Covid-19 Lockdown and Family Stability Amongst Married Couples In Gwagwalada

Abstract

The covid-19 lockdown ensured that couples stay at home and spend time together. While this may have allowed harmonious couples to bond further, it may have also given room for disharmony couples to suffer various forms of abuse and thus, makeup their minds about getting a divorce or separation. Therefore, this study investigated the impact of the covid-19 lockdown on family stability in Gwagwalada. The study answered three research questions and reviewed literature that are related to covid-19 and family stability. It adopted the functionalism theory of R. K. Merton because it explained the latent function of the covid-19 lockdown. It also, adopted a survey research design because the study focused on first-hand data. The study interviewed 10 married persons who had been married for at least five years. The research data was analysed using a thematic method of data analysis. The findings of this study revealed that, though the COVID-19 lockdown have led to the emotional and physical abuse, it has not cause separation or divorce. It was also found out that the major challenge the family system had during the lockdown was the accessibility of income. Based on these findings, the study recommended that, couples should strive to reduce their expenditure and increase their savings in case of eventualities like the COVID-19 pandemic. It also recommended that, couples should love, respect and tolerate each other even in the midst of social and economic disruptions like COVID-19 lockdown.