The effects of cohabitation in relation to academic performance at Makerere University

Abstract

Cohabitation evolves from a deviant lifestyle to one that is normative for young men and women. Academic performance is the extent to which a student, teacher or institution has achieved in the short or long term educational goals. This research examines the relationship between cohabitation of male and female students and their academic performance in Makerere University. It adopts the qualitative approach to carry out research. In this case there was high level of gender sensitivity during the time of collecting data were by 40 women were selected alongside 20 men. The research uses both primary and secondary data It also attempts to explain the different causes of cohabitation between male and female students in relation to their academic performance at Makerere University. Using random sampling method in different colleges at the University, findings showed that majority of cohabiters were residing off campus, owing to insufficient campus Hall accommodation. Inadequate financial support and high cost of living off campus were some of the factors predisposed students of opposite sexes to cohabit. It was established that, the longer the period of cohabitation, the lower the students’ academic performance.