Published Article

ABSTRACT

In this paper, demographic variables of level of education, number of children and occupational status are studied as they influence socio-economic adjustment of young widows in the North-east Senatorial District of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The post-hoc survey design was used. The population consisted of young widows drawn from the Widows of Great Hope Initiatives (WOGHI), Akwa Ibom State Chapter. The group has a population of 142 young widows, aged below fifty years. The census sampling technique was used to pick participants for the study. Three research questions and corresponding null hypotheses were raised to provide direction for the study. Data were obtained by using a researcher-developed instrument, a four-point Likert-type questionnaire that sought information on respondents’ biographic data on number of children they had, highest educational level they attained, occupational status and socio-economic adjustment. Data were analysed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and tested at .05 confidence level. Results indicated that while level of education and occupational status significantly influenced the respondents’ socio-economic adjustment the number of children they had did not. It was recommended among others, that to enhance the potential capacity of women to cope with socio-economic challenges and negotiate for inclusion therein, in the society, government and non-governmental organizations should avail more women, especially widows, educational opportunities through adult education and lifelong learning programmes.