Impact of Broken Home and Psychosocial Adjustment of Secondary School Student in Itu LGA Akwa Ibom State Nigeria
CHAPTER ONE
Purpose of the Study
The main purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of broken home on the academic performance and psychological adjustment of secondary school students in Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos State. The specific objectives hence are:
- To determine the impact of broken homes on students’ academic performance
- To establish if there exist any difference between students from broken homes and their peers from intact homes in academic performance
- To determine the impact of broken homes on student’s psychological adjustment
- To ascertain the gender impact of broken home on students’ psychosocial adjustment
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEWED OF RELATED LITERATURE
Conceptual of Broken Home
Family is the first institution where one starts to equip oneself to grow (Laldanmawia, 2013). It is the most important socio-cultural and psychological dynamism of history and of society. The dynamisms include such vital functions as the reproduction of population, being an economic system, cultural transmission, children to social life (Guler and Erkal, 2013). Children gain these dynamisms and the five basic functions of the family system in the home atmosphere. The five basic functions are the resolution of problems, communication in the family, distributing of roles in the family, responding emotionally and involving in emotions, and behavioral control. Children raised in families achieving a balance in those five basic functions and in dynamisms, being able to display flexibility when needed, and adapting into changes generally receive good education, they socialize, and gain a healthy personality (Guler and Erkal, 2013). Makinde (2004) asserts that the function of family is to provide happiness, security, cultural growth, and development of a sense of responsibility for enhancing continuity and societal perpetuation. However, when the home is broken, these functions are truncated.
According to Laldanmawia (2013), to be broken in the family, there must be some crises which are arisen out of misconception, mistreating, misunderstanding, misacceptance, etc. the occurring crises lead to the divorce of parents, disposal of sons or daughters and leaving home y any members of that family. It is controversial that whether to claim every splitting up is broken family, while they still run the family well. There are many families without father, mother, and other members but still conditionally and systematically running. They may not like to call them broken. Of course they are not broken, rather just some members left away.
Broken homes refer to families in which the parents are either divorced or separated. Causes of broken homes could be either natural or human induced factors. The natural factor is death of spouse; while the human induced factors include divorce and separation of mates. Causes of divorce, according to Arowolaje (2013) include lack of time for partners in the relationship; keeping of extra marital partners; treating the other partner as a slave; lack of compatibility and; unnecessary involvement of in-laws on marital affairs.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, we described the research procedure for this study. A research methodology is a research process adopted or employed to systematically and scientifically present the results of a study to the research audience viz. a vis, the study beneficiaries.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled. According to Singleton & Straits, (2009), Survey research can use quantitative research strategies (e.g., using questionnaires with numerically rated items), qualitative research strategies (e.g., using open-ended questions), or both strategies (i.e., mixed methods). As it is often used to describe and explore human behaviour, surveys are therefore frequently used in social and psychological research.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the analysis of data derived through the questionnaire and key informant interview administered on the respondents in the study area. The analysis and interpretation were derived from the findings of the study. The data analysis depicts the simple frequency and percentage of the respondents as well as interpretation of the information gathered. A total of eighty (80) questionnaires were administered to respondents of which only seventy-seven (77) were returned and validated. This was due to irregular, incomplete and inappropriate responses to some questionnaire. For this study a total of 77 was validated for the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain Impact of Broken Home and Psychosocial Adjustment of Secondary School Student in Itu LGA Akwa Ibom State Nigeria. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing Impact of Broken Home and Psychosocial Adjustment of Secondary School Student in Itu LGA Akwa Ibom State Nigeria
Summary
This study was on Impact of Broken Home and Psychosocial Adjustment of Secondary School Student in Itu LGA Akwa Ibom State Nigeria. Three objectives were raised which included: To determine the impact of broken homes on students’ academic performance, to establish if there exist any difference between students from broken homes and their peers from intact homes in academic performance, to determine the impact of broken homes on student’s psychological adjustment and to ascertain the gender impact of broken home on students’ psychosocial adjustment A total of 77 responses were received and validated from the enrolled participants where all respondents were drawn from selected secondary schools in Itu, Akwa Ibom state. Hypothesis was tested using Chi-Square statistical tool (SPSS).
Conclusion
In conclusion, this study sheds light on the significant impact of broken homes on the psychosocial adjustment of secondary school students in Itu LGA, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The findings underscore the complex interplay between family structure and adolescent development, highlighting the heightened vulnerability of students from broken homes to various psychosocial challenges. Factors such as parental conflict, lack of emotional support, and disrupted family dynamics emerge as key contributors to poor adjustment outcomes, including academic underachievement, emotional instability, and behavioral problems
Recommendation
Based on the findings of this study on the impact of broken homes on the psychosocial adjustment of secondary school students in Itu LGA, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, the following recommendations are proposed:
- Introduce counseling services within schools to provide students with a safe space to express their emotions and receive guidance on coping mechanisms and problem-solving strategies. Trained counselors can offer individual or group therapy sessions to address the specific needs of students from broken homes.
- Encourage parental involvement in school activities and initiatives aimed at supporting students’ psychosocial adjustment. Workshops and seminars can be organized to educate parents on effective communication, conflict resolution, and parenting skills to foster positive family dynamics and enhance the well-being of their children.
- Facilitate the formation of peer support groups within schools to enable students from broken homes to connect with others who may share similar experiences. Peer support can offer a sense of belonging, validation, and understanding, as well as provide opportunities for mutual encouragement and socialization.
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