Marital Factors and Domestic Abuse among Married Female Secondary School Teachers in Akwa Ibom State.

Abstract

This research investigated the influence of marital factors on domestic abuse among married female secondary school teachers in Akwa Ibom State. The study was guided by three research questions and three corresponding hypotheses, and it employed an experimental research design. The target population consisted of 3,132 married female teachers for the 2024/2025 academic session, selected from a total of 7,026 teachers across 274 public secondary schools in the state. A sample of 346 married female teachers was determined using the Research Advisors sample size determination table and selected through a stratified random sampling technique. Data were gathered using a structured instrument titled Marital Factors and Domestic Abuse among Married Female Teachers Questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed using simple linear regression, and all hypotheses were tested at the 0.05 level of significance. The results indicated that marital factors have a significant influence on the incidence of domestic abuse among married female secondary school teachers in Akwa Ibom State. It was concluded that married female teachers who exhibit positive marital factors, such as self-control, mutual respect and integrity, are more likely to maintain peaceful and domestic abuse-free marital relationships. Consequently, fostering these qualities can contribute to their emotional stability and overall well-being, which in turn may enhance their professional effectiveness. Recommendations were made that every relationship requires the ability to manage certain situations either good or bad and spouse should have proper self-control; respect for each other is not an option but necessary conditions for social existence, and integrity is needed for marital stability since family stability could predict societal stability.