Coping mechanism/resources of young and old widows in South West Nigeria

Abstract

The study investigated the differences that existed between young and old widows and their ammenability to coping mechanism and resources. The researcher made use of descriptive research design of the survey type. All the widows in South West Nigeria were surveyed. A self-designed instrument titled 'Young and Old Vulnerable Widows Questionnaire' (YOVWQ) was administered on randomly selected widows. A sample of one hundred young and old widows were randomly selected using multistage sampling technique involving stratified and purposive sampling techniques. The instruments validity was ensured facially, contentwise and constructwise by subjecting it to relevant experts. A reliability co-efficient of 0.78 was obtained from Pearson Product Moment Correlation Analysis using test retest reliability method. Copies of the instrument was personally administered by the researcher and trained research assistants in the various locations of the respondents. The data generated were analysed using appropriate descriptive and inferential statistics. The analysis of the data revealed that respondents (old and young) widows did not differ in their coping strategies and mechanisms.Based on the findings curriculum planner should incorporate into the national curriculum areas to be taught to students that will change orientation and reduce agonies of mourning widows. Also the culture of Will writing should be incorporated to couples life to alleviate the agonies of widows. The study could be of benefit to students, teachers, curriculum planners, widows, widowers, counsellors, professional care givers and teaming religious leaders in Nigeria.