SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS AND NON-SPOUSAL VIOLENCE IN DOMA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA.

ABSTRACT The pursuit of safe and healthy intimate relationships is a fundamental aspect of individual well-being, yet non-spousal relationships often face unique, understudied challenges. This study investigated the socio-economic factors affecting non-spousal violence in Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, Nigeria. The objectives of the study were to investigate the influence of poverty, unemployment, and educational attainment on the occurrence of non-spousal violence in Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The sample size for the study was determined using Yamane Taros statistics. Multi-stage sample procedure was employed to select a sample of 376 respondents for the study. Data was collected via questionnaires and interviews. Quantitative data was analysed with the use of descriptive statistics on the Statistical Package for social sciences (SPSS) while Pearson product-moment correlation was used to test Hypotheses. Qualitative data was analysed with the help of content analysis and ethnographic summary. Findings revealed that poverty, unemployment, and educational disparities are significant contributors to non-spousal violence, primarily by creating economic dependency, psychological stress, and power imbalances. It was recommended that government and NGOs should implement targeted economic empowerment programs, such as vocational training and micro-loans for women and youth, while local leaders prioritize job creation paired with sensitization campaigns, and educational institutions introduce relationship education programs to promote healthier relationship dynamics.