Perceived Impact of Peer Influence on Cohabitation among Youth in Selected Off-Campus Areas in Ilorin
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Date
2024-05-06
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
College of Social and Management Sciences (SMS), Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Nigeria
Abstract
The trend of cohabitation in our contemporary society, especially among the emerging youth, has
increased moral decadence, which has caused more danger to the affected youth and culture. The study
examined the perceived impact of peer influence on cohabitation among youth in selected off-campus
areas in the Ilorin Metropolis. The study employed a survey method, and a sample size of 525 was
randomly selected using purposive sampling for selection of the off-campus areas and simple random
for the research participants, but only 497 participants filled out and returned the questionnaires. A Peer
Influence Scale (PPS) for peer influence (x=0.87), a Self-developed Scale for gender, age and religion
on cohabitation (x=0.85). Hypotheses were tested at a 0.05 significance level using a T-test and Analysis
of Variance (ANOVA), while frequency counts and percentages were used to analyse the demographic
data. The study found no significant difference in the influence of peers on cohabitation among youth
in the Ilorin Metropolis based on gender. There was a significant difference in peer influence on
cohabitation among youth in Ilorin Metropolis based on age. There was a significant difference in peer
influence on cohabitation among youth in Ilorin Metropolis based on religion. Based on the study's
findings, it recommended that concerted efforts should be made by the Social Workers, Social Welfare
and other relevant stakeholders to engage in a sensitization programme that will re-orientate the teeming
youth on the danger cohabitation can pose to their future well-being and welfare.
Description
Keywords
Cohabitation, Impact, Peer influence, Off-campus areas, Youth
Citation
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