Examining Age-Based Differences in the Traumatic Experiences of Long-Term Flood Victims in Nigeria

This study explores the relationship between age and the severity of traumatic problems experienced by long-term flood victims in Nigeria using a statistical ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) approach. Data were collected from affected individuals across different age groups to assess variations in mental and emotional trauma. The findings reveal statistically significant age-based differences in trauma levels, with younger and older age groups exhibiting higher vulnerability to long-term emotional distress. These results underscore the need for age-sensitive mental health interventions in post-disaster recovery programmes in Nigeria. The study contributes to disaster management policy and programmes by highlighting the importance of demographic factors in trauma assessment and support planning to policymakers in the country. This study employed a one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to examine the statistical differences in traumatic problems experienced among six age groups (Below 19, 20–29, 30–39, 40–49, 50–59, and >60 years) of long-term flood victims in Maiduguri. Data was collected using structured questionnaires as a tool and administered to 369 flood survivors across three major flood-affected areas in Borno state. The ANOVA test revealed statistically significant differences in trauma scores among age groups (Sig = 0.000), less than (p = 0.005), indicating that some participants experienced significantly higher trauma levels compared to other participants. Age significantly influences the level of traumatic problems among flood victims in Nigeria. Younger adults, particularly those between 20 and 40, exhibited greater vulnerability, suggesting a need for age-targeted mental health intervention management for post-flood victims in the country.