Predictors of Domestic Violence Against Women: The Role of Employment Status and Social Support in Ondo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Domestic violence against women remains a pervasive human rights and public health concern in Nigeria, particularly within intimate relationships. This study examined the prevalence of domestic violence and investigated the predictive roles of employment status and social support networks among married women in Ondo State, Nigeria. A descriptive survey research design was adopted. The population comprised married women residing in Ondo metropolis, from which a purposive sample of 1,200 women aged 18 years and above, and married for at least two years, was selected. Data were collected using a researcher-developed instrument, the Domestic Violence Questionnaire (DVQ), which demonstrated satisfactory reliability (Cronbach’s Alpha = 0.78). Descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, and mean) were used to determine prevalence, while Pearson Product Moment Correlation was employed to test the hypotheses at the 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed a very high prevalence of domestic violence (overall mean = 3.63; 76.0%), with emotional violence emerging as the most predominant form (79.2%), followed by psychological, economic, physical, and sexual violence. Results further showed a significant negative relationship between social support networks and domestic violence (r = -0.45, p < 0.001), indicating that stronger social support reduces women’s vulnerability to abuse. Similarly, employment status was significantly and negatively associated with domestic violence (r = -0.40, p < 0.001), suggesting that employed women are less likely to experience abuse compared to their unemployed counterparts. The study concludes that employment and social support function as significant protective factors against domestic violence in Ondo State. It therefore recommends strengthening community-based support systems, promoting women’s economic empowerment, and implementing gender-sensitive policies to effectively reduce domestic violence and enhance women’s wellbeing.