Abstract :

The study is on cultural challenges and widows and widowers’ coping strategies in South-South Geo-Political Zone, Nigeria. This research employed two research questions and two hypotheses to guide the study. The study employed survey research design. The study area were the six states of the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. A total of 441 widows and widowers in Federal Universities in South-South Geopolitical Zone of Nigeria based on information from the registrar, ASUU form the sample of the study. Two different instruments were employed for data collection. The” Widows and Widowers Coping Strategies for Family and cultural Challenges” (WWCSFCC) questionnaire and Focus Group Discussion Guide for Widows and Widowers (FGDEWW). Cronbach Alpha Coefficient was used to determine the reliability of the instruments. Bar chart, mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions. Independent t-test, simple were used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. Bar chart, mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions. Independent t-test, were used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study unveiled that there is no significance difference in the cultural challenges facing widows and widowers in South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria and there is difference in the coping strategies that could be employed by widows and widowers in South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Among others it was recommended that the families, friends and the society should be sensitized to clearly identify the challenges widows and widowers experience and, in the process, come up with alternative support systems that would help widowed persons adjust to widowhood.

---

Keywords :

Challenges, Coping, Cultural, Strategies., Widowers, Widows

---

References :

1. Aldwin, C. M. (2007). Stress, coping and development. An integrative perspective. New York: Guilford press
2. Aransiola, J. O. (2010). Widowhood practices among the Yorubas of South-West Nigeria: Are differences in what women experience due to their status. Gender and Behaviour 8(2)
3. Bennett, K. M. & Soulsby, L.K. (2012). Wellbeing in bereavement and widowhood. Illness Crisis Loss, 20: 321–337..
4. Blum, S. and Sliver, R. C. (2012). Coping encyclopedia of human behaviour. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com>topics on 20/13/21..
5. Carver, C. S. & Connor-Smith, J. (2010). Personality and coping. Annual Review of Psychology 1:676-704..
6. Chauhan, S. S. (2002) Advanced educational psychology. Vikas publishing House PVT Ltd pp. 412-417.
7. Cleveland, C. (2020). Stressors: Coping skills and strategies. Retrieved from http://my.clevelandclinic.org>health on 20/03/21.
8. Davis,D. & Newell, A. (2022). Coping strategies, types and examples. Retrieved from http://study.com>learn>coping-st.. on 20/13/21.
9. Dubow, E. F. & Rubinlicht, M. (2011). Coping encyclopedia of adolescence. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com>topics on 20/12/21..
10. Eweluka, U.U. (2002): “Post-colonialism, Gender, Customary injustice: Widows in African Societies”, Human Rights Quarterly, 24 (2): 99.
11. Fasoranti, O.O. and Aruma, J.O. (2007). Across-cultural comparison of practices relating to widowhood and widow-inheritance among the Igbo and Yoruba in Nigeria. Journal of World Anthropology, 1(1):53-73. .
12. Greally, H. (2017). Living Through the Death of Your Partner or Spouse. Bereaved Families of Ontario-Cornwall.http://bfocornwall.ca/living-through-the-death-of-your-partner-or-spouse/ on 20/03/21
13. Hvana, A., & Richard, E. L. (2014). Does social relationship buffer the effects of widowhood? A Prospective study of adaptation to loss of a spouse. Jpers 82(5):367-378.
14. Iruloh, R. R. & Elsie, W. (2018). Adjustment strategies of widowhood stress based on their age: The case off River State, Nigeria. European American Journal 6(1):76-91.
15. Karlsen, B. (2015). Is coping a scientific concept? Nordisk Syngeplegeforskning5:1-16.
16. Neimeyer, R.A. (2005). Lessons of loss: A guide to coping. Keystone Heights, FL:Psycho Educational Resources, Inc..
17. Ogu, C. C., Obi, D. O. and Isidiho, P. E. (2020). Widow practices and its challenges on the human dignity of widow in Nneato in Imo State West Africa in the 21st century. International Journal of Science and Research 9(11):1050-1056.
18. Ogweno, C. A. (2010). Widows and widowers’ experiences and their coping mechanism in a deprived community. Acase study of Kibera slum. Unpublished thesis, university of Nairobi.
19. Olakitike, O. (2009): “Cruelty in the Name of Culture”, Pulsewire Magazine. Retrieved from http:// worldpulse.com/user/1265/journal on 20/04/21.
20. Olanisebe, S. O. (2015). The plight of widowhood in Nigeria: Reflection on 2kings 4:1-7Journal of Religious Studies 5(1):1-16.
21. Olukayode, A., J. (2015). Widowhood practices in some Nigerian societies: A retrospective examination. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science 5(4):67-73.
22. Okoro, K. N. & Nkama, C. L. (2018). Widowhood practices in Africa ( Igbo) traditional society: Socio- anthropological (Re) interpretation. Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences,3(9):42-54.
23. Okoronkwo, S. O, (2015). Culture of widowhood practices in Africa: De- institutionalizing the plight of women and communicating development through theatre. American Journal of Social Science Research 1(2):71-76.
24. Peterman, A. (2012). Widowhood and asset inheritance in Sub-Saharan Africa: Emperical evidence from 15 countries. Development Policy Review 30:5.
25. Rafieei, N. (2013). Examing the role of social support on adjustment to widowhood. Unpublished dissertation, Arizona State University. Retrieved from http://ac.uk>pdf on 12/20/21.
26. Raju and Rahamtulla (2007), J.K. (2007). Adjustment problems among school students. Journal of Indian Academic of applied psychology, 19:523-532.
27. Sossou, M. A. (2002). Widowhood practices in West Africa: The silent victims. International Journal of Social Welfare 11: 201-209.
28. Spahni, S., Bennett, K. M., Perrig-Chiello & Pasqualina, P. (2016). Psychological adaptation to spousal bereavement in old age: The role of trait resilience, marital history, and context of death. Death studies, 40(3):182-190.
29. Standridge, S. (2019). Widow and leisure: The role of leisure in personal coping strategies. Unpublished dissertation, Middle Tennessee State University. Retrieved from https://jewlscholar.mtsu.edu> on 22/04/22.
30. Steinberg, L. (2011). Adolescence, 9th ed New York, NY: McGraw Hill.
31. Stroebe M. S. Schut, H. & Stroebe W (2007). Health outcomes of bereavement. Lancet; 370: 1960–1973.
32. Ugboaja, C. (2016). Classroom climate as a correlate of secondary school adolescent’s psycho-social adjustment in Okigwe education zone of Imo state. M.Ed. Thesis. Department of Educational Foundations, Faculty of Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
33. Ugodulunwa, C.A & Anakwe, A.I. (2012). Factorial validity of a school adjustment school for adolescents in Matanu State. The Educational Psychologist 6(1) 30-38.
34. Wuraola, A. C. (2016). Widowhood and its harmful practices: causes, effects and the possible way out for widows and women folk. World Journal of Educational Research 3(2):380-387