The Psychological Toll of Child Marriage on Southwest Nigerian Women and Girls: A Case for Trauma-Informed Interventions

Abstract

This study investigates the psychological impact of child marriage on Nigerian women and girls, highlighting the need for trauma-informed interventions. A mixed-methods approach was employed. The population consisted of Nigerian women and girls aged 18-35 who were married before the age of 18. A sample of 300 participants were selected using a combination of purposive and snowball sampling techniques. A standardized trauma questionnaire (e.g., Harvard Trauma Questionnaire) and a semi-structured interview guide were used to collect data. The instruments were validated through expert review and pilot testing, and reliability were ensured through Cronbach's alpha coefficient (>0.7). Result in hypothesis one revealed that there is a statistically significant difference in the psychological well-being of Southwest Nigerian women and girls who received trauma-informed interventions and those who did not. Results in hypothesis two revealed that education significantly influence the psychological impact of child marriage on Southwest Nigerian women and girls {F(3, 296) = 4.52, P = 0.0004}. Results in hypothesis three revealed that there is a significant positive correlation between the duration of child marriage and the level of trauma symptoms experienced by Southwest Nigerian women and girls (r = 0.42, p = 0.001). The study concluded that education level significantly influenced the psychological impact of child marriage, and longer durations of child marriage are associated with higher trauma symptoms among Southwest Nigerian women and girls. The study recommended the implementation of trauma-informed interventions and the promotion of girls’ education to mitigate the psychological effects of child marriage and reduce its prevalence.

Keywords: Child marriage, trauma, psychological impact, Nigerian women and girls, trauma-informed interventions.