PREMARITAL PREGNANCY, PROLONGED COHABITATION AND RELIGIOUS RULES AS PREDICTORS OF MARITAL DISSOLUTION AMONG DIVORCEES IN NIGERIA.
Keywords:
cross-sectional survey, Nigeria, divorcees, marital dissolution, religious rules, prolonged cohabitation, Premarital pregnancyAbstract
This study examined the extent to which premarital pregnancy, prolonged cohabitation, and religious rules as marriage entry motives predict marital dissolution among divorcees in Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey research design was adopted. The sample comprised 753 divorcees selected through convenience sampling from an online divorce support group in Nigeria. Data were collected using a researcher-developed questionnaire, the Marriage Entry Motives and Marital Dissolution Questionnaire (MEMMDQ), which demonstrated acceptable reliability (Cronbach's alpha: premarital pregnancy = .74, prolonged cohabitation = .79, religious rules = .87, marital dissolution = .88). Simple linear regression analysis was employed to test the three hypotheses at .05 significance level. The findings revealed that premarital pregnancy significantly predicted marital dissolution (R² = .231, β = .480, F = 225.100, p < .005), explaining 23.1% of the variance; prolonged cohabitation significantly predicted marital dissolution (R² = .317, β = .563, F = 349.143, p < .005), explaining 31.7% of the variance; and religious rules significantly predicted marital dissolution (R² = .355, β = .596, F = 413.329, p < .005), explaining 35.5% of the variance. All three null hypotheses were rejected. It was concluded that premarital pregnancy, prolonged cohabitation, and religious rules as marriage entry motives significantly predict marital dissolution among divorcees in Nigeria. Marriages entered due to unplanned pregnancy, extended cohabitation without intentional commitment, or compliance with religious obligations rather than genuine personal readiness are substantially predisposed to eventual breakdown. The findings underscore the necessity of addressing these high-risk entry circumstances in premarital counselling and preventive intervention strategies.Downloads
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