IMPACT OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE ON MARITAL STABILITY AMONG COUPLES IN TIRWUN VILLAGE, BAUCHI STATE NIGERIA

The study examined the impact of intimate partner violence on marital stability among couples in Tirwun village, Bauchi state Nigeria. In Nigeria, reports reveal “shockingly high” level of violence against women, that a third (and in some cases two-thirds) of women and in some cases men are believed to have been subjected to physical, sexual and psychological violence carried out primarily by husbands, partners and fathers while girls are often forced into early marriage and are at risk of punishment if they attempt to escape from their husband. Against the study between the three objectives to:, identify the causes of intimate partner violence among couples, examine how intimate partner violence affects marital stability among couples as well as To investigate the extent to which psychological effects of intimate partner violence affects marital instability among couples in Tirwun, Bauchi state Nigeria. The study employed the application of Power Theory. This study used cross sectional design using questionnaire with a sample size of 120. The result found that financial stress and unemployment, alcohol or drug abuse by a partner, cultural beliefs and societal norms sometimes, lack of effective communication between partners increases and that jealousy, suspicion, and accusations of infidelity often result in intimate partner violence. Thus, the study recommended that: government should put in place legal remedies and judicial reforms criminalizing intimate partner violence as abuse, so as to serve as deterrent to other abusers or intending abusers. Keywords; Violence, Intimate Partner Violence, Marriage, Marital Stability and Couples