Age and Level of Education as Determinants of Men's Attitude towards Their Wives' Work Type in South-South Nigeria: Implications for Counseling Interventions and Practice

Abstract This study explored how age and educational attainment influence men’s attitudes toward the types of work their wives engage in within South-South Nigeria, with emphasis on the implications for guidance and counseling practice. Two research questions and two corresponding null hypotheses were formulated to guide the inquiry. The descriptive survey research design was employed for the study. Using a combination of purposive and simple random sampling techniques, three states—Rivers, Bayelsa, and Akwa Ibom—were selected, alongside a sample of 225 married men from these locations. Data were gathered through a structured instrument titled Men’s Attitude towards Wives’ Work Type Questionnaire (MATWWTQ). The reliability of the questionnaire was determined using the testretest method, which produced a reliability coefficient of 0.74 via Pearson Product Moment Correlation. Descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) were used to answer the research questions, while Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) at the 0.05 significance level tested the hypotheses. Findings revealed that men’s attitudes toward the types of work undertaken by their wives showed no significant variation across age groups or educational levels. Based on these results, it was recommended, among others, that professional counselors develop targeted interventions addressing the cultural, social, and psychological factors influencing men’s perceptions of women’s work roles. Policymakers should also strengthen or introduce labor and social policies aimed at fostering gender equity both in the workplace and within the family structure.