Abstract

This study investigated the effectiveness of stress inoculation (SI) and the moderating effect of Socioeconomic Status (SeS) on the management of ES of mid-marriage bereaved spouses in Oyoland. The study adopted a pretest, posttest, and control group quasi-experimental design with a 2x2x3 factorial matrix. The multi-stage sampling procedure was adopted. Three local government areas in Oyoland: Atiba, Oyo East and Oyo west were enumerated. Faith-based organizations with the presence of widows and widowers were purposively selected. Sixty-eight bereaved spouses from mid-marriage who scored 34 and above in the Depression Anxiety Stress screening instrument were selected and randomly assigned to SIT (22) and the control (23) groups. The instruments used were Depression Anxiety Stress (r =.78), Integration of Stressful life experiences (r =.92) and Socioeconomic Status (r =.859) scales. The treatments lasted ten weeks. Data were analysed using the Analysis of covariance at a 0.05 level of significance. The respondent had a high level (58.8%) of SeS. There was a significant main effect of participants in SIT (x̅ = 39.06) and the control group (x̅ = 69.65). Socioeconomic status had a significant main effect on ES of mid-marriage bereaved spouses (F(1;49) = 10.83, Partial ղ2 = 0.18). Participants with high SeS benefited more(x̅ = 46.72) than those with low SeS (x̅ = 49.82). Stress Inoculation and socioeconomic status were effective in reducing the Emotional stress of mid-marriage bereaved spouses in Oyoland. These counselling interventions should be integrated into the management of young widows’ and widowers’ emotional stress.