Al-Hikmah University Journal

The loss of a spouse in military service can have devastating effects on the mental health and well-being of surviving partners. This study investigated psychological challenges of widows of fallen military personnel in Lagos State, Nigeria. The study employed a descriptive survey method. A self-designed instrument titled the Social Media and Career Choice Questionnaire (SMCCQ) was used to collect relevant data. A total of 215 respondents were chosen using simple random and purposive sampling techniques. Variables such as age, number of children and husband’s rank, were also considered. Mean and rank order analysis were used to answer the research question, while three hypotheses were tested using a t-test statistics at the 0.05 level of significance. The findings of this study revealed that the psychological challenges of widows of fallen military personnel are feeling lonely on spouse's passing, superficial social relationship and unhappy being alone which are all loneliness and feeling isolation. The findings also revealed that there is no significant difference in psychological challenges of widows of fallen military personnel based on age and husband’s rank and there is a significant difference in the psychological challenges of widows of fallen military personnel based on number of children. Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that it is essential to establish support groups specifically designed for them in the barracks. These groups can provide a safe space for sharing experiences and connecting with others who understand their challenges, helping to alleviate loneliness and feelings of isolation.