COGNITIVE PROCESSING OF TRAUMA, PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS, AND HELP-SEEKING ATTITUDES AMONG NIGERIAN UNDERGRADUATES

Abstract

Traumatic experiences are increasingly recognized as significant determinants ofmental health outcomes. This study examined the impact of cognitive processing of trauma onpsychological distress and attitudes toward help-seeking behaviour among Nigerianundergraduates. A quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted with 389 undergraduatestudents (female = 227, male = 162) from the University of Lagos, selected via a conveniencesampling method. Participants completed validated instruments: the Cognitive Processing ofTrauma Scale (CPOTS), the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10), and the Attitudes towardSeeking Professional Psychological Help Scale-Short Form (ATSPPHS-SF). Data were analyzedusing Pearson’s correlation, independent samples t-tests, and linear regression. Results indicatedthat Maladaptive cognitive processing showed a statistically significant but weak positivecorrelation with psychological distress (r = .141, p < .001). Additionally, adaptive processingpositively predicted help-seeking attitudes (β = .179, p < .001), accounting for 3.2% of the variance.Students with positive help-seeking attitudes reported lower distress (M = 29.54, SD = 8.58) thanthose with negative attitudes (M = 30.86, SD = 6.82; t (387) = -1.66, p = .049). These findingsdemonstrated that maladaptive trauma processing exacerbates psychological distress, whileadaptive strategies foster openness to professional help and mitigate psychological distress. Thestudy recommends culturally tailored programs that target maladaptive cognitions to minimizestigma and bridge treatment gaps.