THE EFFECT OF MARITAL INSTABILITY ON THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF STUDENTS, A CASE STUDY OF AKOKO LOCAL GOVERNMENT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE

1.0     INTRODUCTION        

1.1     BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY 

1.2     STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

1.3     OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY     

1.4     RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1.5     SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY 

1.6     SCOPE OF THE STUDY

1.7     LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

1.8     DEFINITION OF TERMS     

CHAPTER TWO

2.0     LITERATURE REVIEW

CHAPTER THREE

3.0     RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0     DATA ANALYSIS

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0     SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

REFRENCE

APPENDIX

CHAPTER ONE

1.0            INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND STUDY

The oldest social institution ordained by God as a social contract between two individuals to become husband and wife is Marriage. According to Sarker (2007), Marriage as ordained by God gives legitimacy to sexual relationship and reproduction for legitimate children. Marriage is the state of being united with a person of the opposite sex as husband or wife for the purpose companionship, procreation maintaining a family (Gove, 2006). However, marital instability has become a thing of concern in this contemporary society and this is associated with separation, divorce, and widowhood. Separation and divorce are social phenomena created by either husband or the wife or both, but widowhood is beyond the control of human being, it is related to death and thus universal (Amina 2008). Meanwhile, separation may be in two categories: physical Separation i.e. when the husband and the wife reside separately without resolving their marital tie; mental separation i.e. when the couple decides to live together in the same household but without having biological and psychological relations. It is imperative to note that when marriage is dissolved in the court of law, it is called divorce, but when it is dissolved by death is called widowhood (Amina, 2008). Meanwhile, the term marital instability is used to refer to the process whereby marriages breakdown through separation, desertion or divorce (Lesmin & Sarah, 2008).

The significance of the family devoid of instability is recognized by researches locally and worldwide (Becker, 2002; Sarker, 2007; Uka et al., 2013; Omoniyi-Oyafunke et al., 2014). This is because the family without instability grows and is one where positive relationship is promoted and sustained. As a consequence, Sarker (2007) refers to marital instability as the interpersonal association and interaction within the marital relationship. Moreover, Lesmin and Sarker (2008) defined marital instability as the process whereby marriages breakdown through separation, desertion or divorce. Hence, the increasing incidence of marital disharmony such as the occurrence of divorce shows that there is marital instability in a number of families in the Nigerian context (Ezennay, 2006). Marital instability occurs as an attempt of one individual or partner to checkmate the behaviour and anticipations of the other (Uka et al., 2013). This threatens the household stability as well as the well-being of the children, as it often impacts on their academic adjustment and achievement. A number of people in the contemporary society believe that the educational system has failed, but evidently, the schooling system has not failed but rather it is the partnership that has failed, with schools taking on the responsibility that families, communities once assumed (Castro-Martin & Bumpass, 2009). The family stability often has a marked influence on the student‟s motivation for learning and on her to cope with academics. The home environment is a strong pointer to the academic adjustment and achievement of children. This is because a number of children‟s academic potentials are now confronted with increasing difficulties as a result of parental marital instability (Sarker, 2007). The contact between the parent, teachers and students makes a lot of impact on the academic performance of the students. So those who do not regularly attend lectures because of lack of proper monitoring by the parents could experience challenges adjusting academically (Bumpass, 2009). Parents are thereby faced with the problem of enriching their home environment so as to establish a positive effect on the student‟s academic performance in schools (Castro-Martin & Bumpass, 2009).

1.2     STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Study has shown that marital instability have a major consequence on the academic performance of students. Marital instability have a psychological influence on children who are victims of this hostile home environment, the effects of this environment causes depression on students and this affects the level of their concentration in school. If students’ concentration in school is poor, then their academic performance would be at the receiving end.

Marital instability results in a total neglects of students. Children who are victims of marital instability and not proper taken care of by their parents and majority of the children’s need are not been met. It has been observed children who are victims of marital instability are not privileged to have a quality education, due to the conflict between the parents the need to provide quality education for their wards is not addressed.

Marital instability makes parents aggressive and frustrated, most time these parents passes their aggressions on their children. This act causes sadness in the heart of the children and which in turn affects their academic performance.  For these reasons, it is however glaring that there is a need to carry out a study on the effect of marital instability on the academic performance of students.

1.3     OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY     

The general objective of this study is to examine the effect of marital instability on the academic performance of students. The specific objectives of the study are:

1.     To ascertain if marital stability influences students’ concentration in school.

2.     To find out if marital stability have a psychological effect on students.

3.     To investigate if marital instability affects the financial support received by students from their parents.

4.     To know if children who are victims of marital instability have access to quality education.

5.     To examine if there is a relationship between marital stability and the unethical habits among students.

1.4     RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The relevant research questions related to the study are:

1.     Does marital stability influences students’ concentration in school?

2.     Does marital stability have a psychological effect on students?

3.     Does marital instability affects the financial support received by students from their parents?

4.     Do children who are victims of marital instability have access to quality education?

5.     Is there a relationship between marital stability and the unethical habits among students?

1.5     SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY 

The survey becomes necessary because of the alarming rate of marital instability in Nigeria. However, this study is essential because it will help providing an insight to the effect of marital instability on Children. The outcome of the study will give the society or family institution the opportunity to be aware of the general causes of marital instability and the best way to manage them.

This study will enhance the existing body of literature by contemplating the areas of the literature that have not yet been examined or considered and incorporating these factors into the current study. The study will thus form the basis for further studies in the field.

1.6     SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The scope of this study is restricted to the effect of marital instability on the academic performance of students, using Akoko Local government area of Ondo State as a case study.

1.7     LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

Some of the major constraints the researchers encountered in putting up this research include lack of time, lack of willingness to give information by respondent and also limited resources.

1.8     DEFINITION OF TERMS     

Marriage: is the legally or formally recognized union of two people as partners in a personal relationship.

Divorce: also known as dissolution of marriage, is the termination of a marriage or marital union, the canceling or reorganizing of the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage, thus dissolving the bonds of matrimony between a married couple under the rule of law of the particular country or state.

Separation: means when husband and wife decided to live apart when they are still legally married.