A Sociological Analysis of Cohabitation among Students in a Selected Nigerian University

Abstract

This study analyzed cohabitation among students with a view to investigate their perception on cohabitation, examined the perceived factors responsible for cohabitation and assessed the perceived effects of cohabitation on the undergraduates in Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye. The study employed ex-post facto design and 226 undergraduates were sampled using systematic, proportional and convenience sampling techniques. Primary data collected through a self-designed questionnaire was analyzed using SPSS. The findings showed that undergraduates had positive perceptions towards cohabitation and there were several reasons were adjudged for high wave of cohabitation among undergraduates in OOU (increase in school fees, high quest to understand partners, lack of religious inclination, absence of supervision). More so, cohabitation had diverse effects on undergraduates which included: high level of moral decadence, incidence of sexually transmission diseases, prevalence of abortion, cases of unplanned and unintended pregnancies, increased rate of frustration and depression caused by relationship problems.

Keywords

• cohabitation
• undergraduates
• perception
• sociological appraisal