CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY

Unity is the soul desire of every family in the society today; but the issue of broken home is on the high side in most of our societies today. There are so many factors responsible for the rate of broken homes in our society today; the major concern of this research work is to examine how this affects the behaviour of children.

Take for instance; a family from a poor social background; the father that is the only bread winner of the family happens to part ways with his wife that does not have a good educational background or a means to take care of their children; the pressure goes to the children; as words will have it; everything has a limit. The ongoing pressure on the children can equally affect them negatively; because these children are lacking proper parental guides from both parents. Morally and emotionally the children are affected.

Another point to note here is the death of one of the parents; especially if  the surviving parent is the mother; mothers are mostly know for giving care to the children; at times financial assistance as well but this is not always coming through;  because mothers can actually assist to some extent financially.

The children began to learn how to survive on their own; some end up meeting the wrong people; at the end of the day they might become cultist, thieves etc. all these are social vices in the community.

At a point in time you can easily identify such children by the way they behave, interact and relate with others in the society. Parents have a major role to play on the behavioural pattern of children in the society, because the first education starts from home. The effort of parents in the upbringing of their children is the reflection of what people see in their children outside their various homes.

1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

The issue of broken homes is on the high side in our society today, this issues can be as a result of death of one’s parents, unwanted pregnancy, poor social background of the family, the society today tries to solve the issue of broken homes among members of the society. Most parents neglect their duties to bring up their child in a manner that will be beneficial to the society; the effect of lack of parental guardians is really telling on the behavior of the children in our society today.

1.3 RESEARCH QUESTION

Because of the ongoing problems in the society concerning the issues of broken home on the children behavior, some questions were asked to assist in the completion of the research work. Below are the research questions:

1. What are the factors responsible for home breakage?

2. How do the problems or crisis in marriage affect home, children and society?

3. Does broken home have any significant effect on the academic performance of child?

4. What are the factors affecting the behavior of children?

5. Does the behavior of a child have any significant effect on the society?

1.4 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

H0: Broken home have no significant effect on the behavioural pattern of children

H1: Broken home have no significant effect on the behavioural pattern of children

H0: parental guidance has no significant effect on the behavior of children

H1:  parental guidance has significant effect on the behavior of children

1.5 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF STUDY

The aims of the research work are to:

1. Determine the factors responsible for home breakage.

2. Determine the problems of or crisis in marriage affect home, children and society.

3. Determine the roles of parent in bringing up a child

 4. Determine if broken home have any significant effect on the academic performance of a child.

5. Determine the factors affecting the behavior of children.

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

The study is a very important one as it will examine the effect of broken on the behavior of children; the roles of the parent in proper upbringing of children. Finally the research work will examine the factors that are affecting the behavior of children in the society today.

1.7 SCOPE OF STUDY

The research work will examine the effect of broken homes on child behavior; the concepts of behavior and the factors affecting it.

1.8 LIMITATION OF STUDY

FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS: Due to insufficient finance, the researcher was unable to cover more grounds concerning the research topic but he or she was able to get reasonable information concerning the research work.

TIME CONSTRAINTS: the researchers being a student is involved in other departmental activities like seminar presentation and other assignment but the researcher was able to meet up with the time allocated for the completion of the research work.

1.10 DEFINITION OF TERM

COUPLE: A man and a woman who are married as husband and wife

MARRIAGE: The act of joining together of a man and a woman in a special union, close and intimate

HOME: Home is a particular place where a person or family live

Black Bay (1999) defined home as a place in which an individual or a family can rest and store personal prosperity.

CHILD ABUSE: According to Wikipedia the free encyclopedia child abuse is the physical sexual or emotional maltreatment or neglect of a child or children

UNWANTED PREGNANCY: This is the pregnancy that is unplanned or unwanted at the time of conception

POVERTY: Business Dictionary defines poverty as a condition where people basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter are not being met.

TRADITION: is a belief or behaviour passed down within a group or society with systematic meaning or special significance.

DIVORCE: This is a legal termination of marriage or separation of husband and wife as a result of marriages conflict.