PERCEPTION OF STUDENTS ON THE EFFECT OF COHABITATION ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AMONG UNDERGRADUATES IN UNIVERSITY OF BENIN

ABSTRACT

The study examined perception of students on the effect of cohabitation on academic performance among Undergraduates in the University of Benin. To facilitate the study, questionnaires were administered to the selected respondents. The objective of the study are to find out the cause of cohabitation among undergraduate’s students in University of Benin; to examine the perceptions of University of Benin undergraduates to cohabitation; to know the perceived factors responsible for cohabitation among the undergraduates in University of Benin; perceived effects of cohabitation among the undergraduates in University of Benin and to ascertain the perceived solutions to the problems of cohabitation among the undergraduates in University of Benin. The Faculty of Social Sciences is made of six department which are Geography and Regional Planning, Social Work, Sociology and Anthropology, Economics, Political Science and Public Administration it comprises over 3411 students. A structured questionnaire was designed to collect quantitative data. The study also revealed that the respondents agreed that they believe adequate housing provision on campuses would reduce cohabitation among undergraduates; that reduction in the cost of living would reduce the incidence cohabitation among undergraduates; that strong and increased religious practices would reduce the rate at which undergraduates of opposite sex living under the same roof and that cohabitation affect student's academic performance. The study also revealed that the respondents agreed that they believe adequate housing provision on campuses would reduce cohabitation among undergraduates; that reduction in the cost of living would reduce the incidence cohabitation among undergraduates; that strong and increased religious practices would reduce the rate at which undergraduates of opposite sex living under the same roof and that cohabitation affect student's academic performance The university authorities should consider charging moderate accommodation fees so that more students can be afford it. cohabiting. Counsellors should liaise with medical personnel in health centres of their various universities to organize lectures on the health hazards of cohabitation (such as contacting sexually transmitted diseases, abortion and damage to female uterus) and effect of cohabitation on students’ academics. For instance, prolonged years of study, drop-out and graduating with lower grades. Keywords: perception, cohabitation, academic performance, effect, undergraduate