Investigating the Influence of Residential Location and Religious Affiliation on College Students' Attitudes toward Love, Sex, and Marriage

Abstract

Comprehending the interaction of variables such as residential location and religious affiliation in shaping students' perspectives is crucial for educators, legislators, and counsellors seeking to facilitate students' social and emotional growth. This study explicitly investigates the variation of these views according to residential arrangements and religious affiliations, which are evaluated by null hypotheses. A descriptive survey methodology was employed, utilising questionnaires and semi-structured interviews to collect comprehensive data from college students. The study sample consists of 350 respondents chosen from five tertiary educational institutions in the Tamale city of Ghana. Respondents were acquired by stratified, purposive, and random sampling methods. Independent-sample t-tests and one-way ANOVA were utilised to assess the hypotheses using the SPSS 16.0 software. The findings indicated statistically significant variations in students' beliefs towards romantic relationships, sexual activities, and marriage, influenced by residential location and religious affiliations. The study contributes to understanding the sociocultural and environmental factors shaping college students' perspectives on relationships and marriage. Educational policymakers ought to execute location-specific measures to rectify geographical disparities in students' social and emotional development, including seminars and counselling services. Institutions ought to foster open dialogue around relationships, sexuality, and marriage, thereby enhancing comprehension and respect for varied viewpoints.