A REVIEW OF FAMILY DYNAMICS AND COPING STRATEGIES IN THE CONTEXT OF COVID-19 LOCKDOWN IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Since the emergence of the Novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in December, 2019 in Wuhan, China and its importation into Nigeria on February 27, 2020, Nigerians faced diverse challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic was more than a health challenge; it had, social and economic implications, attacking the core of human society and increasing social inequality, vulnerabilities and gender-based violence. Consequently, the Nigerian government introduced measures to contain the virus' spread, including a total or partiallockdown. Many families faced a massive crisis during the lockdown, raising many issues and imposing wrenching trade-offs . This paper focuses on family dynamics and coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown by examining how families managed financial difficulties and : conflicts, maintained social ties, and addressed changes during the lockdown. The impacts of COVID-19 lockdowns were deeply felt within the family structures, especially among the most vulnerable groups such as people with low incomes, women, older persons and persons with disabilities. Since family members were at home during the lockdown, family dynamics would be threatened, magnified positively or negatively, depending on the coping strategies adopted. Functionalism was adopted as the explanatory tool. This paper reviewed. various publications on family dynamics and coping strategies during the COVID-19 lockdown in Nigeria. Insights were drawn from family types, socio-economic status and their coping strategies. The article concludes with recommendations for effective management of pandemics and the impacts of their lockdown in Nigeria without compromising the social well-being of vulnerable families.