Conflict Management Strategies Among Cohabiting Undergraduate Students in Ilorin, Nigeria

ABSTRACT Conflicts among cohabiting partners are often more complex or intractable because their relationships are not formalized culturally or institutionally. The inability to resolve conflicts among cohabiting partners may threaten their safety and well‐being. To maintain healthier relationships, it is imperative for cohabiting partners to adopt appropriate conflict management strategies. Thus, this study examines the extent of adoption and the effects of socio‐demographic factors on the use of conflict management strategies among cohabiting partners in selected higher institutions in Ilorin, Nigeria. The population for this study comprised undergraduate students of the University of Ilorin and Kwara State Polytechnic who were in cohabiting relationships for at least one academic session. A total of 161 undergraduate students who had cohabited for at least one academic session agreed to participate in the study. A questionnaire was used to collect the data. Logistic regression was employed to determine the probability of adopting conflict management strategies by different groups of respondents. The analysis revealed that female respondents had a higher probability of adopting avoidance conflict management strategies in cohabiting relationships compared to males (AOR = 0.64; 95% CI: [0.44–0.89]; p ‐value = 0.003). Furthermore, older respondents were more likely to adopt compromise conflict management strategies in cohabiting relationships compared to younger respondents (AOR = 0.62; 95% CI: [0.51–0.97]; p ‐value = 0.001) and (AOR = 0.78; 95% CI: [0.56–0.91]; p ‐value = 0.001). Female undergraduates were more likely than male undergraduates to adopt avoidance conflict management strategies in cohabiting relationships. Based on findings that males are less likely to adopt avoidance (AOR = 0.64; p = 0.003), the study suggests regular enlightenment programs for male undergraduates on balanced conflict management strategies to reduce escalation and promote equity in cohabiting relationships. This study fills a critical gap in the literature because it is among the first to quantitatively examine socio‐demographic influences on specific conflict management strategies (collaboration, avoidance and compromise) among cohabiting undergraduates in Nigeria. This is novel and imperative because Nigeria is a context where cohabitation remains culturally stigmatized. But, cohabitation is increasingly prevalent. This often exacerbates conflict due to lack of formal institutional support.