Types, Prevalence And Causes Of Domestic Violence Among Selected Couples

1.4 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The primary purpose of this study are to:

i. Determine the relationship between domestic violence and family relationship among newly wedded couples in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State.

ii. Determine the difference between domestic violence among couples with many years marriage and newly wedded couples in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos.

iii. Identify the causes of domestic violence among couples.

iv.  Find out the types of domestic violence among couples in Lagos State.

v. Discuss the implications of the problems and findings for marital and family counselling.

1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

This study will provide answer to the following questions:

i. What are the types of domestic violence?

ii. What are the perceived and real effect of domestic violence?

iii. What are the causes of domestic violence among couples?

iv. Is religion related to domestic violence?

v. To what extent will ethnicity affects couples’ relationship?

1.6 RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

The hypotheses that guide the study are as follows:

Ho1: Years of marriage will not significantly relate to domestic violence among couples.

Ho2: Religion will not be a significant factor in the incidence of violence among couples

Ho3: There will be no significant relationship between domestic violence and newly wedded couples.

Ho4: There will be no significant relationship between domestic violence and old couples.

1.7 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The outcome of this study will be of great benefit to the married couples, marriage counsellors, children of violent couples and the society at large.

With reference to the married couples, the finding of this study will help them identify some of this evil effects of violence not only on them as perpetrators but also on everyone who maintains intimate relationship with them such as their children and extended family members or friends. Thus, be able to control their anger.

Also, marriage counsellors will be able to identify the various forms of violence among couples and be able to provide adequate counselling assistance whenever the need arises.

On the other way, children of violent couples will be exposed to the right attitude to violent behaviour of their parents so as not to grow up as perpetrators of domestic violence. These children will also be educated on the need to always develop healthy emotional life inspite of the violent circumstance prevailing among them.

The society at large will be made to the damning effects of domestic violence on family relationship. It will also assist the society to see and accept marriage as a loving relationship that should be devoid of humiliation, intimidation, threat and physical injury.

1.8 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This study basically covered married couples in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos. Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos is predominantly the commercial nerve centre of the state with all its inhabitants from all social classes of the Nigerian economy.

1.9 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Domestic Violence: Domestic violence which is otherwise referred to as spousal abuse is described as when adults in a relationship misuse power to control another whereas such establishment of control in the relationship is through violence and other form of abuse. It is also defined as a pattern of abusive behaviour including a wide range of physical sexual and psychological maltreatment used by one person in an intimate relationship against another to gain power unfairly or to maintain the person misuse of power, control and authority. The following factors amount to domestic violence; occasional verbal quarrels, frequent verbal quarrels, occasional physiological quarrel, frequent physical quarrel, psychological separation, physical separation and divorce.

Family Relationship: This is defined as the relationship of trust, love and care existing between couples who have agreed to co-exist as husband and wife. It is the foundation or bedrock of all other societal relationship. Family relationship is expected to last till death do couples part. The following factors amount to domestic violence; occasional verbal quarrels, frequent verbal quarrels, occasional physiological quarrel, frequent physical quarrel, psychological separation, physical separation and divorce.