Gender difference in help seeking behaviour for dating violence among undergraduates of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study carried out an investigation on the gender differences in help-seeking behaviour for dating violence among Obafemi Awolowo University undergraduates. Survey research design was adopted in this study, as an instrument entitled, “Dating Violence and Help-Seeking Behaviour” was used to collect data from 591 undergraduates. The data collected were analyzed using simple percentage, frequency counts and t-test. The study concluded that the students experienced dating violence, especially in the form of psychological violence; while majority of female undergraduate students look out for informal help source, which could be responsible for under-reporting and act as barrier for rendering of necessary formal help source. It is therefore recommended that university counsellors should endeavor to create awareness to the students about dating violence and the necessity to ask for help. Also, school management need to establish strategies that promote speaking out, when faced with dating violence and see to it that what is reported are managed as appropriate as possible.