Gender and Ethnic Attitudes Towards Death: A Survey of Undergraduates from Selected Universities in Nigeria.

Abstract

The main thrust of the study was attitudinal dispositions to death among undergraduates of selected universities in Nigeria with gender and ethnicity as independent variables. An Attitudes Toward Death Questionnaire (ATDQ) with reliability coefficient of 68 was employed to collect data from 630 respondents selected through purposive, stratified random sampling techniques from three (3) of the first generation universities located in each of the three (3) former geo-political regions (North, West and East) of Nigeria. Data collected were analyzed through t-test. Analysis of variance (AN0VA) and Duncan Multiple Range Test as post hoe. Results of the study indicates that there was no significant difference in death attitudes across gender, but there was significant differences across two major blocks of the three ethnic groups. Based on these findings, it was suggested among others, that, death can be greatly reduced on our campuses by making the institutions more co- educational and ensuring gender parity, there should be Death Education Curriculum and Thanatological Counselling of everyone particularly ethnic leaders and religious fundamentals.