High Bride Price as Determinant of Marital Stability among Akwa-Ibom People in Surulere Area, Lagos State, Nigeria

Abstract

Bride price represents a contract between families where material items and money are paid by the groom to the bride’s family for the bride for the purpose of marriage. This study investigated High Bride Price as determinant of Marital stability among Married Akwa-Ibom people in Surulere, Lagos State, Nigeria. The purpose of the study was to: (i) assess whether highbride price is a determinant of domestic violence (ii) examinewhether high bride price is a determinant of emotional problem among married Akwa-Ibom people in Surulere, Lagos State.A descriptive research design of survey type was adopted for the study. The population for the study comprised all married Akwa-Ibom people in Surulere, Lagos State.Multi stage sampling technique consisting of purposive, clustered, proportionate and simple random sampling technique was used to sample three hundred and seventy three (373) respondents from two associations in Itire-Ikate Local Council Development Area. Researchers’-designed questionnaire with four point Likert rating scale was used for the study which was validated by experts from the Departments of Health Promotion and Environmental Health Education, Faculty of Education, University of Ilorin, Kwara State. Cronbach alpha statistical tool was used to ascertain the internal consistency of the instrument and a reliability correlation of coefficient, ‘r’ 0.85 was obtained through split-half method. Data collection was conducted by the researchers and trained research assistants. Inferential statistics of Chi-square (χ2) was used to analyse the postulated null hypothesesat 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study showed that marital stability of married Akwa-Ibom people is affected because; i. High bride price is a significant determinant of domestic violence among married Akwa-Ibom people in Surulere because (cal. χ 2 value 146.678 is greater than critical x 2 value 21.03) at df 12 at 0.05 level of significance and High bride price is a significant determinant of emotional problems among married Akwa-Ibom people in Surulere because (cal. χ 2 value 143.062 is greater than critical x 2 value 21.03) at df 12 at 0.05 level of significance.The study concluded that high bride price led to domestic violence and emotional problems which determines marital stability among Akwa-Ibom people in Surulere, Lagos State.Therefore, the study recommended that high bride price should be reduced in order to avoid domestic violence which determines marital stability among Akwa-Ibom people and high bride price should be well modified in order to mitigate the occurrences of emotional problems which determine marital stability among Akwa-Ibom people in Surulere Area in Lagos State, Nigeria.