Patterns of marital residence and spousal violence among married people in Kogi state, Nigeria

Abstract

PURPOSE : Spousal violence (SV) is a social problem with devastating economic, physical, and psychological consequences. Previous studies on SV have examined psychological, biological, and socio-cultural risk factors; however, the role of the patterns of marital residence and family support (including family interference, support with household chores, emotional support, financial and material support, and companionship) has not been well explored. Guided by Ukama theory, this study therefore explores how the pattern of marital residence and family support are associated with SV, arguing that while patrilocal households may provide protective kin-based support, neolocal residence and a lack of family support may increase the risk of SV for married men and women in Kogi State, Nigeria. METHODS : The study was conducted in 2022 in Kogi State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted, and a multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 1026 respondents. Frequency distribution, percentages, and means were used for the descriptive analysis, while bivariate and multivariate logistic regression were used for the inferential analysis. RESULTS : The study found an association between patterns of marital residence and spousal violence, with those living in neolocal residences having higher odds of experiencing spousal violence than those living in patrilocal residences or near the wife’s family house. Social support from family members was also found to be associated with spousal violence, with those who had this support experiencing a lower risk of spousal violence. CONCLUSION : The study concluded that patterns of marital residence and family social support were associated with spousal violence. The findings suggest a need for interventions that strengthen family social support systems and promote communal living arrangements to mitigate spousal violence.