Social Support, Resilience, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder among Internally Displaced Persons in Sokoto, Northwest Nigeria

Background: Victims of banditry in Northwestern Nigeria have been exposed to various degrees of psychological trauma leading to high prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Aim: This study aimed at examining the relationship between social support and resilience, and the occurrence of PTSD among victims of banditry in internally displaced camps in Northwest Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional study carried out among victims of banditry living in Internally Displaced Persons’ camps in Sokoto between June to December 2024. Participants who declined to consent and those with severe physical and mental illness were excluded. A total of 415 participants were recruited using systematic sampling technique and were administered Socio-demographic Questionnaire, Harvard Trauma Questionnaire – Revised, 3-item Oslo Social Support Scale, 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, and Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Using SPSS, Chi-square test was used to determine association while binary logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent predictors of PTSD. p <0.05. Result: The mean age of the IDPs was 36.76 years (SD = 16.35; Range: 12 - 85). Social support was not significantly associated with PTSD (χ² = 2.38, p = 0.796) while resilience showed a strong association with PTSD (χ² = 69.24, p < 0.001). In multivariable logistic regression analysis adjusting for age, gender, and cumulative traumatic events, social support is not independently associated with PTSD. However, participants in the lowest resilience quartile (AOR = 16.43, 95% CI: 5.35–50.41; p < 0.001) had markedly higher odds of PTSD compared with those in the highest quartile. Conclusion: Low resilience is an independently associated wiht PTSD among internally displaced persons affected by banditry, whereas social support does not show an independent association. These findings signify the importance of policy formulation and targeted interventions towards helping victims build resilience through social cohesion, psychoeducation and strengthening spiritual identity.