• Social Support, Financial Resilience and Self-Care as Determinants of Emotional Well-being among Young Widows in Anambra State of Nigeria

  DOI:DOI:18.A003.aarf.J14I01.010337

1.Loveth Otuomasirichi EZE 2.Dr. Victoria F. IYANDA

Abstract: Widowhood is one of the most stressful life events. However, the ways in which social support, financial resilience, and self-care interact to influence emotional well-being of young Nigerian widows remain empirically under explored. Therefore, this study investigates influence of social support, financial resilience, and self-care on emotional well-being of young widows in Anambra State, Nigeria. Anchoring on social support, resources, and transactional model of stress and coping theories, the study adopts cross-sectional research design using survey method with sample size of 273 young widows aged between 29 and 52 years (M = 35.49, SD = 7.62) which was determined using Cochran’s formula. Participants were selected through multi-stage sampling technique across selected Local Government Areas of Anambra State. Data were collected using self-developed structured questionnaire. The instrument’s validity and reliability were established before fieldwork. Data were analysed with SPSS version 25.0 using correlation and regression statistics. Results show that social support, and self-care had significant positive relationship with emotional well-being (r = .35, p < .01), and (r = .34, p < .01) respectively. Although, financial resilience had no independent significant effect, together with social support and self-care, the three explained 20% of variance in emotional well-being (F (3, 233) = 19.49, R = 0.45, R2 = 0.20, p < .001). The study highlights social support and self-care as key buffers against psychological challenges of widowhood, and urges social workers and policymakers to strengthen widow-support networks and promote resilience-enhancing interventions.