Abstract

This study investigated the influence of socioeconomic stressors on rising divorce rates in four emerging African cities: Lagos, Nairobi, Accra, and Addis Ababa. A total of 600 married adults participated in a structured survey assessing financial stress, employment insecurity, housing constraints, and divorce risk. Descriptive, correlation, and multiple regression analyses were conducted to determine the relationships between stressors and marital instability. Results indicated that financial stress was the strongest predictor of divorce risk, followed by employment insecurity and housing constraints, collectively explaining 41% of the variance in marital instability. Cross-city comparisons revealed that Lagos couples experienced the highest financial stress and divorce risk, whereas Addis Ababa couples reported the lowest levels. Findings were interpreted using Family Stress Theory and Social Exchange Theory, demonstrating that chronic socioeconomic pressures eroded coping capacities, increased relational conflict, and influenced rational evaluations of marital viability. The study emphasized the compounded effect of urban economic stressors on marital outcomes and highlighted the need for policy interventions addressing financial support, employment stability, and affordable housing to reduce divorce risk in urban African contexts. The research provided empirical evidence for understanding how structural economic factors shape marital stability and contributed to the literature on family sociology in rapidly urbanizing regions.