Determinants of Marital Instability in Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

The economic and social desirability of marital stability is shown by its promotion of division of labor, risk pooling, and encouragement of healthy behavior, while unstable marriages are linked to negative outcomes such as psychological and financial distress, impaired child development, and long-term health challenges. It is worth noting that, while previously high divorce rates in developed countries appear to be slowing down, the opposite might occur in developing countries. However, few studies have empirically examined the causes of marital instability in developing countries. This study sought to empirically investigate marital instability in Nigeria by focusing on its key influencing factors. The study collected data from 186 individuals in the urban and rural areas of Ibadan, the third most populous city in Nigeria, and used multivariate logistic regression analysis to investigate three marital states: divorce, separation, and widowhood. The results show that marriage duration, number of children, and marriage entry age have a substantial influence on marital instability. The risk of divorce follows a U-shaped pattern, with the risk falling from age 26 to 30 and rising again until age 46. Thus, addressing the causes of early and late marriage entry could improve marital stability in Nigeria.