Domestic Violence in Cross River State: What Matter-Social or Demographic Factors?

This study critically examined the influence of social and demographic determinants on domestic violence among families in Cross River State, Nigeria. Anchored on four research questions and corresponding hypotheses, the investigation assessed the extent to which economic status, marital communication, educational attainment, and occupational status contribute to incidents of domestic violence. The study adopted an ex-post facto research design, employing a structured instrument titled Socio-Cultural Factors and Domestic Violence Scale (SCFDVS) to collect relevant data. The questionnaire was validated by three subject-matter experts, and its internal consistency was confirmed through the Cronbach alpha reliability test, indicating a satisfactory level of stability. Data were analyzed using simple regression and analysis of variance (ANOVA) to test the stated hypotheses. Results revealed that economic conditions and the quality of marital communication significantly predict the occurrence of domestic violence, while educational qualification exhibited a moderate influence. However, occupational status was found to have no significant effect on domestic violence among respondents. The study concluded that socio-economic challenges and poor marital communication patterns remain critical predictors of domestic violence within the region. It recommended the implementation of targeted social policies, family counseling programs, and educational interventions aimed at promoting healthy relationships and reducing the prevalence of domestic violence in Cross River State.