Performing Powerlessness: Objectification, Disinhibition, and Fatalism among Nigerian Youths

Abstract

This study investigates how self-objectification, fatalistic beliefs, and digital disinhibition interact in the online behaviours of Nigerian university graduates undergoing national service. Survey data were collected from 238 participants (53% female, 47% male) using validated measures of objectified body consciousness, fatalism, and online disinhibition. Regression analysis indicated that self-objectification significantly predicted digital disinhibition (β = 0.45, p < .001) and fatalism (β = 0.33, p < .001), with partial mediation by disinhibition (indirect effect = 0.13, 95% CI [0.05, 0.23]). Gender was a significant moderator: the relationship between self-objectification and fatalism was stronger among women (β = 0.37, p < .01) than men (β = 0.18, p = .09). A mediational model showed that digital disinhibition partially mediated the relationship between self-objectification and fatalism (indirect effect = 0.13, 95% CI [0.05, 0.23]). Qualitative responses illustrated ambivalent digital agency, with participants describing online performance as both a coping mechanism and a space of existential resignation. The findings support the notion of performative fatalism, where individuals express themselves publicly in ways that mask private disillusionment. This paper argues that digital self-performance in postcolonial contexts may sustain psychological tension between visibility and perceived futility.