International Journal of Psychology and Psychological Therapy
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Volume 26 Num. 2 - June 2026

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Religious Orientation and Socioeconomic Status as Predictors of Attitude Toward Contraceptive Use among Married Couples

Volume 26 Num. 2 - June 2026 - Pages 251-260

Authors:

Chinwe I. Onyemaechi , P.O. Philip , Lilian Azaka , Oluchi G. Dike , O.B. Ibeh , A.O. Onwudiwe , G.A. Nsoke , E.K. Okonkwo , A.O. Ajah , E.C. Ngaji , A.E. Nwankwo , A.U. Bekaren , S.E. Eruchalu , C.C. Izuorah , E.I. Ihenatuoha , S.A. Idika , S.C. Odinde , J.O. Muokwe , L.I. Ibekwe , U.J. Obi , E.C Onwueme , S.F. Inah

Abstract:

This article examined how religious orientation and socioeconomic status affect married couples’ attitudes toward contraceptive use in Anambra State, Nigeria. A total of 397 married people took part in the study. Descriptive analysis showed a wide age span (Mage= 42.46 years), various lengths of marriage, and a moderate spread in religiosity and socioeconomic class. Pearson correlation analysis showed a significant positive link between religious orientation and socioeconomic class (r= 0.216, p <.01), a small but statistically significant negative link between religious orientation and contraceptive attitude (r= 0.104, p <.05), and a non-significant link between socioeconomic class and contraceptive attitude (r = 0.064). Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was done in three models: Model 1 (demographics) explained 49.4 of the variation in contraceptive attitudes R2= 0.506; Model 2 (adding religious orientation) raised the explained variation to 54.2 ΔR2= 0.037, with religious orientation having a significant negative effect β= 0.245, p <.001; Model 3 (adding socioeconomic status) bumped the explanatory power further to 59.2 R2= 0.592, with socioeconomic status positively predicting contraceptive attitude β= 0.416, p <.001. The results shows that greater religiosity has the tendency to undermine positive views of contraception, but greater socioeconomic resources have the tendency to foster positive views of contraception. The combined influence of religious orientation and socioeconomic status indicates that reproductive health interventions in Nigeria should traverse the nexus of faith and economic context to shape contraceptive perceptions among married couples.

How to cite this paper:
Onyemaechi CI, Philip PO, Azaka L, Dike OG, Ibeh OB, Onwudiwe AO, Nsoke GA, Okonkwo EK, Ajah AO, Ngaji EC, Nwankwo AE, Bekaren AU, Eruchalu SE, Izuorah CC, Ihenatuoha EI, Idika SA, Odinde SC, Muokwe JO, Ibekwe LI, Obi UJ, Onwueme EC, & Inah SF (2026). Religious Orientation and Socioeconomic Status as Predictors of Attitude Toward Contraceptive Use Among Married Couples. International Journal of Psychology & Psychological Therapy, 26, 2, 251-260.

Key words:

religious orientation, socioeconomic status, contraceptive attitude

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