Emotional Instability, Loneliness, Poverty, Disinheritance and Degrading Cultural Practices as Correlates of Widows' Well-being in Ibadan North, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the correlates of widows' wellbeing in Ibadan North, Oyo State, Nigeria, focusing on the combined and individual impacts of emotional instability, loneliness, poverty, inheritance deprivation, and degrading cultural practices. Existing studies have largely examined these factors independently. There is limited empirical evidence on their combined and interactive effects on widows' overall wellbeing. This study therefore addressed this gap by examining the joint and relative contributions of emotional instability, loneliness, poverty, inheritance deprivation, and degrading cultural practices to widows' wellbeing. Survey research design of correlational type was employed, utilizing a structured Widows' Wellbeing Questionnaire (WWQ) administered to 360 widows selected through multi-stage sampling. The findings revealed a high prevalence of psychological distress among widows, with 92% reporting being overwhelmed by grief and 93.3% struggling with daily tasks. Severe economic hardship was widespread, with 92% of widows facing difficulties providing food and 73.3% experiencing inheritance deprivation, which was significantly correlated with their poverty. Degrading cultural practices, such as forced hair-shaving (64%) and home confinement (79.3%), persisted, contributing to social isolation and trauma. Crucially, coping mechanisms and social support emerged as the strongest predictor of psychological distress(? = 0.918, p < .05), with religiousfaith, family support, and small-scale trading being key resilience strategies. Regression analysis confirmed a significant joint contribution of all independent variables to widows' psychological distress (R² = .887, p < .05). The study concluded that widowhood in Ibadan North is a multidimensional crisis where psychological, economic, and sociocultural factors synergistically undermine wellbeing. It recommends holistic, integrated interventions that combine legal enforcement of inheritance rights, economic empowerment programs, psychosocial support, and community sensitization to eradicate harmful practices, thereby promoting the dignity and wellbeing of widows.

Johnson Folashade Ganiyat. Emotional Instability, Loneliness, Poverty, Disinheritance and Degrading Cultural Practices as Correlates of Widows' Well-being in Ibadan North, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Ibadan Journal of Educational Studies, 23(2), 78-86.