Psychosocial Predictors Of Involvement Of Women As Victims Of Trafficking In Persons In South West Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated psychosocial predictors of involvement of women as victims of human trafficking using. This descriptive study had four independent variables- “coping strategies”, “self-esteem” “risk taking attitude” and “social support”. The dependent variable was involvement of women as victims of trafficking in persons. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 300 participants from Lagos and Ogun States for this study. Four survey instruments were adopted in this study – The Interpersonal Support Evaluation List (ISEL), Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (COPE), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (SES), Domain–Specific Risk-Taking Attitude Scale (RAS) and Involvement in Trafficking in Person Scale (ITPS) was developed by this researcher Two hypotheses were tested and findings indicated significant combined and relative contributions of psychosocial factors identified as predictors of involvement of women as victims of trafficking in persons. These findings emphasized the roles of communities in preventing rather than punishing the crime of human trafficking .The young girls that were denied necessary social support either perceived or tangible might have high propensity to take risk, have poor self esteem and adopt emotional coping strategies. This situation coupled with high level of poverty serve as plausible to fall prey or enticed by the bait of traffickers. It was recommended that various government agencies and parastatal should ensure enforcement of compulsory universal basic education, discourage disparity against girl child education and educate family exposing children to danger through cultural practices such as child fostering.

Gender and Behaviour Vol. 6 (1) 2008: pp. 1480-1493