Social Factors as Correlates of Cohabitation among Undergraduates in Ogun East Senatorial District Ogun State, Nigeria
Bello M. Olalekan, Semuga K. Oluseye, Faleke M. Abidemi and Ajayi O. Oludare
ABSTRACT
Indirect marriage otherwise known as cohabitation is fast becoming popular among undergraduates on our campuses in Ogun State and Nigeria in general. Cohabitation is a growing menace with far reaching psychological, academic, physiological, social and future marital consequences. The study therefore investigated social factors (physical intimacy, compatibility test, lack of hostel accommodation and academic dependency) as correlates of cohabitation among undergraduates in Ogun East Senatorial District of Ogun State, Nigeria. The study adopted survey research design which employed purposive, stratified and simple random sampling technique to select 800 respondents from four (2 public and 2 private) out of seven universities in Ogun East Senatorial District of Ogun State. Two research instruments used are Cohabitation Questionnaire (r=0.70) and Social Factors Questionnaire (r=0.70) . Four hypotheses were tested. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regressions. The four social factors of physical intimacy, compatibility test, lack of hostel accommodation and academic dependency has positive correlation (R=0.315) with cohabitation, meaning that the four social factors are correlates of cohabitation among undergraduates in Ogun East Senatorial District of Ogun State, Nigeria. Based on this findings, some recommendations includes tertiary institutions should continue to partner with private investors to build housing facilities within the school which can be partially monitored to discourage cohabitation especially for the younger generation and society should continue to promote the gain of marriage to discourage settling for less qualitative relationship like cohabitation. This act in itself will aid and uphold the existing traditional values and orientation emphasis on family formation.
