Personality, Family Conflict and Age in Marriage as Predictors of Postpartum Distress

ABSTRACT The study investigated personality, family conflict and age in marriage as predictors of postpartum distress. Two hundred and seven (207) women in their postpartum period participated in the study and were purposefully drawn from Federal Medical Center and Specialist Hospital Lokoja. Three hypotheses were tested: Personality will not significantly related to postpartum distress. Family conflict will not significantly related to postpartum distress. Age in marriage will not significantly related to postpartum distress. Three instruments: Big five personality inventory, Symptoms distress checklist (SCL90) and Family Environment Scale were used for data collection. Linear regression analysis was used to analyze the data. The results showed a significant relationship between family conflict and somatization (β= .20, t= 2.98, P < .005) and age in marriage (β= .16, t= 2.44, P < .05). The result also shows significant relationship between family conflict and obsessive compulsion (β = .20, t= 2.90, P < .05). The result also indicates a significant relationship between extraversion and hostility (β= .18, t= 2.62, P < .05), Agreeableness and hostility (β= .23, t= 2.31, P < .05), Openness and hostility (β= .26, t= 3.37, P < .005) and family conflict and hostility (β= .24, t= 3.68, P < .005). It also showed a significant relationship between family conflict and phobic anxiety (β = .33, t=5.04, P < .005). The implication and limitations were discussed and suggestions were made for further study.