2023) Dadzie, H.A.N.; Teye-Kwadjo, E.; Asante, K.O.; Amankwah-Poku, M.; Gyasi-Gyamerah, A.A.; Akotia, C.S.; Osafo, J.; Amankwaa-Frempong, E.; Roomaney, R.; Kagee, A.This study examined mental adjustment to breast cancer, that is, coping strategies. Participants were 130 women undergoing breast cancer treatment in two medical settings in Accra, Ghana. They completed questionnaires assessing mental adjustment to cancer, psychological distress (anxiety and depression), negative religious coping, body change stress, and illness perceptions. Data were analyzed using hierarchical linear regression. Results showed that patients who reported higher depression were more likely to engage in anxious preoccupation (worry and thinking about breast cancer). Higher depression was associated with a greater sense of helplessness/hopelessness. Moreover, patients higher in negative religious coping were more likely to experience a greater sense of helplessness/hopelessness. Illness perception facets of personal control and emotional response were positively associated with fatalism and anxious preoccupation, respectively. The results suggest that screening breast cancer patients for psychological morbidity could help identify patients with increased risks for maladaptive adjustment to the diseaseItem 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.Item Religious commitment and prejudicial attitudes toward homosexuals in Ghana(AFRICAN JOURNALS ONLINE, 2016) Gyasi-Gyamerah, A.A.; Akotia, C..S.Recently, the issue of homosexuality has generated passionate discussion in Ghana making it obvious that Ghanaians are unaccepting of it and view it as against the culture, moral ethics and religions of Ghana. This study therefore aimed at determining the extent to which religious commitment will moderate prejudicial attitudes toward homosexuals focusing on the cognitive and affective components of attitudes. It also had the secondary aim of determining the relative importance of stereotypic beliefs, symbolic beliefs, and affect in predicting attitudes toward homosexuals. Students of the University of Ghana, specifically from the Department of Psychology, served as participants (N = 183). Findings indicated that participants had prejudicial attitudes toward homosexuals, rating them as very unfavourable. Also, participants’ personal characteristics did not predict their evaluation of homosexuals. Additionally, stereotypic beliefs and affect were found to be the best predictors of participants’ prejudicial attitudes. Finally, it was found that religious commitment moderated the relationship between participants’ attitude components and their evaluation of homosexuals but with the exception of affect. These findings are most probably due to the cultural environment within which participants are socialized. It is recommended that future studies determine which other variables might be affecting prejudicial attitudes toward homosexuals and also examine the behavioural component of such attitudesItem Researching the sensitive issues - Identity in relation to one's sexuality(University of Ghana, 2015-04-17) Gyasi-Gyamerah, A.A.; Fiaveh, D.Y.; Hiadzi, R.A.Societies have different ideas about who we are and how we should express ourselves. These ideas are translated into the norms and values of the society and affect people's sense of id entity. Due to the cultural setting, some aspects of the Ghanaian's life that are paramount to identity construction including sexual preferences, sexual orientation, and fertility are sensitive areas that are rarely discussed. As such, it is very difficult researching into these areas. This pa per therefore looks at the theories that underlie researching into these sensitive areas, the methods used in collecting data, and the ethical protocols that undergird them from an African perspective. The paper ends on a reflective note as it deals with our experiences researching these areas using urban Ghanaian samples