Causes and Consequences of Single Parenthood

Causes and Consequences of Simple Parenthood

Abstract

The major purpose of the study was to find out the causes and consequences of single parenthood in Imezi –Owa in Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State. The population of the study was 3000 that made of men, women and youths that lives in the study area. 3000 respondents were selected from the total population for sampling.

Four research questions were used to construct the questionnaire which was administered to the selected respondents. The main instrument for the study was a questionnaire. The data collected from the respondents were analysed using chi-square X2 Formular, using the four research questions.

After the analysis, the researcher made some findings and recommendations. The researcher is highly optimistic that single parenthood and its causes and consequences should be eliminated if the recommendation is being implemented.

TABLE OF CONTENT

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background Of The Study

1.2 Statement Of Problems

1.3 Purpose Of The Study

1.4 Scope /Delimitation Of The Study

1.5 Research Questions

1.6 Significance Of The Study

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 The Concept Of Single Parenthood

2.2 The Causes Of Single Parenthood

2.3 The Concepts Of Family

2.4 Family As A Foundation Of Academic Performance Of The Children

2.5 The Effects Of Single Parenthood

2.6 Summary.

CHAPTER THREE

METHODOLOGY

3.1 Research Design

3.2 Area For The Study

3.3 Population For The Study

3.4 Sample And Sampling Procedure

3.5 Instrument For The Data Collection

3.6 Validity Of The Instrument

3.7 Reliability Of The Instrument

3.8 Method Of Data Collection

3.9 Method Of Data Analysis

CHAPTER FOUR

Data Presentation and Results

Summary of Result/Findings.

CHAPTER FIVE

FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSION

5.1 Finding

5.2 Conclusion

5.3 Implication Of The Research Findings

5.4 Recommendations

5.5 Suggestion For Further Research

5.6 Limitation of the Study.

REFERENCE

APPENDICES

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Single parenthood is a social problem that looks very perplexing, confusing and highly difficult to explain. In this context single parenthood refers to a human status characterized by a set of relationships involving either a father, child/ children or mother-child/children living together within the context of a family or separately. This precarious situation is indeed discomforting granting that the single parenthood (man or woman) affected must in his or her capacity strive to cover within his or her limits the missing link between the child and the non-existent parent. This lies the inherent problem because as the growing child grows, he becomes inquisitive and naturally would always seek to ask this unguardable question of money, where is Daddy or vice versa. Under this inquisitive seal of the child, the parent concerned may psychologically be tempted to resort to child pampering which obviously will not be in the interest of the child later in life. The result of this development according to psychological literature reflects with examples of the link between parental rejection and the emergence of an affectionless, hostile or psychopathic personality problem in the child.

It is observed that single parenthood is usually an unprepared development. For instance, a schoolgirl who accidentally got pregnant or the emergence of an unplanned pregnancy, in which case if the circumstances surrounding the marriage was not properly addressed, parental rejection of the offspring may manifest overtly or covertly. This will create both psychological and societal problem to the parent that accepted the responsibility of the child’s upbringing and the innocent child suffers all the problems associated with single parenthood.

Again single parenthood could happen as a result of the death of one of the married couples, pre-marital sex and unwanted pregnancy including the fear of menopause in ladies and societal permissiveness of sexual relationship between two or more unmarried opposite sexes. The problems associated with single parenthood are expected to be many and multifaced as they affect the child, the parent and of course the society.

In a study on single parenthood.

Ashley (1969) observed that children are the chief casualties and victims of single parenthood. Often they are prey to a cluster of psychological problems and personality disorders. Single parenthood retards the progress and development of a child and the society at large.

Thus, it is believed that a child brought up by a single parent by design cannot have the same fulfilment, sound moral, social and psychological development as a child brought up in a family where both parents live together in conjugal union and fidelity.

However, this is the belief in some quarters that a great number of delinquent children come from homes in which a parent died or was absent for other reasons, with the proportion of the delinquents being greatest among the boys who were youngest when the absence began. This group further believes that it is possible that as a result of the material and emotional deprivation consequent on such a loss of one married partner, such juvenile maybe let into wandering, stealing and so on.

STATEMENT OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM

Marriage is the union of a man and a woman from two different families, with the ultimate aim of bearing children. Thus marriage and childbearing is an integral aspect of a human’s desire and few (if any) human being envisage life without getting married and raising children except in exceptional cases.

According to Okoro (1982) marriage is very important to both man and woman since it brings about settled life, division of labour and raising of children who will bear the parents names and who are the further leaders of the country. The children need adequate attention from their parents and their training on which his/her life depends is considered to be the pivot of producing good citizens. Any parent (s) who failed to give the children sound training tends to hamper the progress, growth, development f the child and the nation in general.

However, it has been observed that some children do not have the attention of both parents as a result of some reasons. Such reasons include the death of one of the parents, divorce by couples or bearing of children out of wedlock. This has given rise to the issue of single parenthood which is becoming a threat to society, thereby prompting the researcher to find out the causes of single parenthood and its effect on the academic performance of children.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The purpose of the study was:

1. To find out the causes of single parenthood and its effect on Igboland.

2. This study intended to identify if there are single parenthood in the area of the study.

3. To examine the cause and implications or the consequences.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The researcher formulated the following research questions to guide the study.

1. Are there some causes of single parenthood in Imezi Owa in Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State?

2. Are there some effects of single parenthood on the academic performance of children in the study area?

3. Could the problem of single parenthood be solved in your area?

4. In what ways could the government help children of single parents in society?

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The result of this study will have a lot of significance to the students, parents and society at large. The result of the study will be useful to the students since it will contribute to the existing material in the study area and will educate them on the need to seek a peaceful settlement in cases of misunderstanding between their parents. It will also form a source of material for future researchers on the study topic or related topic of study. Also, the result of the study will be beneficial to the parents since it will educate them on the need for them to live together and train their children. It will provide with the problems the children encounter when their parents got divorced. Again the study will provide solutions to the problems of single parenthood with a view of helping to curbs its effect on society at large.

REFERENCES

Adebola K (2013) Single-parent family structure, psychological, social and Ainley et al, Socioeconomic Status and School Education

Amato (2013). Demographic factors and students’ academic achievement in and Technology Management, 7(2), 01 ‐ 14 Augustina Chigozie was reported in vanguard newspaper on 4th of March

Alokan, F.B. (2010). Influence of Sex and Location on Relationship between student problems and Academic Performance. The Social Sciences (TSS), 5(4), 340 – 345.

Giddens, A. & Sutton, P. (2012).Sociology. Retrieved from

Amato, P. R., & Keith, B. (2013).Parental divorce and well-being of children.Psychological Bulletin, 110(1), 26-46.

Anderson, K. (2002). Broken homes, Broken Hearts. Leadership University, http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/probe/docs/broken.html, Retrieved on 21/01/2014.

Ángel-Castillo, M., & Torres-Herrera, M. (2018).The lack of academic achievement in the new family structure models.Universitas Psychologica, 7(2), 403-409.