Psychological Distress and Coping Mechanisms Among Flood-Affected Children in Maiduguri, Nigeria

Abstract

settingsOrder Article Reprints Open AccessArticle Psychological Distress and Coping Mechanisms Among Flood-Affected Children in Maiduguri, Nigeria by Habu Haruna 1ORCID,Robert Kever 1,Babaji Maigari 1,Inuwa Ahmadu 1ORCID,Dathini Hamina 1ORCID,Dauda Salihu 2ORCID,Umar N. Jibril 3 andMuhammad Chutiyami 4,*ORCID 1 Department of Nursing Sciences, Faculty of Allied Health Science, College of Medical Sciences, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri 600104, Nigeria 2 Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health Nursing, College of Nursing, Jouf University, Sakaka 72388, Saudi Arabia 3 Department of Nursing Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin 240003, Nigeria 4 School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney 2007, Australia * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Children 2025, 12(9), 1137; https://doi.org/10.3390/children12091137 Submission received: 20 June 2025 / Revised: 29 July 2025 / Accepted: 25 August 2025 / Published: 28 August 2025 (This article belongs to the Special Issue Children's Public Health and Healthcare: Global Perspective and New Trends) Downloadkeyboard_arrow_down Browse Figure Versions Notes Abstract Background: Flood disasters, alongside prolonged conflict and socioeconomic hardship in Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria, have heightened the psychological vulnerability of children. This study examined the prevalence of psychological distress and explored the coping mechanisms employed by children affected by flooding in the region. Method: Children aged 7–17 years from flood-affected areas in Maiduguri were included in the study. Psychological distress was measured using the parent version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ-13), and coping mechanisms were assessed using the KidCOPE parent version. Multivariate and ordinal logistic regression examined factors associated with psychological distress and coping mechanisms. Results: A total of 374 children participated in the study. A total of 63.6% experienced abnormal psychological distress. Moderate and high levels of maladaptive coping were significantly associated with greater odds of psychological distress (odds ratio [OR] = 1.72, 95% CI: 1.25–2.36; OR = 2.43, 95% CI: 1.46–4.04). Similarly, moderate adaptive coping was associated with higher odds of distress compared to poor coping (OR = 1.90, 95% CI: 1.38–2.61). In unadjusted models, age, female gender, higher education, Christian religion, and higher household income were associated with increased psychological distress. However, these were not significant in the adjusted model. Ordinal logistic regression showed no significant predictors of either maladaptive or adaptive coping levels. Conclusions: A high proportion of flood-affected children in Maiduguri experience psychological distress, with maladaptive coping playing a key role. The findings indicate the need for targeted psychosocial interventions to improve adaptive coping skills in flood-affected children.