TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page i

Certification ii

Dedication iii

Acknowledgement iv

Table of Contents vi

List of Tables x

Abstract xii

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

Background to the Study 1

Statement of the Problem 9

Research Questions 13

Research Hypotheses 13

Purpose of the Study 14

Significance of the Study 14

Operational Definitions of Terms 15

Scope of the Study 16

CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Preamble 17

Concept of Violence 17

Concept of Domestic Violence 20

Predictors of Domestic Violence among Married Adults 26

Empirical Review of Studies on Domestic Violence and Predictors of 

Domestic Violence 33

Summary of Review of the Related Literature 39

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Preamble 42

Research Design 42

Population, Sample and Sampling Techniques 42

Instrumentation 43

Psychometric Properties of the Instrument 44

Procedure for instrument Administration and Data Collection 45

Procedure for Scoring 45

Method of Data Analysis 46

CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS

Preamble 47

Demographic Data 47

Hypotheses Testing 52

Summary of the Findings 57

CHAPTER FIVE

DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Preamble 59

Discussion 59

Conclusion 63

Implications for Counselling 63

Recommendations 64

Suggestions for Further Studies 66

REFERENCES 67

APPENDIX 80

ABSTRACT

Domestic violence affects men, women and children. It is a serious problem that transcends racial, economic, social and religious lines. More so, it affects human health, undermines human dignity and in the long run become a major drawback to economic development. This study investigated predictors of domestic violence as expressed by married adults in Ilorin metropolis, Kwara state.

The study was a survey research. The population of this study comprised all married adults in Ilorin metropolis while sample size of 385 respondents was used in the study.  A questionnaire entitled “Predictors of Domestic Violence Questionnaire” (PDVQ) was used to collect data for the study. The variables taken into consideration were gender, age, educational qualification, religion, years of marriage and type of occupation. Percentage, mean and rank order were used to answer research questions while the six null hypotheses formulated were tested using t-test and ANOVA statistical techniques.

The findings of the study revealed that predictors of domestic violence include: partner failing to perform his/her expected duties; lack of self-control by either spouse; and partner’s arrogance.  It was also found that no significant difference exist in the expression of married adults in Ilorin metropolis on the predictors of domestic violence based on gender, age, educational qualification, religion affiliation, years in marriage and type of occupation.

 Based on the findings of this study, it was recommended that premarital counselling should be given to intending couples on how to manage their marital relationship. Marital counsellors should counsel married adults on how to understand their own behaviour pattern, types and the behaviour pattern of other persons which could serve as a predictive factor of domestic violence. Government should enact a law against domestic violence and punish the offenders found guilty of domestic violence.