Environmental Worry of River State Residents in the Niger Delta Region, Nigeria

Olusola I. Akinbobola, Bernard E. Njor

Academic Planning & Quality Assurance, Redeemer’s University, Redemption City, Nigeria.
Department of Behavioural Studies, Redeemer’s University, Redemption City, Nigeria.

DOI: 10.4236/psych.2014.51007                

Abstract

Human-made cataclysmic events from over 50 years of oil production, gas explosions, and oil spillages soak the Niger Delta pose psychological challenges to the people in the environment. Thus this study examined environmental worry of Rivers State residents of Niger Delta, Nigeria. Data collected were analysed using independent t-test and one-way ANOVA. The findings of the FGD revealed that there is an awareness of loss of land, loss of control of technical networks in oil production and experience of environmental degradation. Additionally, the survey results showed a significant difference on environmental worry based on sex and age. However, nativity, employment status and educational status did not significantly differentiate between groups on environmental worry. The implication of the results of the study is discussed in line with relevance of residents’ expectations, prospects and choice of enduring lifestyle, living and survival.

Keywords

Environmental Worry; Environmental Degradation; Niger Delta

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	Adams, J. S. (1965). Inequality in social exchange. In L. Berkowitz (Ed.), Advances in Experimental Social Psychology (pp. 267-299). New York: Academic Press.
[2]	Adeola, F. O. (2007). Nativity and environmental risk perception: An empirical study of native-born and foreign—Born residents of USA. Human Ecology Review, 14.
[3]	Akinbobola, O. I. (2012). Environmental worry as correlate of selfesteem among employed and unemployed people in oil industry environment. International Journal of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, 2, 167-172.
[4]	Akinbobola, O. I., & Njor, B. E. (2013). Environmental worry: Assessing risk perception and perceived marginalisation of residents of the Niger Delta. Nigeria Redeemer’s University Journal of Management and Social Sciences, 1, 92-98.
[5]	Babalola, S. S. (2010). The impact of length of unemployment and perceived organizational support on employee’s emotional needs. Ifepsychologia, 18, 119-136.
[6]	Bowler, R. M., & Schwarzer, R. (1991). Environmental Anxiety: Assessing emotional distress and concerns after toxin exposure. Anxiety, Stress and Coping, 4, 167-180.
[7]	Brehm, S. S., & Brehm, J. W. (1981). Psychological Reactance: A Theory of Freedom and Control. New York: Academic Press.
[8]	Bruce, V., & Young, A. (1988). In the Eye of the Beholded: The Science of Face Perception. Oxford University Press.
[9]	Crayford, S. (1996). The Ogoni uprising: Oil, human rights and a democratic alternative in Nigeria. Africa Today, 43, 183-193.
[10]	Deutsch, M. (1975). Equity, equality, and need: What determines which value will be used as the basis of distributive justice? Journal of Social Issues, 31, 137-149.
[11]	Drottz-Sjoberg, B. M., & Stoberg, L. (1990). Risk Perception and worries after the Chernobyl accident. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 10, 135-149.
[12]	Ehigie, B. O. (2005). Ethnic differences and perceived marginalisation as psychological issues of conflict in Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of International Affairs, 31, 71-89.
[13]	Ehigie, B. O., & Ideozu, C. I. (1999). Psychological Consequences of Environmental degradation: A Case Study of the Niger Delta. Proceeding of the 18th Annual conference of the Nigerian Psychological Association, University of Lagos.
[14]	Eisenberger, R., Armeli, S., Fasolo, P., & Lynch, P. (1998). Perceived organisational support and police performance: The moderating influence of socio-emotional needs. Journal of Applied Psychology, 83, 288-297.
[15]	Forsyth, D. R. (2006). Conflict. In D. R. Forsyth (Ed.), Group Dynamics (5th ed., pp. 388-389). Wadsworth: Cengage Learning Belmont.
[16]	Garber, J., & Seligman, M. E. P. (1981). Human helplessness: Theory and applications. New York: Academic Press.
[17]	Grattan, L. M., Roberts, S., William, T., Mahan, W. T., Patrick, K., McLaughlin, P. K., Steven, W., Otwell, W. S., & Morris, J. G. (2011). The Early Psychological Impacts of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill on Florida and Alabama Communities. Environment Health Perspective, 119, 838-843.
[18]	Herr, C. E. W., Rethage, T., Kopka, I., zur Nieden, I. A., Korner, I. E., Osadnik, I. R., Stilianakis, N., Hodapp, V., & Eikmann T. F. (2000). Comparing environmental worry in 1996 and 2000 in environmental related studies. Epidemiology, 13, 251.
[19]	Hokka, P., Palosuob, H., Zhuralevac, I., Parnad, K., Mussalo-Rauhamaab, H., & Lakomovac, N. (1999). Anxiety about environmental hazards among teenagers in Helsinki, Moscow and Tallinn. The Science of the Total Environment, 234, 95-107.
[20]	Krueger, R. A. (1998). Focus Groups. A Practical Guide for Applied Research (2nd ed.). CA: Sage Thousand Oaks.
[21]	Nwoke, M. B. (2011). Perception of the relationship between oil exploitation and environmental degradation in the Niger Delta, region: Psychological implications. African Journal for the Psychological Study of Social Issues, 14.
[22]	Obadan, M. I., & Chokor, B. A. (2013). Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow Proceedings of the Niger Delta Stakeholders conference of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs on coordinating Development Initiatives for the Transformation of the Niger Delta.
[23]	Pegg, S., & Zabbey, N. (2013). Oil and water: The Bodo spills and the destruction of traditional livelihood structures in the Niger Delta. Community Development Journal, 48, 391-405.
[24]	Rodin, J., & Baum, A. (1978). Crowding helplessness: Potential consequences of density and loss of control. In A. Baum, & Y. Epstein (Eds.), Human Response to Crowding. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
[25]	Seligman, M. E. P. (1992). Helplessness: on depression, development and death (2nd ed.). New York: W. H. Freeman.
[26]	Seligman, M. E. P., & Maier S. F. (1967). Failure to escape traumatic shock. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 74, 1-9.
[27]	Shusterman, D., Lipscomb J., Neutra R., & Satin K. (1991). Symptom prevalence and odour-worry interaction near hazardous waste sites. Environmental Health Perspectives, 94, 25-30.
[28]	Sjoberg, L. (1998). Worry and risk perception. Risk Analysis, 18, 85-93.
[29]	Sjoberg, L., & Drottz-Sjoberg, B. M. (1987). Psychological reactions to cancer risks after the Chernobyl accident. Medical Oncology Tumor Pharmacother, 4, 259-271.
[30]	Sjoberg, L., & Drottz-Sjoberg, B. M. (1993). The Perceived risk of nuclear waste. Proceedings of the SRA—Europe. In P. Vestrucci, & R. A. Cox (Eds.), Fourth Conference: European Technology and Experience in Safety Analysis and Risk Management, Rome.
[31]	Stokols, D. (1978). Environmental psychology. Annual Review of Psychology, 29, 253-295.
[32]	Udogu, E. I. (2005). Nigeria in the twenty first century: Strategies for political stability and peaceful coexistence. New York: Africa World Press.
[33]	United Nations Development Program-UNDP (2006). Niger Delta Human Development Report. Main Report and Summary.
[34]	Wohlwill, J. F. (1974). Human response to levels of environmental stimulation. Human Ecology, 2, 127-147.
[35]	World Bank (2007). Nigeria Country Brief. Washington: World Bank.