Sociological Research And Innovation

Quality of Work Life, Job Enrichment and Employee Retention in Selected Organizations in Ilorin, Nigeria

Ridwan Yusuff, Musediq Olufemi Lawal — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This study examines the impact of quality of work life (QWL) and job enrichment on employee retention in selected organisations in the Ilorin metropolis, Kwara State, Nigeria. A questionnaire was used to gather first-hand information from 157 respondents who worked for the organisations under investigation. The chi-square statistical method was used to test two hypotheses. The findings reveal a strong positive correlation between QWL, job enrichment, and employee retention. Employees who experience high QWL and job enrichment report greater job satisfaction, organisational commitment, and an increased likelihood of staying with their current employer. These results underscore the critical role of QWL and job enrichment in enhancing employee retention and offering actionable insights for human resource management practices. It is recommended that organisations should invest in creating a positive workplace by updating tools and resources, increasing salaries, offering wellness programs, and fostering an inclusive and supportive culture.

Masculinity and Mental Health: Exploring Norms and Cultural Barriers in Help-Seeking Behavior amongst Men in Pakistan

Mishaim Mubashir, Dr. Ambreen Salahuddin — Sat, 20 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This study has attempted to explore the challenges of men’s mental health in help-seeking behavior owing to traditional masculinity norms. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of men about masculinity and help-seeking behavior in context with their mental well-being. The study has addressed these research questions; to understand the perceptions of men about masculinity in context of their mental health, and to understand issues of men’s help-seeking behavior as regards to their mental health. This is a qualitative study. It employed an ontological stance of interpretivism and an epistemological position of social constructivism. For theoretical lens of this research study, Connell’s theory of hegemonic masculinity was used. Using the technique of purposive sampling, six participants from the OPD of Fountain House, Lahore were interviewed. Gendered perceptions of mental health and help-seeking behavior was explored. This study used the technique of thematic analysis. The findings showed how traditional masculine norms create barriers to seeking care. It emphasized societal expectations, cultural shame, and emotional suppression, as well as the value of family support, adaptive coping methods, and male-friendly solutions. Redefining masculinity to include emotional openness is critical for enhancing men's mental health and promoting inclusive wellbeing.

Exploring Work-Family Conflict and Perceived Burden among Female University Teachers

Maryam Shaukat — Sat, 20 Dec 2025 08:20:59 +0000

This cross-sectional study examines work-family conflict (WFC), family-work conflict (FWC), and perceived burden among female faculty at the University of the Punjab. Using a quantitative survey and simple random sampling from a roster of female teachers across five faculties, 100 respondents completed a questionnaire covering WFC, FWC, burden, and demographics. Items were rated on a five-point frequency scale and, for prevalence estimates, recoded into negation (never/rarely) versus affirmation (occasionally/often/always). Guided by role conflict theory, time, strain, and behavior-based forms of interference were also distinguished and examined. Results show a clear dissymmetry: WFC is present, while FWC is largely absent. Participants reported all three forms of work-family conflict compressed family time, spillover of fatigue and stress, and carryover of work-related behaviors at home, whereas the same forms did not emerge in the family-to-work direction. Despite this unidirectional pattern, perceived burden was high, indicating that family-work conflict alone is sufficient to create a sustained sense of overload and loss of personal time. Demographic patterns and prior scholarship help explain this configuration, with work-side scheduling and task demands appearing to be the primary drivers. The findings highlight the value of institutional remedies that target timing and workload design, such as reducing back-to-back teaching blocks, clustering of assessments, and inflexible meeting times, rather than relying solely on individual coping. The study offers a baseline for evaluating family-responsive policies in public universities.

The A Global View of the Social Drivers and Consequences of Coercive Sexual Acts and Victimization of Inmates in Prisons

Aminu Yunusa, Hadiza Saeed Musa — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Over the past two decades (2004–2025), the international community has increasingly emphasised the importance of treating all persons with dignity, including awaiting-trial inmates or convicts serving prison terms within the criminal justice system. Despite this emphasis, the rising incidences of coercive sexual acts and victimization of inmates in prisons and correctional facilities worldwide remain a major concern for policymakers, scholars and professionals. This article presents a global view of the social drivers and consequences of coercive sexual acts and sexual inmate victimization in global prison systems. Drawing on secondary sources and existing literature within the framework of routine activity theory, the discussion highlights the drivers and consequences of these practices. Findings from the review reveal that the deprivation of sexual desires among inmates and prison officials, alongside the lack of strict enforcement of prison curfews, significantly contributes to coercive sexual activities and victimization of inmates. These acts lead to serious consequences, including the spread of sexually transmitted infections and long-term psychological trauma among victims. The article stresses the urgent need for policymakers to strengthen prison laws and regulations that criminalize and deter both officials and inmates from engaging in coercive sexual practices. It further argues that lasting change requires stricter enforcement of prison regulations, consistent monitoring of correctional environments, and the prosecution of offenders to serve as deterrence. Addressing these challenges is essential for promoting safer correctional facilities, protecting inmate dignity, and ensuring prisons fulfil their rehabilitative and corrective roles in society.

Strategies Adopted by Selected Financial Institutions in Nigeria to Prevent Information Asset Breaches

Afeez Folorunsho Lawal — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Financial institutions in Nigeria are highly vulnerable to cyber-attacks. Many of them lack the capacity to implement the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) risk-based cybersecurity framework. This has eroded customer trust. Based on the Integrated Systems Theory of Information Security Management, this study aimed to examine strategies adopted by selected financial institutions to prevent information asset breaches. Using a qualitative multiple-case-study approach, data were collected through in-depth interviews with 25 participants (5 Board Members, 5 Senior Managers, 5 Chief Information Security Officers, and 10 IT Officers) from five institutions, supplemented by secondary sources. Thematic analysis revealed that institutions align security plans with organizational strategies and have policies in place, but demonstrate minimal capacity for full CBN compliance. Findings indicate the institutions’ 100 percent alignment with internal strategies, but only 40 percent full compliance with CBN’s risk-based guidelines based on participant reports. The study recommends CBN-led capacity building to enhance adoption as well as fostering positive social change through restored public confidence