Project – The Emergence of Digital Widowhood and Its Implications for Social Support Systems Among Widows in Ilorin West Local Government Area, Kwara State.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Research Topic: The Emergence of Digital Widowhood and Its Implications for Social Support Systems Among Widows in Ilorin West Local Government Area, Kwara State.

1.1 Background to the Study

Widowhood is a significant social experience that occurs when an individual loses a spouse through death, resulting in changes in family relationships, economic responsibilities, emotional stability and social identity. For many women, the death of a husband represents more than the loss of a marital partner; it may also result in the loss of financial support, companionship, protection, social recognition and access to important family resources. The experience of widowhood is often accompanied by emotional distress, loneliness, economic difficulties, social discrimination and adjustments to new family responsibilities. In many African societies, widows may also encounter cultural expectations and traditional practices that influence their treatment, social participation and access to support. These experiences make social support an essential component of widowhood adjustment because assistance from relatives, friends, religious institutions, community organisations and government agencies can help widows cope with the challenges associated with losing their spouses. Anuforo, Zoucha, Salman and McFarland (2025) explain that widowhood practices, cultural beliefs and social conditions significantly influence the health and well-being of Nigerian women, particularly through psychosocial challenges, poor socioeconomic conditions and inadequate support. Similarly, Cohen and Wills (1985) establish that social support can protect individuals from the negative effects of stressful life experiences by providing emotional, informational and practical resources. Therefore, understanding the changing experiences of widowhood requires examining both conventional social support arrangements and emerging forms of assistance facilitated by modern technology.

The development of information and communication technology has significantly transformed the ways individuals communicate, maintain relationships, exchange information and access social assistance. The increasing availability of smartphones, social networking platforms, internet-based communication and digital communities has created new opportunities for individuals to establish and maintain social connections beyond their immediate physical environments. These developments have also influenced how people experience bereavement, express grief and maintain relationships with deceased loved ones. Digital platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Telegram and online community groups now provide spaces through which individuals can communicate their experiences, share memories, seek advice and receive emotional encouragement. In the context of widowhood, these technological developments have created opportunities for widows to connect with other bereaved individuals, participate in online support communities, receive financial assistance and access information relating to their rights, health and economic opportunities. Kasket (2012) observes that social networking platforms have become important spaces for maintaining continuing emotional connections with deceased loved ones, while Moore, Magee, Gamreklidze and Kowalewski (2019) explain that social networking sites provide different opportunities for bereaved individuals to communicate their grief, connect with other mourners and maintain relationships with the deceased. These developments demonstrate how digital communication is gradually becoming part of the contemporary experience of bereavement and widowhood.

The emergence of digital widowhood can therefore be understood as a developing social phenomenon in which the experiences, coping strategies, communication patterns and support needs of widows are increasingly shaped by digital technologies and online social interactions. It involves the use of digital platforms to maintain social relationships, express grief, seek emotional assistance, access information, participate in widow-focused online communities and obtain economic or material support. Although digital widowhood is not yet a universally established academic classification of widowhood, it provides a useful analytical expression for examining how technology is changing the experiences of women following the death of their spouses. Through digital communication, widows can maintain contact with relatives living in different locations, participate in religious activities, receive encouragement from friends and access online groups where individuals share similar experiences. Digital platforms can also provide spaces for remembering deceased husbands through photographs, recorded messages, memorial posts and other forms of online remembrance. Price, Steffen and Kamp (2025) identify the growing importance of social media in maintaining continuing bonds with deceased individuals, noting that digital platforms facilitate the expression of grief, collective remembrance and ongoing emotional connections. Similarly, Bouc, Han and Pennington (2016) demonstrate that Facebook profiles of deceased individuals can serve as spaces where family members and friends express memories and maintain symbolic connections with the dead. These developments suggest that digital platforms are becoming important social spaces within which widows negotiate grief, identity and continuing relationships.

Furthermore, digital widowhood has implications for the traditional social support systems available to widows. Traditionally, social support for widows in Nigerian communities has largely depended on extended family members, friends, neighbours, religious organisations, women’s associations, community leaders and charitable organisations. These institutions and relationships often provide emotional encouragement, financial assistance, childcare support, food, accommodation and guidance during difficult periods following the death of a spouse. However, geographical distance, changing family structures, migration, economic pressures and declining community interaction may sometimes limit the availability of conventional support. Digital communication offers additional opportunities for widows to maintain contact with relatives and social networks regardless of physical distance. Through online groups, widows may receive counselling information, participate in religious programmes, obtain employment information, advertise small businesses and request financial assistance. Cohen and Wills (1985) explain that social support is beneficial both through individuals’ integration into social networks and through the availability of resources that help them cope with stressful experiences. In addition, Price et al. (2025) demonstrate that digital platforms can facilitate collective mourning and social interaction among bereaved individuals. Consequently, digital widowhood may complement traditional support systems by expanding the channels through which widows receive assistance, although it does not necessarily replace the importance of direct personal relationships and physical community support.

In Nigeria, widowhood remains an important social and developmental concern because many women experience significant economic, emotional, psychological and cultural challenges following the death of their husbands. In some communities, widows may face restrictions relating to inheritance, property ownership, remarriage, family participation and traditional widowhood practices. These difficulties may become more serious where a deceased husband’s income was the major source of household support or where relatives fail to provide adequate assistance. Consequently, widows may depend on relatives, religious institutions, non-governmental organisations and other community-based support arrangements to meet their daily needs. However, the increasing use of digital communication technologies has introduced alternative opportunities for accessing information, social relationships and assistance. Digital platforms can help widows participate in online counselling, connect with charitable organisations, access information about government interventions and communicate with individuals who may provide financial or emotional assistance. Nevertheless, unequal access to smartphones, internet services, digital literacy and affordable data may prevent some widows from benefiting from these opportunities. The GSMA (2024), using its Nigerian digital inclusion analysis, reports considerable differences between men and women in mobile internet adoption and regular usage, demonstrating that gender-related digital inequalities remain relevant to access to online opportunities. Similarly, Anuforo et al. (2025) identify socioeconomic vulnerability, psychosocial difficulties and inadequate support as important dimensions of widowhood experiences in Nigeria. These realities make it necessary to investigate whether digital platforms are expanding social support opportunities for widows or creating additional forms of exclusion.

In Kwara State, widowhood is also influenced by cultural values, religious beliefs, family relationships and socioeconomic circumstances that shape the experiences of women following the loss of their husbands. Ilorin, as the state capital, has a diverse social environment in which traditional institutions, religious organisations, extended families, community associations and modern communication technologies coexist. These institutions play important roles in providing assistance and determining how widows adjust to changes in their family and social positions. Aderibigbe, Lawal, Olatona, Sekoni, Goodman, Olubiyi and Olaosebikan (2017), in their study of knowledge and perception of widowhood rites among adults in Ilorin, found that widowhood practices were recognised as issues involving gender-based violence and potential violations of women’s fundamental rights. Their findings demonstrate the importance of understanding the social and cultural environment within which widows experience bereavement in Ilorin. Furthermore, Adegboyega, Okafor and Onongha (2024), in their study of challenges and coping strategies among widows in Ilorin metropolis, identified psychosocial difficulties, inadequate governmental support and negative pressures from the families of deceased husbands among the challenges confronting widows. The study also highlighted the importance of assistance from religious bodies, government and non-governmental organisations in helping widows cope with their circumstances. These findings provide a relevant local foundation for examining whether digital communication and online support networks are emerging as additional resources for widows in the area.

Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara State provides an important setting for examining the emergence of digital widowhood because its population comprises individuals with different socioeconomic backgrounds, educational experiences, religious affiliations and levels of access to digital communication technologies. Widows within the Local Government Area may depend on different sources of support, including children, relatives, friends, religious organisations, community associations and charitable institutions. However, the extent to which these conventional support arrangements adequately address their emotional, financial, informational and social needs may vary according to their economic circumstances, age, educational background and family relationships. The growing use of mobile phones and social media provides opportunities for widows to participate in online religious communities, communicate with distant relatives, receive emotional encouragement, access counselling information and seek financial assistance. At the same time, digital participation may expose them to misinformation, online fraud, privacy violations, cyberbullying and exclusion arising from inadequate digital literacy or limited internet access. The importance of examining these opportunities and challenges is reinforced by research on digital bereavement, which shows that online platforms can provide spaces for collective mourning and continuing social connections, while research on Nigerian widowhood highlights the continuing importance of socioeconomic and psychosocial support (Moore et al., 2019; Adegboyega et al., 2024; Anuforo et al., 2025).

Against this background, the study examines the emergence of digital widowhood and its implications for social support systems among widows in Ilorin West Local Government Area, Kwara State. The study recognises that digital technologies are gradually changing the ways widows communicate, maintain relationships, seek assistance, express grief and access social resources. It therefore seeks to investigate the forms of digital platforms and online support networks available to widows, examine how digital communication influences their access to emotional, financial and informational support, assess the relationship between digital widowhood and conventional support systems, and identify the challenges that affect widows’ participation in digital support networks. Particular attention will be given to the extent to which online relationships complement or weaken traditional family and community support arrangements. The study is important because digital technologies may provide additional opportunities for social inclusion and empowerment, but their benefits may be limited by inadequate digital skills, financial constraints, poor internet access and concerns about online safety. By focusing on widows in Ilorin West Local Government Area, the study intends to contribute to a better understanding of how digital transformation is influencing widowhood experiences and the delivery of social support in contemporary Nigerian society (Cohen & Wills, 1985; Price et al., 2025; Adegboyega et al., 2024).

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Widowhood is associated with several social, emotional, psychological and economic challenges that can significantly affect the well-being of women following the death of their husbands. In many Nigerian communities, widows depend on extended family members, friends, religious institutions, neighbours and community organisations for emotional encouragement, financial assistance and other forms of support. However, these traditional support systems may sometimes be inadequate due to economic difficulties, family disagreements, social discrimination, geographical separation and declining community relationships. Some widows experience loneliness, emotional isolation, financial insecurity and inadequate assistance in meeting their daily responsibilities, particularly where their deceased husbands were the major providers for their households. Although social support is recognised as an important resource for coping with stressful life experiences, not all widows have equal access to reliable and sustainable assistance. Adegboyega et al. (2024) identified psychosocial problems, inadequate governmental support and negative pressures from the families of deceased husbands among the challenges experienced by widows in Ilorin metropolis. Similarly, Anuforo et al. (2025) established that socioeconomic vulnerability, cultural practices and inadequate support significantly influence the well-being of Nigerian widows. These circumstances raise concerns about the adequacy of existing social support arrangements and the need to examine alternative ways through which widows can obtain assistance.

Another problem concerns the increasing dependence on digital communication technologies and the extent to which widows can benefit from emerging online support opportunities. Although social media platforms, messaging applications and online communities provide opportunities for communication, counselling, information sharing and financial assistance, their accessibility and usefulness may differ among widows. Some women may use WhatsApp groups, Facebook communities and other online platforms to connect with relatives, participate in religious activities, share their experiences and seek assistance from individuals with similar circumstances. Others may be unable to benefit from these opportunities because of inadequate digital literacy, lack of smartphones, high internet costs, poor network connectivity and limited financial resources. Consequently, the emergence of digital widowhood may create new forms of social inclusion for some widows while further marginalising those who lack the resources and skills required to participate effectively. The GSMA (2024) identifies gender differences in mobile internet adoption and usage in Nigeria, demonstrating that unequal digital access remains an important concern. Furthermore, Moore et al. (2019) show that social networking sites can provide spaces for bereaved individuals to communicate grief and connect with others, suggesting that online platforms may offer useful support opportunities when they are accessible and appropriately utilised.

Furthermore, the emergence of digital widowhood presents concerns about the quality, reliability and sustainability of social support obtained through online platforms. Although digital communities may provide emotional encouragement, financial assistance, counselling information and opportunities for social interaction, online support may not always provide the depth of care available through direct personal relationships. Some widows may encounter fraudulent individuals who exploit their emotional and financial vulnerability, while others may experience misinformation, privacy violations, cyberbullying and unwanted exposure of sensitive personal experiences. There is also the possibility that excessive dependence on online relationships may reduce participation in physical community activities or weaken existing family relationships where digital interaction replaces rather than complements direct social engagement. Price et al. (2025) demonstrate that digital platforms can facilitate continuing bonds and collective expressions of grief, but the implications of these interactions depend on how they are experienced and utilised. Similarly, Kasket (2012) explains that social media has changed the ways bereaved individuals maintain connections with deceased loved ones, highlighting the growing importance of understanding digital interactions in contemporary bereavement experiences. These developments make it necessary to investigate whether digital widowhood strengthens existing social support arrangements or introduces additional challenges for widows.

Specifically, within Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara State, there is a need to understand the extent to which digital widowhood is emerging among widows and how it influences their access to social support. Although existing research has examined widowhood challenges, traditional practices and coping strategies in Ilorin metropolis, there remains a need to investigate the specific contribution of digital platforms to the emotional, financial, informational and social support available to widows in Ilorin West. It is also necessary to establish whether online support networks complement assistance from family members, religious institutions and community organisations, or whether digital participation creates new forms of dependency and social exclusion. The extent to which widows possess the necessary digital skills, devices and financial resources to access online support also requires investigation. Without adequate understanding of these issues, government agencies, religious institutions, community organisations and other stakeholders may find it difficult to develop appropriate support programmes that recognise the changing needs of widows in a digitally connected society. The central problem of this study, therefore, is the limited understanding of the emergence of digital widowhood and its implications for existing social support systems among widows in Ilorin West Local Government Area, Kwara State.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

The general objective of this study is to examine the emergence of digital widowhood and its implications for social support systems among widows in Ilorin West Local Government Area, Kwara State.

The specific objectives are to:

1. Examine the forms of digital platforms and online support networks utilised by widows in Ilorin West Local Government Area, Kwara State.

2. Determine the influence of digital widowhood on widows’ access to emotional, financial and informational support in Ilorin West Local Government Area.

3. Assess the relationship between digital widowhood and traditional social support systems among widows in Ilorin West Local Government Area.

4. Identify the challenges affecting widows’ participation in digital support networks in Ilorin West Local Government Area, Kwara State.

1.4 Research Questions

The following research questions will guide the study:

1. What forms of digital platforms and online support networks are utilised by widows in Ilorin West Local Government Area, Kwara State?

2. To what extent does digital widowhood influence widows’ access to emotional, financial and informational support in Ilorin West Local Government Area?

3. What is the relationship between digital widowhood and traditional social support systems among widows in Ilorin West Local Government Area?

4. What challenges affect widows’ participation in digital support networks in Ilorin West Local Government Area, Kwara State?

1.5 Research Hypothesis

The following null hypothesis will be tested in the study:

H₀: There is no significant relationship between digital widowhood and access to social support systems among widows in Ilorin West Local Government Area, Kwara State.

1.6 Significance of the Study

This study is significant because it examines how digital technologies are transforming the experiences of widows and influencing the availability of social support in contemporary society. The findings will be beneficial to the following groups:

Widows: The study will help widows understand the opportunities available through digital platforms for accessing emotional encouragement, financial assistance, counselling information and social relationships. It will also create awareness of online safety, digital literacy and the responsible use of social media for obtaining support.

Government: The findings will provide useful information to the Kwara State Government and relevant social welfare agencies on the changing support needs of widows. It may assist policymakers in developing programmes that incorporate digital communication, online counselling, economic empowerment and accessible social welfare services for widows.

Religious organisations: The study will be useful to churches, mosques and other religious institutions that provide emotional, spiritual and material assistance to widows. It will demonstrate how digital platforms can complement existing welfare programmes, facilitate communication and extend support to widows who may be unable to attend physical meetings regularly.

Non-governmental organisations and charitable organisations: The study will provide insights into how charitable organisations can use digital platforms to identify widows in need, coordinate assistance, share information about empowerment programmes and establish online support communities.

Families and community leaders: The findings will help family members, traditional rulers, community leaders and other stakeholders appreciate the changing social experiences of widows. It will encourage the integration of digital communication with existing family and community support arrangements.

Social workers and counsellors: The study will provide useful information for professionals involved in counselling, psychosocial support and social welfare services. It may help them understand how digital communication can be incorporated into counselling interventions and support programmes for widows.

Researchers and students: The study will serve as reference material for researchers and students in Sociology, Social Work, Psychology, Community Development, Gender Studies and related disciplines. It will also contribute to academic discussions on digital widowhood, bereavement, social support and digital inclusion.

The general public: The study will promote awareness of the challenges experienced by widows and the importance of providing inclusive and sustainable support. It may encourage responsible digital participation, community solidarity and greater understanding of the social implications of widowhood.

1.7 Scope of the Study

The study focuses on the emergence of digital widowhood and its implications for social support systems among widows in Ilorin West Local Government Area, Kwara State.

Geographically, the study is restricted to Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria. The respondents will comprise widows residing within the Local Government Area.

In terms of content, the study examines the digital platforms and online support networks utilised by widows, including WhatsApp, Facebook, online religious communities, digital counselling platforms and other relevant internet-based communication channels. It also investigates the influence of digital widowhood on access to emotional, financial and informational support.

Furthermore, the study examines the relationship between digital and traditional support systems, particularly assistance from relatives, friends, religious organisations, community associations and non-governmental organisations. It also considers challenges such as inadequate digital literacy, lack of smartphones, internet costs, network problems, online fraud, privacy concerns and misinformation.

The study is limited to the experiences of widows and does not seek to examine all categories of bereaved individuals or the general population of social media users.

1.8 Operational Definition of Terms

The following terms are defined according to their usage in this study.

Digital Widowhood: A developing social phenomenon in which the experiences of widows, including communication, grief expression, social interaction and access to support, are increasingly influenced by digital technologies and online platforms.

Widowhood: The social and personal condition experienced by an individual following the death of a spouse, particularly the changes in emotional, economic, family and social responsibilities that accompany the loss.

Social Support Systems: The networks of individuals, organisations and institutions that provide emotional, financial, informational, spiritual and practical assistance to individuals experiencing difficult life circumstances.

Digital Platforms: Internet-based applications and technological environments, such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram and Telegram, that enable communication, information sharing and social interaction.

Online Support Networks: Digital communities and communication groups through which widows connect with other individuals to receive emotional encouragement, financial assistance, counselling information and other forms of support.

Emotional Support: The provision of encouragement, sympathy, affection, understanding and psychological reassurance to widows experiencing grief, loneliness and other emotional difficulties.

Financial Support: Monetary assistance, grants, donations, employment opportunities and other economic resources provided to widows to improve their financial circumstances.

Informational Support: The provision of useful information, guidance and advice relating to health, employment, education, legal rights, social welfare and other matters affecting widows.

Traditional Social Support: Assistance provided through conventional social relationships and institutions, including family members, friends, neighbours, religious organisations, community associations and traditional institutions.

Digital Inclusion: The ability of individuals to access and effectively utilise digital technologies and internet-based services for communication, information and social participation.

Digital Literacy: The ability to use digital devices, applications and online platforms effectively, safely and responsibly to obtain information and communicate with others.

Bereavement: The experience of losing a loved one through death and the emotional, psychological and social responses associated with that loss.

Project – The Emergence of Digital Widowhood and Its Implications for Social Support Systems Among Widows in Ilorin West Local Government Area, Kwara State.