Domestic violence against women remains a persistent public health and socio-developmental challenge in Nigeria, particularly within intimate and marital relationships. This study examined the relationship between socio-economic factors and domestic violence against women in Ondo State, Nigeria, with specific emphasis on income level. A descriptive survey research design was adopted. The population comprised married women residing in Ondo metropolis, Ondo State, Nigeria, drawn from diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. A purposive sample of 1,200 married women aged 18 years and above, and married for at least two years, participated in the study. Data were collected using a self-designed instrument titled the Domestic Violence Questionnaire (DVQ), which demonstrated good reliability (Cronbach’s Alpha = 0.89). Descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, and mean) were used to answer the research questions, while Pearson Product Moment Correlation was employed to test the hypotheses at the 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that socio-economic factors including cultural norms (80.0%), financial dependency (77.5%), income level (76.5%), educational attainment (73.0%), employment status (71.3%), and social support networks (67.0%) were strongly associated with domestic violence against women. A moderate and statistically significant relationship was found between socio-economic factors and domestic violence (r = 0.56, p < 0.001), leading to the rejection of the null hypothesis. Similarly, income level showed a significant moderate relationship with domestic violence (r = 0.52, p < 0.001). The study concluded that socio-economic conditions, particularly income dynamics and financial dependency, play a crucial role in shaping women’s vulnerability to domestic violence. It therefore recommends integrated interventions that combine women’s economic empowerment, educational advancement, cultural reorientation, strengthened social support systems, and effective policy implementation to reduce domestic violence in Ondo State, Nigeria.
Keywords: Domestic Violence, Socio-Economic, Women
