EFFECTS OF ECONOMIC HARDSHIP AND FINANCIAL STRESS ON HOUSEHOLD WELL-BEING IN NIGERIA: A STUDY OF SABON GARI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KADUNA

Abstract

This investigation focused on the impacts of economic hardship and financial strain on the welfare of households in Sabon Gari Local Government Area, Kaduna State, Nigeria. The research had three primary aims: gauging the prevalence of economic deprivation, assessing how financial stress influences family well-being, and documenting the response strategies utilized. Employing a cross-sectional survey, the researchers selected 384 participants through a multistage sampling approach, with simple random sampling determining eligibility. A structured questionnaire was administered, and the resulting data were processed using descriptive statistics, including frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations. Key findings indicated that the largest group of respondents (28.9%) had monthly earnings of ₦50,000–₦99,999, while 31.5% cared for five to six dependents. Substantial hardship was evident, with soaring food prices most significantly eroding buying power (M = 4.22). Financial stress was found to detrimentally affect well-being, chiefly by generating interpersonal tension within households (M = 3.99), alongside diminishing overall security, limiting social and recreational engagements, and hindering access to quality modern healthcare. To manage these pressures, families primarily cut back on non-essential purchases (M = 4.21), switched to lower-cost products (M = 4.16), reduced spending on social obligations, and drew down their savings. The study concludes that these economic pressures pose profound challenges to household well-being in the area, affecting not only physical resources but also socio-emotional health. It advocates for government intervention to strengthen food-price regulations and social protection measures, alongside calls for state and local authorities to create more robust employment, livelihood, and income-generating opportunities for at-risk populations.