PREVALENCE, CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF PREMARITAL COHABITATION AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF UNDERGRADUATES OF NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY, AWKA
Abstract
This study was carried out to ascertain the prevalence, causes and consequences of premarital cohabitation on academic performance of undergraduates of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. The study employed descriptive survey research design. Three research questions guided the study. The population of the study comprised 26,545 full-time Regular undergraduates of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka in the 2020/2021 academic session. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to choose 180 undergraduates from the population who served as the sample of the study. The instrument for data collection was a researcher-developed 16-item questionnaire titled “Premarital Cohabitation on Academic Performance (PCAP)” which was duly validated by two experts in the Faculty of Education of the university under study. The reliability of the instrument was determined using Cronbach alpha statistic which yielded mean alpha coefficient of 0.82. The research questions were answered using the mean. The findings of the study revealed a high prevalence of premarital cohabitation among undergraduates of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. Further, the study revealed that cushioning the effect of high on-campus accommodation fees as well as uncontrolled exercise of freedom from parental monitoring and control is the main causes why undergraduates cohabit. Finally, the study revealed that premarital cohabitation could become a source of distraction during study moments to those students who are committed to it and also expose them to contraction of sexually transmitted disease which, tampering with their health, could affect their academic engagement and eventual poor academic performance. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended among others, that the government in conjunction with the university authority should provide more on-campus hostel accommodation at affordable cost for the students, especially for the female students. Organizing counseling and orientation programmes from time to time could go a long way in helping students who are misdirected to find their bearing. Suggestions for further studies were equally made.
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