THE IMPACT OF DIVORCE ON PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN

A Study of Nassarawa L.G.A Kano state

BY
BASHIR SHITU IBRAHIM
SMS/13/SOC/00419

OCTOBER 2016
CERTIFICATION
This is to certify that this research work has been read and approved as adequately

meeting the required standard for the award of Bachelor of Science (B.Sc)

Sociology, at the Faculty of Social and Management science, Bayero University,

Kano.

…………………………………….. …………………………
Dr,Muhammad Haruna Awaisu Date

………………………………….. ……………………….
Dr,Bello Ibrahim Date

……………………………………. …………………………
External Examiner Date
DEDICATION
This work is wholeheartedly dedicated to Almighty Allah who has given me the

strength and opportunity of making my educational pursuit a successful one, the

holy prophet of islam Muhammad S A W. I am also dedicating this work to my

wonderful parent, my Dad Malam Abdulfatai Busari Badamasi, my dear mom

Khadija Abdussalam, my siblings Ahmad and Zainab, and to the family of Mr and

Mrs Bolaji illesemi and the entire Muslim ummah.

AKNOWLADGEMENT

All praise is due to Allah, the lord of mankind and life sustainer, for his favor,

guidance and protection in all aspect of my life, especially my academic pursuit.

May his peace and blessing be upon his noble prophet Muhammad (SAW).I fell

honored to say that it was not only a privileged but also a blessing to be supervised

by my wonderful and mentor in person of Dr, Muhammad Haruna Awaisu.

I will like to use this opportunity to express my profound gratitude for his fatherly

effort guidance’s as well as offering me simple and vital suggestion, without which

I would have found it very difficult to arrive at the final stage of this research

work. May Allah bless him, and his family abundantly.

I will also like to express my distinct appreciation to my beloved parent and family

members, my friends and well-wishers who contribute either directly or indirectly

in any way possible toward the progress and achievement of this work.
ABSTRACT
The impact of divorce on parents and their children be it of positive effect or
negative has a major impact on the social as well as the biological lives of the
children in the society. The negative impact in particular has been a major
problem upon both the parents and their children on their social and
psychological makeup. However, this research identified the predisposing factors
responsible for divorce, examined its consequences on the parent and their
children, taking Nassarawa local government area a study area. The research
employed the use of questioners as the instrument for collecting quantitative data
for this research work. Were a total of 100 respondent were selected but only 93
were the actual respondent, it was also discovered from the findings of this
research that some social problem such as poverty, illiteracy and lack of tolerance
among couples contribute immensely to the increasing rate of divorce in Kano
state and Nasarawa Local government in particular. and the result of this research
work reveal that, government can play a vital and significant role in reducing the
rate of divorce in Nasarawa local government area and Kano state at large by
providing for law which will regulate the mode at which marital union, finally, the
study also recommend measures through which the impact (Negative) of divorce
on parent and their children can be minimize at a significant.
TABLE OF CONTENT

TITLE PAGE

CERTIFICATION

DEDICATION

ACKNOWLADGEMENT

ABSTRACT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

1.2 AIM AND OBJECTIVES

1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1.4 SIGNIFICANT OF THE STUDY

1.5 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF CONCEPT

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 INTRODUCTION

2.1 LITERATURE REVIEW

2.2 THE CONCEPT OF MARRIAGE

2.3 THE CONCEPT OF MARITAL INSTABILITY

2.4 CONCEPT OF DIVORCE

2.5 CAUSES OF DIVORCE

2.6 THE IMPACT OF DIVORCE ON PARENT AND THEIR CHILDREN

2.7 THEORITICAL FRAME WORK

CHAPTER THREE

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.0 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY AREA

3.1 POPULATION OF THE STUDY

3.2 SAMPLE SIZE AND SAMPLE TECHNIQUE

3.3 METHOD OF DATA COLLECTON

3.4 METHOD OF DATA ANALYSIS
3.5 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION
4.0 INTRODUCTION
4.1 SECTION A, SOCIAL DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTIC OF THE RESPONDENTS
4.2 SECTION B, RESPONDENT VIEW ON THE CAUSES OF DIVORE AND IT IMPACT
ON BOTH PARENT AND THEIR CHILDREN
4.4 DISCUSSION OF THE FINDINGS
CHAPTER FIVE
5.0 INTRODUCTION
5.1 SUMMARY
5.2 CONCLUSION
5.3 RECOMMENDATIONS
REFRENCES
APPENDIX
 CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION

1.0 BACKGROUNG TO THE STUDY

It is an undisputable fact that the family is the cornerstone of every society. It

serves as a machinery for proving legitimate well socialized personality. It also

serve as a building block that protect the society from the set of immorality and

other social dis approved kinds of behavior, the family institution is also a unit of

social organization in all human societies. and there is one form of family or

another depending on the social set-up.

Basically, the family institution is considered to be a universal institution in all

human society in general to have a morally sound, disciplined and responsible

children as well as a modest personality development. These are the basic primary

responsibility of the family institution, unlike other institution like the political,

economy, and the religious institution respectively. Besides, there wouldn’t have

been the existence of any individual today without any sign or connation of

possible signs of a family or the institution of the family.

According to George Peter Murdock (1897-1987), the basic function of the family

institution are legitimizing sexual relationship and reproduction, feeding, clothing,

sheltering, education , and socialization of the children, offer emotional

attachment, teaches and practices of the norms and values of the society for the

proper upbringing of the children. As such, the family institution simply denote the

collection of people (individuals) who view themselves as belonging to the a

separate group in the society and who are related by one another by blood ties or

marriage, this group is also recognized by other members of the society who sees

these individuals as tied to one another certain relationship.

Similarly, family as an institution can be defined as a group of persons directly

linked by kin connection (Louise M Langforg and Halene Y. Rand, 1960). The

adult members of which assume responsibilities of caring for the young ones, these

relationships can be found through the ties of marriage, blood, adoption and

communication with each other in their respective social roles as husbands and

wifes,brother and sister, creating common cultures. The genesis of the family is

rooted to marriage which is the legal sexual union between man and woman.

These above mention factors are the basic pre-requisite function of the family.

Now, family role has become an idiom rather than reality. In the contemporary

world of internet satellite, television set and other similar pervasive means of

communication. Children are physically so close, yet so far from social and moral

grip of their biological parents. Moreover, most children nowadays living une the

custody of their parent are now increasingly being influenced, manipulated and

controlled by forces outside the family.

As such,the behavior of the children tend to change overtime. Children behaviours,

attitude to great instance portray the influence of the family structure. However ,

when there is marital instability leading to divorce it affects both the parents and

their children. Thus, the ultimate end to marriage is tragic and its affect ripples

throughout the lives connected to the couples. Chaos and stress probably feelings

that have been prevalent for some time prior to divorce, ensure and impact the now

divided family institution. Children are particularly vulnerable to the impact of

divorce-unable to understand and process such as complex matters of life. Children

resort to alternative ways of expressing their unwanted social condition as the fact

is that the impact of divorce among families remains primarily with both the

parents and their children. Children who are mostly product of broken home or loss

intimate contact with their parent at early age or even through their whole life

recall their past fallings that accompanied the demise of their parents at early age

or even through their whole life recall their past fallings that accompanied the

demise of their caretakers.

Marriage regardless of the pressure of time, only few children of divorce are

unable to provide some recollection of pain. Relationships are often strained, social

and psychological makeups are affected, and the features can seem bleak.

Hence, divorce refers to marital break down, which is usually categorized into

three types. The first category being legal termination of marriage, the second
refers to the physical separation of the spouses, and the third refers to the empty

shell marriage where spouses live together, remain legally married but their

marriage exist in vacuum. Khalit (1975). Mothers are working very hard so as to

stand feet with or without the helps of their husbands, because of the love she has

for the children/ a mother affection is pushed to go out looking for jobs, seeing that

the husbands (father) will not do everything to their needs sometimes, this cause a

lot of problems in the family at times leading to the breakdown of the family

because the husbands keeps complaining, so these prompt the some to make the

decision of going out for jobs. As such, marital instability is a serious problem

which may lead to varieties of social problems associated to the family, separation

f the family members and to some extent dissolution of marriage impact primarily

on both the parents and their children, in addition children of divorce family

mostly obtain or acquire inadequate socialization which in turn could lead to

deviance and delinquency in the society.

However, the separation of parents due to marital instability or divorce especially

during the early stage of their children socialization will no doubt have serious

effect on the moral, physical, psychological and intellectual development of their

children. The negative effect of parental divorce upon children social makeup is

dependent on several causal factors, which includes but not limited to age and

gender of the child at the time it occur, the rate of conflict within the family unit,
and the level of co-operation between the divorced or separated parents. Each of

these factors, alone or interaction with each other influence by the psychological

development of the children and in essence, the ability of the children to be of

socially approved behavious in their respective communities, (Adedokun, 1998).

Therefore, children tend to be of better character when parents provide consistent

and coordinate support together in which they monitor their children and provide

them with love, kindness and guidance such situation requires a problem solving

approach in which the separated parents deny their children, as a result of parental

disagreement.

Despite such resilience, many children of divorce parentage experience intense,

long term effect that the impact show nagetive outcome upon their daily activities,

and a few children carry this long lasting effects into their own adulthood, this in

turn seriously effect their ability to develop and maintain a long lasting social and

mutual relationship, (Makind, 2004)

This research work is aim at analyzing the impact of divorce on parents and their

children in Nassarawa local government area of Kano State and to identify the

possible ways toward tackling the problems affecting marital instability, with some

factors leading to divorce in Nassarawa local government remain the same while

others have changed.

1.1 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

A complex society like ours is not totally exonerated from one problem or the

other, the impact and consequences of divorce on both the parents and their

children is one of the most frequent problems being experienced by the general

public and our immediate society in particular, the study area. Although people go

into marital life with the intention that it will last for life time, still some marriages

are unstable, and end in divorce. In the light of the above factors leading to

divorce, it serve as the focus to this study because divorce can be viewed as a

social problem in our communities and societies based on our social and cultural

settings.

More so, divorce leads to varieties of impact on the social psychology of both

couples and their children, the issue of divorce is seen as a problem that lead to

other social problems such as increasing rate of juvenile delinquency, destabilized

families, etc. thus, major questions raised are, why the increasing rate of divorce in

our society? What are the impact of divorce on the family? And what are the

attitude people hold toward divorce; especially as it directly affects members of the

family in the area of the study.

1.2 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. What are the effect of divorce on parents and their children

2. What are the reasons behind the increasing rate of divorce in Nasarawa local

government area of Kano State.

3.What are the predisposing factors, which lead to divorce in Nasarawa local

government area of Kano State.

1.3 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The broad aim of this research is to explore the impact of divorce on parents and

their children in Nasarawas local Government area of Kano State.

The specific objectives are as follows

1. To examine the effect of divorce on parents and their children.

2. To identify the reasons for the increasing rate of divorce in the area of study.

3. To suggest possible solutions toward reducing the rate of divorce.

1.4SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The main motive and significance of this research work is very encompassing and

tremendous, but for the purpose of simplicity, it will be limited to the basic

objective of the study. That is, the impact of divorce on parents and their children.

There is no one denying the fact that, the rate at which “Divorce” is increasing in

our immediate society has become one of the befalling social problems of our

contemporary world and immediate society in particular. However, there have

been increased awakening of public intrest about this particular social phenomenon

from various parts of the society.

Finally, the research is aimed to be conducted with the hope and belief, that it will

bring to light the factors and effect of divorce on parents and their children, while

wit these, it is also expected that the research will inculcate some sense of

awareness among individuals on the possible solution on how to reduce the rate of

divorce in the area of the study and beyond.

1.5 OPERATIONALIZATION OF KEY CONCEPT

BEHAVIOR: Behavior is a mental and natural state of readiness organized through

experience, exerting a directive or dynamic influence upon the child tendency to

act or respond to all object and situation with which it relates (Shaffer 1988:p:235)
CHILDREN: Simply denote the categorization of human being below the age of

puberty or below the legal age of majority. In other words, children are young

human who are not yet at adult age and are still growing.

DIVORCE: Divorce can be simply defined as the legal termination or dissolution

of marriage. In other word, it is the physical separation of spouces wh no longer

share the same dwelling. (Kendall 2008).

EFFECT: Simply refers to the result of a particular influence(Cambridge English

Dictionary).

Similarly, effect also denote changes which is a result or consequences of an action

of an action or other causes. (Oxford Dictionary).

FAMILY: A family is a group of people or persons directly linked by kin

connection, the adult members of which assume responsibility for caring for

children (Shafer, 1988:p: 389)

IMPLICATION: Implication simply means a possible effect or result of an action

or adverse effect of an action.

INSTABILITY: Instability simply means a situation where things are no longer the

same. Advanced learner’s dictionary defines instability as the quality of a situation

in which things are likely to change or fail suddenly. It also can be define as a

mental condition which somebody’s behavior is likely to change suddenly.

MARRIAGE: Marriage is a legally recognized and/or socially approved

arrangement between two or more individuals that carries certain right and

obligations and are usually involves in sexual activity (Kendall 2008)

MARITAL INSTABILITY: Simply refers to the misunderstanding or interpersonal

difficulties encountered within the marital relationship of two individuals

(Husband and wife), in other word, marital instability simply means

disorganization or misunderstanding of couples in marriage.

 CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORITICAL FRAME WORK

2.0 INTRODUCTION

This section of the study seek to review some related works by recognized

authorities in this field of this study. Detailed accounts of the works in relation to

the study or research topic are provided. And also the research is expected to

provide theoretical base as well as to set this research into perspective.

2.1 LITERATURE REVIEW

In modern days, policy makers and lots of social commentators have expressed

significant concern about what they see as the declian of marriage. Marriage has

been viewed as the bedrock of a stable and civilized society, and as such a number

of threats have been befalling this phenomenon. The study of the impact of divorce

on parents and their children has fast become a central point of for both discussion

and research among social scientist. It has been observed that the rise in the

divorce rate over the years is one of the fundamental changes in the Nigerian

society. A substantial number of women and children now spend some fraction of

their life in a single female headed household, leading many to be concerned about

their social economic circumstance (Maning & Gupta, 2009). The dynamics of

culture and human relationships have made researchers to observe many influence,
manifestations, happenings and occurrences in marriage stability within the

African society. These manifestation has significant impact on marriage within a

society. However, a recent observation on peoples attitude to marriages, suggest an

alarming negative effect of these impacts (Borgatta & Edgor, 2000). It is pertinent

to note here that marriage is the state of being united with a person of the opposite

sex as husband or wife; the mutual relation of the husband and wife; the institution

whereby men and women are joined in a special kind of social and legal

dependence for the purpose founding and maintaining a family.

2.2 THE CONCEPT OF MARRIAGE

Thus, Olson and Defrain(1994) define marriage as the emotional and legal

commitment of two or more people to share emotional and physical intimacy,

various task and economic resources.

However, Ogundele (1992) in a hand book of social studies for collages, define

marriage as “A socially acknowledge and approved union between a man and a

woman for the procreation of children and subsequent protection.” The offspring

are mostly noted or even take on their parents names and they are accepted as

members of the community. Most societies needs the institution of the family

which is mostly and largely obtain through marriage to provide a basis for the new

generation.
Encyclopedia Britannica Volume (14) also defines marriage as a legally and

socially sanctioned union between one or more husbands and or more wives that

accord status to their offspring and are regulated by laws, rules, customs, belief and

attitude that prescribe the right and duties of the partners. The universality of

marriage within different societies and culture attributed to the basic social

functions it performs such as procreation, provision of sexual gratification and

regulation, care for children and their education and socialization, regulation of

lives of decent, division of labor between the sexes, economic production and

consumption for the provision of satisfaction of personal needs and affection and

companionship.

Further to this, Lemu (1994) defines marriage as a permanent relationship between

a man and a woman which provide for their mutual care and for the lawful

development and expression of love between them. It links physical love with

personal care and responsibility toward the parent and toward the children that may

be product of the union. She further stressed that, it is only in the context of

marriage that a woman is protected for her vital role as a mother for the next

generation.

A similar view has been supported by Graham an Crow (2001) who argue that

marriage is increasing viewed as not just a mere relationship or even a contract. By

getting married, people do not see themselves as entering a binding life-long

contract, rather they are hoping to establish a personally satisfying relationship,

love, personal commitment, and intrinsic satisfaction are now seen as the corner

stone of marriage. The absence of these emotions and the feelings it self serve as a

factor that bring about the end of the relationship. Furthermore, the rising rate of

divorce is normalized and the emergent definition of marriage is bolstered further.

People increasingly expect to get most of their personal satisfaction from their

home lifes and television programs which reinforces the feeling that togetherness is

the consummate lifestyle. Thus, the absences of such togetherness and feeling

among the couples i.e, the husband and the wife bring about varieties of hostilities

within the family structure, which in essence leads to marital instability. As such,

marital instability is viewed as the primary cause of divorce in almost all societies.

2.3 THE CONCEPT OF MARITAL INSTABILITY

Marital instability simply means disorganization of marriage, in other, it is the

misunderstanding or disagreement of husband and wife and lack of harmony in the

homes married couples.

Coode (1961) as sited in a project by Ezrnnaya Grace define it as a breakdown of

orderliness and solidarity in the family unit, a dissolution or violation of a pattern

manner of roles or when one or more family members fail adequently to perform

their roles and obligation. Posmos Brown (2004) defines marital instability as
when couples are unable to resolve conflict. The same pattern of dispute occurs

repeatedly and there are no ways of solving the problem, the tendency is that

inability will creep in and such instability can threaten the entire relationship

resulting in bitter quarrels, emotional withdrawal, lack of affection and divorce.

Marital instability is a social problem that is capable of causing everlasting sorrow

on the children, the couples and even the society at large.

2.3.1 FORMS OF MARITAL INSTABILITY

There are many forms of marital instability and it predisposes, among which they

include: separation, divorce and death and so on.

Separation is a form of marital instability. Separation means when husband and

wife decided to live apart when they are still legally married.

This decision may be from either of the couple, when he or she feels that their

marriage is no longer working fine or moving smoothly. Marital instability may

also arise as a result of divorce. Divorce occurs when husband and wife end their

marriage legally. This may be as a result of disharmony, maltreatment and lack of

love, lack of effective communication, lack of quality time, lack of shared spiritual

values etc. Death of either of the spouse may also constitute marital instability.

There are a number of reasons or causes as of why marital instability occurs in a

given family structure, among which include the following:

 i. Poverty and economic problem: According to Agusiobo Victor (1995), as

quoted in a project work by Udoh Vivian “ he said that one of the major

problems that contributed to the instability of marriage is poverty.” Marriage

according to him, no matter how well intention becomes, that when marriage

lacks material needs for children becomes so difficult that the wife has no

option than to seek those these things needed outside their homes. For

instance, the woman may start having extra marital affairs in trying meet up

with their family needs. And this can result to disagreement there by leading

to marital instability.

ii. Impotency on either of the spouses: Impotency is one of the causes of

marital instability. This is the situation where he husband cannot impregnate

the wife because of lack of erection and which does not allow fertilization to

take place. This problem also arises from the wife if is she unable to produce

children. Childlessness is a very great problem in marriages, especially in

Nigeria where traditionally some people’s aim of getting into marriages is to

raise children who will bear their names in future. As a result of that, any

marriage that does not bear issues does not mostly survive. In most cases the

man may be forced to marry another wife or to look for means of getting a

child no matter where the child comes from.

iii. Parental influence: this is another of the causes of marital instability. It

contributes to marital instability in many ways. It could be interference from

the wife or husband parent’s side; especially of mother in-law. The mother

in-law often is being too protective of their children thereby creating trouble

between the couples which can later lead to instability of the marriage. They

(parents) want to look into everything and to make sure that their sons are

not cheated. They want to make sure that their daughter in-laws do not use

up all their children money on expensive wrappers and all that. “the parent

especially mothers, on the other hand will make sure their daughters gets all

the respect due to them without asking her if she gave enough respect to her

husband’s people.

iv. Lack of trust and personal lapses: One of the commonest causes of marital

instability is lack of trust. Some marriages are contacted nowadays withoust

genuine mutual understanding between couples. Some wives are mostly

found of accusing their husband falsely, whenever their husband stay out

late, the only thing that come into their mind is that their husband has gone

out to see another woman, even when the husband comes back and explain,

the wife will still be doubting him.

In some homes, husbands suddenly change their character towards their wife,

he no longer cares about the welfare of the wife like before or h starts
complaining on any slight thing the wife does, this sudden change might be as a

result of extra marital affairs on the side of the husband in such home where

trust is lacking, its result is always marital instability

2.4 CONCEPT OF DIVORCE

Many scholars have provided meaning to the subject of divorce in the society.

Divorce can be defined as the dissolution of marriage which was legitimately or

legally contracted, which happens with th consent of both couples and their

relatives or friends. According to Duncan (1957) divorce is the process by

which a marriage recognized as valid can be revoked in the life time of the

partners who then could revert to single and are free to remarry. To Obiadi

(1985) divorce means the breaking up of marriage or the dissolution or

abrogation of marriage. He states that when a marriage is dissolved, both parties

shall be free from the obligations and bound of marriage. Bahanna (1973) noted

that divorce is a complex phenomenon in human relationship and that it takes

place in six stages, these are emotional divorce stage, economic divorce stage,

legal divorce stage, co-parental divorce stage, community and psycho divorce

stage.

Wegh (2003), drawing this definition from Tiv conception see divorce as

literally meaning the dissecting of marriage, an expression which suggests the

final process by which a marriage is brought to an end. Therefore, when divorce

happens, the woman who was one a wife to a man no longer retains that status

and is not regarded as such by the man, woman’s parents or other people.

Shahram, Ali and Ghoobad (2012), noted that divorce should be seen as a

situation where there is an end to marriage by a husband and wife. Ikyanyon

(2013) on her part defined divorce as dissolution of marriage which as socially

or legally contracted with the consent of both family members.

2.5 CAUSES OF DIVORCE

In most societies (especially in the traditional societies) divorce was not as

frequently experienced today as among people married within their socio-

cultural environment. This is because marriages between children of two

families were used to cement and sustain long term friendship; as such divorce

was seen as a social stigma on the parties concern. People alienated themselves

from marrying into families in which there was higher cases of divorce rate. In

the typical traditional Nigerian society for instance, divorce was allowed only

on cases of proved adultery and witchcraft. Divorce was a very difficult

phenomenon to be contained with. Giddens (2009:350) acknowledged that “ for

a divorce to be granted, one spouse had to bring charges (for example, cruelty,

dissertation or adultery) against the other”.

However, the increase in the number of divorces witnessed in the contemporary

society may be due to the influence of urbanization, which has resulted to many

cross-cultural marriages and the continuous increase in the size of the

population. Societal acceptance of divorce constitutes the key factor of the

causes associated with divorce. Schaefer (2008:355) noted:

Perhaps the most important factor in increase in divorce over the

last hundred years has been the greater social acceptance of divorce.

It is no longer considered necessary to endure an unhappy marriage.

More important, various religious denominations have relaxed their

negative attitude towards divorce, so that most religious leaders no

longer treat it as a sin.

Other causes of divorce rate are associated with social factors such as

population, age, education, religious beliefs and intergenerational patterns.

Divorce is higher among certain population categories. For instance, there are

more divorced persons in the urban areas that rural areas. Olson and Defrain

(2002:74) revealed: