INFLUENCE OF ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES ON PARTNER SELECTION AMONG STUDENTS WITH HEARING IMPAIRMENT IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN SOUTH WEST NIGERIA

Abstract

This study looks at how adverse childhood experiences influence partner selection among students with hearing impairment in tertiary institutions in South-West, Nigeria. Two research hypotheses were formulated for the study. The methodology used was survey research design. The study's sample comprised six hundred (600) students with hearing impairment from tertiary institutions in South west Nigeria. The instruments used to gather data for this study were two self-developed questionnaires namely: Adverse Childhood Experience Questionnaire and Partner Selection Questionnaire. Multiple Regression Analysis method was used to test the hypotheses one to at P< 0. 05 level of significance. The findings showed that adverse childhood experiences that students with hearing impairment in tertiary institutions in South-West Nigeria are exposed to can predict their partner selection pattern and there is a relative contribution of adverse childhood experiences to partner selection pattern of students with hearing impairment in tertiary institutions in South west, Nigeria. Based on the findings, recommendations were made. Among other, it was recommended that parents and guardians should endeavour not to predispose children with hearing impairment to situations that can lead to adverse childhood experiences which can later affect them as adults, parents and guardians should recognize the importance of developing qffectionate and altruistic relationships which children with hearing impairment can learn from and imbibe in fi,ture when choosing a marriage partner and building quality relationships, and students with hearing impairment should be exposed to pre-marital counselling in order to learn that they are not a product of the trauma they went through while growing up and should not allow such to affect their partner selection and quality relationship.