PREVALENCE OF COHABITATION AND ITS IMPLICATION ON UNDERGRADUATES’ ACADEMIC ATTAINMENT AT TAI SOLARIN UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

The conscious attitudinal constructs termed “cohabitation” that is displayed by students in tertiary made two people to romantically choose to live together without making formal commitment of marriage. The study x-rayed cohabitation among the undergraduate students of Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun Ogun State; and specifically identified factors that are responsible for cohabitation among undergraduate students, related implications caused by cohabitation among undergraduate, various challenges facing cohabiting undergraduate students, and proffered remedies to the implication caused by cohabitation of undergraduate students. The study employed the use of descriptive study to afford access to considerable number of respondents. Four hundred and fifty (450) respondents comprising both male and female students were randomly selected from various colleges and departments for the study. Structured questionnaire with 20 items was used to elicit response from the participants. Descriptive statistical instruments (frequency counts, simple percentages and mean) were employed to analyse the data collected. The study established that conscious and unconscious attitudinal construct (cohabitation) displayed by students in the course of their short stay pursuing academic endavour derails their academic attainments psychologically, and cause great havoc to their wellbeing. Lack of strict rules formulated that are against cohabitation, sexual freedom, inadequate, high cost of hostel accommodation and relevant infrastructural facilities are some of the factors that are responsible for cohabitation among students. Among other recommendations, available, affordable and befitting accommodation should be provided for all students by government and non-governmental organizations.