IMPACT OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS ON THE MENTAL HEALTH OF WORKING-CLASS WOMEN IN MAIDUGURI METROPOLITAN COUNCIL, NIGERIA.

Abstract

This study examined the impact of socioeconomic factors- income, education, and occupation on the mental health status of working-class women in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, Nigeria. The study employed an ex post facto research design based on the premise that social determinants play a critical role in shaping mental health outcomes, particularly among vulnerable populations. Data were collected from a sample of 406 participants. To address empty cells in the dataset, six simulated cases were introduced to enable valid three-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The data were analyzed using a three-way ANOVA to determine the main and interaction effects of income, education, and occupation on mental health status. The results revealed significant main effects of income, F (2, 394) = 4.388, p < .05, and education, F (1, 394) = 15.888, p < .001, indicating that both factors significantly influence mental health status. However, the main effect of occupation was not statistically significant, F (1, 394) = 0.123, p > .05. A significant interaction effect between education and occupation was observed, F (1, 394) = 11.011, p < .05, while other interaction effects were not significant. The findings underscore the importance of socioeconomic determinants, particularly income and education, in shaping mental health outcomes. The study recommends policies aimed at reducing socioeconomic inequalities to improve mental well-being among working-class women.