Study of the Relationship Between Economic Hardship and Family Functioning in Low-Income Households in Ibadan

Economic hardship places significant strain on family relationships, parenting quality, and household cohesion, and understanding these dynamics in low-income Nigerian urban communities provides an evidence base for family counselling interventions. This study examined the relationship between economic hardship and family functioning in low-income households in Ibadan North-West Local Government Area, Oyo State, South West Nigeria. A descriptive correlational survey was conducted among 260 married adults from five low-income community clusters, using systematic sampling. The Economic Hardship Scale and the Family Assessment Device were administered. Pearson correlation and multiple regression were applied. Results showed that economic hardship was significantly negatively correlated with overall family functioning (r = -0.52, p < 0.001). Problem solving (r = -0.48, p < 0.001), communication (r = -0.43, p < 0.001), and affective responsiveness (r = -0.41, p < 0.001) subscales showed the strongest associations with economic strain. Households with per capita monthly income below 15,000 naira showed the most severely impaired family functioning profiles. Single-income households showed significantly worse functioning than dual-income households after controlling for income level. Access to any family counselling service was reported by only 7.3 percent. The study recommends community-based family counselling services addressing economic stress and family dynamics, financial literacy components in family support programmes, and social welfare agency-counsellor referral pathways in Ibadan. Keywords: economic hardship, family functioning, low-income households, Ibadan, family counselling