Abstract

This study examined influence of alcohol abuse on cognitive flexibility among residents of Makurdi metropolis. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted for the study. Participants consisted of 250 residents of Makurdi metropolis with age ranged between 18-60 years. The participants responded to Drug Abuse Screening Test and cognitive flexibility inventory. Two hypotheses were tested using simple linear regression and independent t-test. The results showed that alcohol abuse negatively and significantly influenced cognitive flexibility among residents of Makurdi metropolis [F(1, 248) = 10.993; P < 0.01]. The results of the second hypothesis showed that there was no significant gender difference on cognitive flexibility among residents of Makurdi metropolis [t(248 = df) = 1.375; P > 0.05]. It was therefore concluded that alcohol abuse negatively and significantly influences cognitive flexibility among residents of Makurdi metropolis. It was recommended among others that Benue State government should enforce the alcohol prohibition law implemented by the former Governor of Benue State, Senator Gabriel Torwua Suswam in other to reduce alcohol abuse among residents of Makurdi metropolis, thereby increasing their cognitive flexibility.

Keywords: Alcohol abuse, Cognitive flexibility, Gender, Makurdi residents