Effect of Social Media Spiritual and Emotional Abuse Messages on Comprehension and Behavioural Practices of Married Couples in Lagos State, Nigeria

Helen Odunola Adekoya,Kolade Ajilore,Oluwaferanmi Moyosore Adebayo

doi:10.5539/gjhs.v11n6p146

Abstract

Evidence from media reports affirmed a progressive increase in incidences of domestic violence globally and in Nigeria. Spiritual and emotional abuse which may have negative consequences on the emotional and psychological wellbeing of the victims are existing forms of domestic violence that are taken with levity based on the entrenched religious and patriarchal systems that are perceived as customary in the Nigerian society. The major objective of this study was to to determine the effect of social media spiritual and emotional abuse messages on comprehension and behavioral practices of married couples in Lagos State, Nigeria. The study employed the true-experimental design for randomization of participants into the experimental and control groups. Study population was non-finite and participants were selected using the proportionate, convenience and purposive sampling techniques. Out of the selected 180 couples, 176 met the inclusion criteria set for the research. Using the Self-structured questionnaire, the results showed a significant difference in married couples&rsquo; knowledge, comprehension and behavioural practices of spiritual and emotional abuse, before and after the social media intervention. The study concluded that lack of knowledge and comprehension regarding spiritual and emotional abuse is based on dearth of information. This is an indication of intervention effectiveness. Increased inspiring campaigns and programs on social media that will involve married people and the general public in generating contents on spiritual and emotional abuse was recommended. This would induce intentional sourcing for domestic violence information on social media.

Highlights

One amongst several issues hindering the progressive development of the Nigerian society is domestic violence which often occurs with people who are married or are cohabiting (Ekundayo, Babatunde, & Ake, 2015)
Using the Self-structured questionnaire, the results showed a significant difference in married couples’ knowledge, comprehension and behavioural practices of spiritual and emotional abuse, before and after the social media intervention
The true-experimental research design is appropriate for this research because the aim is to find out if social media intervention on spiritual and emotional abuse will have an effect on married couples knowledge, comprehension and behavioural practices of spiritual and emotional abuse

Summary

Introduction

One amongst several issues hindering the progressive development of the Nigerian society is domestic violence which often occurs with people who are married or are cohabiting (Ekundayo, Babatunde, & Ake, 2015). In Nigeria, reports regarding domestic violence are made daily. Such reports range from baby making factories, husbands killing their wives and vice versa. The issue of domestic violence is deeply rooted in the Nigerian society such that it poses a threat to job performance and execution. Oni-Ojo, Adeniji, Osibanjo and Heirsmac (2014) assert that, more than 20 percent of employed women in Nigeria take a leave of absence from work and two percent of them lose their jobs due to their experiences with domestic violence. Namadi (2017) notes that domestic violence is common among women, a man is abused by his female partner every 14.6 seconds but reports are not made due to fear of humiliation and being viewed as weak. Awodipe and Azuh (2018) note that 87 domestically abused men had reached out to the Lagos State DSVRT in 2018

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Conclusion