Coping Behavior and Psychological Resilience Among Victims of Communal Violence in Plateau State, North Central Nigeria

Communal violence in the Middle Belt region of Nigeria has created widespread psychosocial trauma, yet many affected individuals demonstrate remarkable resilience rooted in community and spiritual resources. This study explores coping behavior and psychological resilience among survivors of communal violence in Plateau State, North Central Nigeria. A mixed-methods cross-sectional design will recruit 200 survivors from four violence-affected communities in Jos South and Barkin Ladi local government areas. The Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) and the COPE Inventory will quantitatively assess resilience and coping styles, while 20 qualitative in-depth interviews will explore contextual and cultural coping mechanisms. Binary logistic regression will identify sociodemographic predictors of high resilience. Qualitative data will be analyzed thematically. Existing evidence from Plateau State documents high PTSD rates, but limited attention has been paid to protective factors that moderate trauma responses. This study addresses that gap, generating evidence for community-based psychosocial support programs and informing the Plateau State Peacebuilding and Conflict Management Agency. Keywords: coping, resilience, communal violence, Plateau State, trauma