Association Between Depression and Suicidal Behavior with Resilience Among Internally Displaced Persons Affected by Banditry in Northwestern Nigeria

BackgroundInternally displaced persons (IDPs) affected by armed violence are at increased risk of mental health disorders, including depression and suicidal behavior. Resilience has been identified as a potential protective factor; however, its role among IDPs affected by banditry in northwestern Nigeria remains underexplored. This study examined the association between depression, suicidal behavior, and resilience among IDPs displaced by banditry.MethodsA descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 230 internally displaced adults residing in camps and settlements in Sokoto State, northwestern Nigeria. Participants were recruited using systematic sampling. Major depressive disorder was assessed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview Version 7 (MINI-7), suicidal behavior was measured using the Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire–Revised (SBQ-R), and resilience was evaluated using the 10-item Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10). Descriptive statistics were used to determine prevalence rates. Point-biserial correlation analyses were performed to examine associations between resilience and both depression and suicidal behavior.ResultsThe prevalence of major depressive disorder was 57% (95% CI: 50.3%–63.4%), while 29.6% (95% CI: 23.7%– 35.9%) of participants reported suicidal behavior. There was a negligible positive correlation between resilience and depression (rpb = 0.035, p = 0.596), and between resilience and suicidal behavior (rpb = 0.019, p = 0.772). Neither association was statistically significant.ConclusionThis study found no statistically significant association between resilience and depression or suicidal behavior among IDPs affected by banditry. These findings suggest that resilience alone may not sufficiently explain mental health outcomes in this population and underscore the importance of considering broader psychosocial and contextual determinants in intervention planning.