Knowledge And Attitude Of Couple On Domestic Violence

Project and Seminar Material for Sociology

Knowledge And Attitude Of Couple On Domestic Violence (Daniel)

Abstract

The study examined the knowledge and attitude of couple on domestic violence among selected couples in Mushin Local Government Area Of Lagos State. The study reviewed related literatures under some sub-headings. The descriptive research survey was used for the assessment of the opinions of the respondents, with the use of both the research questionnaire and the sampling technique. A total of 100 respondents were sampled. Four null hypotheses were formulated and tested using the ANOVA for hypothesis 1 and 2 and Pearson product moment correlation statistical tool for hypotheses 3 and 4 at 0.05 level of significance. At the end of the analyses, the following findings were obtained:

That a relationship exists between the years of marriage and couples’ domestic violence in the community,
That religion will significantly play an important role in the incidence of couple marital violence in the family,
That there is a significant relationship between domestic violence and couples in the family and
That there is a significant relationship between domestic violence and old married couples in the study.

Based on the conclusions of this study, the following recommendations were made thus: government should increase public awareness on domestic violence, by sensitizing individuals on their rights and laws guiding these rights. Also, social workers should ensure that victims of domestic violence and their children are safe-guided through a programme tagged “Save the children” programme, in which the children’s conditions in marriages rocked by domestic violence are taken care of.

Table of Content

Title Page
Certification
Dedication
Acknowledgement
Table of Content
List of Tables
Abstract

Chapter One:

Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study
1.2 Statement of the Problem
1.3 Objective of the Study
1.4 Research Questions
1.5 Research Hypothesis
1.6 Significance of the Study
1.7 Scope of the Study
1.8 Limitation of the Study
1.9 Definition of Terms
1.10 Organisations of the Study

Chapter Two:

Review of Literature

2.1 Conceptual Framework
2.2 Theoretical Framework
2.3 Empirical Review

Chapter Three:

Research Methodology

3.1 Research Design
3.2 Population of the Study
3.3 Sample Size Determination
3.4 Sample Size Selection Technique and Procedure
3.5 Research Instrument and Administration
3.6 Method of Data Collection
3.7 Method of Data Analysis
3.8 Validity of the Study
3.9 Reliability of the Study
3.10 Ethical Consideration

Chapter Four:

Data Presentation and Analysis

4.1 Data Presentation
4.2 Analysis of Data
4.3 Answering Research Questions
4.4 Test of Hypotheses

Chapter Five:

Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation

5.1 Summary
5.2 Conclusion
5.3 Recommendation
References
APPENDIX
QUESTIONNAIRE

Chapter One

Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study

Domestic abuse is a problem that is entrenched in many societies across the globe and Nigeria is not an exception. Research in this area such as the one done by Ezeh, & Gage, (1998) has shown that this type of violence has traumatised many Nigerian couples. Domestic violence remains a persistent problem because of the power and control held by the abuser; the fear, intimidation and humiliation suffered by the victim of this crime (Dutton, 1995).

The oldest and most prevalent institution in the world today is the marriage institution. In all cultures, there is a particular sanctity attached to this institution, so much that it is particularly considered to be a building block of any society. The pivotal position of marriage has made domestic violence a subject of interest to various disciplines, government, religious sects and professional associations (Arldine, 1994).

American Psychological Association (APA) (1996) defined domestic violence as a pattern of abusive behaviour including a wide range of physical, sexual, and psychological maltreatment used by a person in an intimate relationship against another to gain power unfairly or to maintain the misuse of power, control and authority.

The role of spouse in family relationship is significant, such that some people have acclaimed it to be a surviving family adjustment. However, this role has its own problems. Some spouses have been found to be abused in various forms, ranging from sexual to financial abuse and communicative abuse. All these have implication on family relationship (Adams, 1988).

Domestic violence occurs in traditional heterosexual marriages, as well as in some sexual partnership. The abuse may occur during a relationship or after the relationship has ended. The key elements of domestic violence are: intimidation, humiliation and physical injury. Going by the definition of domestic violence, couples engage in it to control the other partner and keep him/her from departing or quitting the relationship. A critical look at the definition of domestic violence will reveal that they assume the dimension of portraying women as the victims bearing the brunt, while men are seen as perpetrators (Adams, 1988).

This could be as a result of the widely held beliefs that women are the weaker sex while men are by right, the head of the family that must be obeyed. Nigeria as a country has her own fair share of domestic violence, which could be seen in the rate of divorce, separation and marital dishonesty in the country.

According to Adebirigbe, (2004) in his study on wife beating in western Nigeria, it was found that 32% of women indicated that they have experienced abuse, 21% believe strongly that wives should be beaten while 72% believe that wives should be beaten once in a while.
Berkowitz, (1989) identified marital conflict to exist along a particular continuum which are:

Occasional verbal quarrels
Frequent verbal quarrels
Occasional physiological quarrel
Frequent physical quarrel
Psychological separation
Physical separation
Divorce

A close look at this shows that a particular couple is expected to go through the whole stages, but it is not necessarily so in all situations. Some couples get to the divorce stage without going through physical quarrels and physical separation, while some resolve the conflict completely before it gets to divorce stage (Brownmiller, 1976).

Researchers such Chukwuma, (2002), indicated domestic violence, through prevalent in Nigeria is still largely under reported, if reported at all. The causes of domestic violence can be seen in two broad categories. The traditional causes such as culture, ethnicity and religion are those factors that are commonly seen and discussed as leading to fighting among couples. They are immediate causes that can be pin pointed as leading to violence in the home. These include, among others, sex role, sexual dissatisfaction and infidelity, ego massage, income disparity, religion differences, alcohol consumption, money matters, childlessness, influence of inlaws etc (Chukwuma, 2002).

Secondly, contemporary causes of domestic violence are those underlying remote factors such as frequent verbal quarrels, occasional physiological quarrel, frequent physical quarrel and psychological separation that are not easily seen or implicated, yet they influence violence behaviour in marital relationship. Domestic violence has now become a common phenomenon. It should be noted here that as husbands abuse their wives so also wives abuse their husbands (Steinmetz, 1997). It is only the degree that varies. Base on the above picture, the study is to determine the influence domestic violence on family relationship among couple in Musin Local Government Area of Lagos State.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

It has been found that various forms of domestic violence exist in some family relationship and has degenerated into various marital problems among which are child negligence, communication gaps, destruction of property, divorce, separation and ultimately death (Chukwuma, 2002).

Many marriages today, have failed unmendably due to domestic violence. For instance, many couples, especially the men folks, have resorted to settling scores with their wives through aggressive actions such as beating and fighting on any slightest provocation. In some families, love has flown away, and has been replaced by spousal hate and aggression. For instance, in many couples’ homes, occasional verbal quarrels, frequent verbal quarrels, occasional physiological quarrels, frequent physical quarrels, psychological quarrels and separation which in any case, lead to physical separation and total divorce, have resigned supreme. No wonder in our customary and conventional courts today, there are cases of divorce occasioned by domestic violence or aggression among spouses (Davis, & Lee, 1996).
Based on the above picture, this study is therefore meant to determine the knowledge and attitude of couple on domestic violence among couples in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State.

1.3 Objective of the Study

The main objective of the study is to examine the knowledge and attitude of couple on domestic violence ; The specific objective of this study are to:

Determine the relationship between domestic violence and family relationship among couples in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State.
Determine the difference between domestic violence among couples with many years marriage and newly couples in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos.
Identify the causes of domestic violence among couples.
Find out the types of domestic violence among couples in Lagos State.
Discuss the implications of the problems and findings for marital and family counselling.

1.4 Research Questions

This study will provide answer to the following questions:

What are the types of domestic violence?
What are the perceived and real effect of domestic violence?
What are the causes of domestic violence among couples?
Is religion related to domestic violence?
To what extent will ethnicity affects couples’ relationship?

1.5 Research Hypotheses

The hypotheses that guide the study are as follows:

Ho1: Years of marriage will not significantly relate to domestic violence among couples.
Ho2: Religion will not be a significant factor in the incidence of violence among couples
Ho3: There will be no significant relationship between domestic violence and couples.
Ho4: There will be no significant relationship between domestic violence and old couples.

1.6 Significance of the Study

The outcome of this study will be of great benefit to the married couples, marriage counsellors, children of violent couples and the society at large.

With reference to the married couples, the finding of this study will help them identify some of this evil effects of violence not only on them as perpetrators but also on everyone who maintains intimate relationship with them such as their children and extended family members or friends. Thus, be able to control their anger.

Also, marriage counsellors will be able to identify the various forms of violence among couples and be able to provide adequate counselling assistance whenever the need arises.

On the other way, children of violent couples will be exposed to the right attitude to violent behaviour of their parents so as not to grow up as perpetrators of domestic violence. These children will also be educated on the need to always develop healthy emotional life inspite of the violent circumstance prevailing among them.

The society at large will be made to the damning effects of domestic violence on family relationship. It will also assist the society to see and accept marriage as a loving relationship that should be devoid of humiliation, intimidation, threat and physical injury.

1.7 Scope of the Study

This study basically covered married couples in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos. Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos is predominantly the commercial nerve centre of the state with all its inhabitants from all social classes of the Nigerian economy.

1.8 Limitation of the Study

In the course of carrying out this study, the researcher experienced some constraints, which included time constraints, financial constraints, language barriers, and the attitude of the respondents. However, the researcher were able to manage these just to ensure the success of this study.

1.9 Definition of Terms

Domestic Violence:

Domestic violence which is otherwise referred to as spousal abuse is described as when adults in a relationship misuse power to control another whereas such establishment of control in the relationship is through violence and other form of abuse. It is also defined as a pattern of abusive behaviour including a wide range of physical sexual and psychological maltreatment used by one person in an intimate relationship against another to gain power unfairly or to maintain the person misuse of power, control and authority. The following factors amount to domestic violence; occasional verbal quarrels, frequent verbal quarrels, occasional physiological quarrel, frequent physical quarrel, psychological separation, physical separation and divorce.

Family Relationship:

This is defined as the relationship of trust, love and care existing between couples who have agreed to co-exist as husband and wife. It is the foundation or bedrock of all other societal relationship. Family relationship is expected to last till death do couples part. The following factors amount to domestic violence; occasional verbal quarrels, frequent verbal quarrels, occasional physiological quarrel, frequent physical quarrel, psychological separation, physical separation and divorce.

1.10 Organization of the Study

This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows.

Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), historical background, statement of problem, objectives of the study, research hypotheses, significance of the study, scope and limitation of the study, definition of terms and historical background of the study.
Chapter two highlights the theoretical framework on which the study is based, thus the review of related literature.
Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study.
Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding.
Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study.

Chapter Five

Summary Conclusion and Recommendation

5.1 Summary

This chapter of the study is set aside to determine summarized the descriptive analysis done in the precious chapters. It also gives the conclusion and makes some recommendation.

In summary, the purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge and attitude of couple on domestic violence. Specifically the study focused on determining the relationship between domestic violence and family relationship among couples in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State, determining the difference between domestic violence among couples with many years marriage and couples in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos identifying the causes of domestic violence among couples finding out the types of domestic violence among couples in Lagos State and, discussing the implications of the problems and findings for marital and family counselling.

In order to carry out this study research questions formulated to guard the investigation. A total of 100 couples in Mushin Local Government Area Of Lagos State, were randomly selected as enrolled participants for the survey. The study was anchored on the theory of ecological perspective of change and development by Wilkinson And Boulding (1973)

5.2 Conclusion

In the conclusion the study is beyond doubt and abundantly clear that domestic violence has become a cancer in the society.

From results obtained and analyzed, the study reveals that:

The types of domestic violence include:
1. Physical abuse
2. Sexual abuse
3. Emotional abuse and
4. Verbal abuse
The perceived and real effect of domestic violence include:
1. It is deeply traumatizing
2. Destroys families
3. Death and
4. Disability
The causes of domestic violence among couples include:
1. Poverty and unemployment,
2. Educational status,
3. Cultural factors and
4. Relationship retention problem

5.3 Recommendation

Recommendation on the basis of findings. The researcher made the following recommendation with the belief that when studied and applied, would help to reduce the incidence of domestic violence among married couples.

The researcher recommends that:

Government should increase public awareness on domestic violence, by sensitizing individuals on their rights and laws guiding these rights
Social workers should ensure that victims of domestic violence and their children are safe-guided through a programme tagged “Save the children” programme, in which the children’s conditions in marriages rocked by domestic violence are taken care of.