Determining the influences of participation in community activities on socioeconomic well-being in Adamawa State, Nigeria

Hilary Faith Hayatu, Mohd Roslan Rosnon, Puvaneswaran Kunasekaran, Muhammad Afiq Abdul Razak

Abstract


Participation in community activities has increasingly been recognised as an important mechanism for improving socioeconomic well-being, particularly in developing regions where formal institutional support is limited. This study examines the influence of participation in community activities on socioeconomic well-being among residents of Adamawa State, Nigeria. Grounded in the structural-functionalist perspective of Émile Durkheim, the study conceptualises participation as a social process that strengthens solidarity, cooperation, and access to collective resources. A quantitative cross-sectional research design was employed, and data were collected from 376 residents of Yola North and Yola South Local Government Areas using a structured questionnaire. The data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The findings reveal that both participation in community activities and socioeconomic well-being are generally low among residents of Adamawa State. However, the results demonstrate that participation in community activities has a significant positive influence on socioeconomic well-being (β = .20, p = .001). This suggests that increased engagement in community groups, cooperative societies, and local associations enhances access to social support, resources, and opportunities that contribute to improved livelihoods. The study concludes that strengthening community participation can serve as a viable strategy for improving socioeconomic outcomes in disadvantaged regions. It therefore recommends policies that encourage inclusive community engagement and support grassroots development initiatives.

 

Keywords: Citizen participation, collective action, social solidarity, socioeconomic, well-being 


Keywords


Citizen participation, collective action, social solidarity, socioeconomic, well-being

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