Factors Influencing Cohabitation Among Undergraduate Students of Federal University of Technology Minna, Niger State, Nigeria: Implications for Counselling

The study investigated factors responsible for cohabitation among students of Federal University of Technology Minna, Niger State, Nigeria. Two research questions were formulated to guide the study. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for this study. A sample size of 285 was obtained using proportionate random sampling technique for students. The instrument used for data collection was the researcher designed questionnaire. Frequencies were counted and percentages were computed for the demographic categories. Mean and Standard Deviation were used to answer the research questions. Decisions on the research questions were based on the resulting means score interpreted relative to the concept of real lower and upper limits of numbers. The findings in terms of prevailing factors of cohabitation include: Peer pressure, inadequate hostel accommodation, poverty, access to pornographic materials and inability to manage sexual urges among others. Some of the recommendations include; concerted effort should be made to provide additional on-campus hostel accommodation/facilities, student orientation should be organized as soon as new students resume, rules regulating students’ conduct in hostel accommodation should extend to off-campus accommodation particularly in cultures that frown at cohabitation and timely organization of seminar and workshops for students and parents on reproductive health, social skills, sporting activities and distracting effect of cohabitation. Keywords : undergraduate students, cohabitation, factors, counselling. DOI : 10.7176/JEP/10-9-02 Publication date :March 31 st 2019