Abstract:

This study was conducted to ascertain the gravity of family issues on frequency of female mental illness in Federal Psychiatric Hospital, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. Five research questions were raised and one hypothesis formulated to direct the course of the study. Related literatures with Biopsychosocial model constructed by Engel, (2016) was used as a study framework. A descriptive survey design was employed and simple random sample technique was used to select the study’s participants. Data was collected using a structures questionnaire titled “Questionnaires on Family Issues and Frequency of Female Mental Illness” and analyzed with SPSS version 20.

The analysed data were presented in frequency tables and simple percentages. The research hypothesis was tested using a confirmatory factor analysis based on Kaiser’s criterion (a rule of thumb) in conjunction with the scree test with a cut-off value of 0.32 for factor loadings. Findings revealed that all variables contributed to female mental illness but family pressure had very significant contribution due to pressures in aspect of childbirth, pressures from in-laws, family and societal beliefs, inability for a woman to give birth to different sex of children, inability of the spouse to provide adequate support to the family, cancellation of marital engagement and refusal by husband’s family to accept a lady as their daughter in-law. Based on these findings, the researcher recommended that women should be fully accepted, treated with values, supported and protected with laws to avoid discrimination and stigmatization.

Keywords: Family issues, Mental illness, Frequency, Marital status, Substance abuse, Family mental history.

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