A Theoretical Synthesis of Ecological Systems and Trauma-Informed Educational Psychology: Towards a Nigerian Framework

This study develops and validates a contextually grounded theoretical framework synthesising ecological systems theory and trauma-informed educational psychology principles for application within the Nigerian educational context. Existing theoretical frameworks guiding school-based psychological practice were predominantly developed in Western educational environments and require systematic adaptation for Nigeria's diverse ecological, cultural, and institutional realities. The study employs a sequential mixed-methods design in three phases: a systematic literature review of 85 empirical studies on educational psychology interventions in sub-Saharan Africa published between 2019 and 2024, followed by an expert consensus study using the Delphi technique involving 40 Nigerian educational psychologists, university scholars, and policy practitioners from all six geopolitical zones, and finally an empirical validation study across 12 schools in Abuja, Lagos, and Kano. The proposed framework, termed the Nigerian Ecological Trauma-Responsive Education Model, integrates microsystem, exosystem, and macrosystem contextual factors with trauma assessment, culturally responsive pedagogy, and multilevel support pathways. Expert consensus reached 85 percent agreement on framework components after three Delphi rounds. Validation study results confirm the model's predictive utility for student psychological well-being outcomes. This framework constitutes an original theoretical contribution to the field of educational psychology in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa, offering scholars and practitioners a culturally validated conceptual architecture for research design and service delivery. The National Universities Commission is advised to consider this framework in revising educational psychology training standards for Nigerian universities. Keywords: ecological systems theory, trauma-informed education, theoretical framework, Nigeria, educational psychology.