Influence of single parenthood on students’ academic performance in Oshimili South Local government Area of Delta state.

Influence of single parenthood on students’ academic performance in Oshimili South Local government Area of Delta state.

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to determine the influence of single parenthood on the academic performance of secondary school students in Oshimili South Local Government Area of Delta State. Five research questions guided the study and two hypothesis were tested. Descriptive survey design was used for the study. The Population of this study comprises all teachers draw from 5 selected secondary schools in Oshimili South Local Government Area in Delta State, the sample for the study was 100 teachers. The instrument for the study was a structured questionnaire which was used to collect data. Face and content validation was done and reliability test was carried out using the cronbach Alpha co-efficient to give 0.78. Data was analyzed using means, standard deviation and chi – square. Findings reveal that: Income of single parents, psychological trauma experienced by students from single parents influence their academic performance to a high extent; stigmatization experienced by students from single parents, aggressive behaviour express by students from single parents and withdrawal expressed by students from single parents influence their academic performance to a low extent. Based on the above findings recommendations were made which include stigmatization of single parents and their children should be discouraged forthwith by enacting all relevant laws. Parents should be way mindful of their children especially their education before contemplating divorce separation. Summary of the study, conclusion and suggestion for further studies were made.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

• Background of the Study

Education is of great importance to every nation. It therefore attracts considerable attention to the family, community and to all tiers of government, hence, education is discussed, planned and processed (Omolewa 2018). It is believed that education recreates both the individuals and the nation, influences values and attitudes for a worthwhile living. The national policy on education is not wrong with its assertion that education is “an instrument per excellence” and the world at large had keyed into this, by recognizing education as the panacea to development and survival of man itself.

It is not surprising therefore that the processes of education are offered by the three levels – Primary, Secondary and Tertiary education. Investigations into the factor that influence academic performance of students in and out – of – school could be traced to individual family or home. The family or home is an integral part of the society which is a sub-system of the social structure. It is an axiom that good home breed a productive nation.

This is the brain – child of why, every society aspires for development. The well-being of the individual families that make up the society. So, the home is a quite essential factor on the learner’s psychological, social, emotional and economic state. Most homes are made up of father and the mother with or without, siblings or extended relations. In the African societies, some homes could be polygamous while others could take the form of monogamy.

The socialization of children is very important for the continuity of any culture. The family is said to be the most important agent of socialization, especially for children. Children in most communities are raised in a highly structured and disciplined manner, parents helped to instill and inculcate strong basic moral, spiritual, social, physical and cognitive principles in their children (Santrock 2021). When the subject of single parenthood is been discussed, it would almost certainly involve women since women are usually considered the primary care givers, she become the bread winner and head of the family.

The demographics of single parenting show a general increase worldwide a child living in single parent home (Jayson, Sharon 13 May, 2019). Single parenting has become an accepted norm in the United States and is an accepted trend found in many other countries. Debates concerning issues bothering on single parent households, and more have risen. Recently, the numbers of single parent families have increased drastically and it is gaining a global dimension.

The educational pursuit of every child is relatively determined by the pattern of family or home he/she comes from. Be it wealthy or poor, educated or otherwise, traditional belief or aspirations. Parents who failed in their responsibilities to assist and guide their wards through every state of development in life may likely have to contend with poor academic performance sooner or later and the development of unwholesome behaviours, as foundation to the success or failures in any child is laid upon the homes and at the initial stage in life. Parents therefore have a great role to play in seeing to it that the students acquire theory are appropriate social, psychological, moral and academic development. Those found in this category are mostly adolescents who needed to be tutored not only by the teachers but with combined efforts of the parents.

In Nigeria, there are widespread cases of single – parenthood across all regions and tribes which has become a major source of concern to the socio – economic and socio – cultural development. Single parenting can be defined as a situation in which one of the two individuals involved in conception of the child is being responsible for the upbringing of the child (Henshun 2019). This is relatively unknown before now in Nigeria but is fast growing family patterns both inside and outside the shores of the land. Children from single parent homes are likely to suffer deprivation and denial of some rights and opportunities. They are more exposed to anti-social behaviours and poor academic records.

A single parent is a person who has a child or children but does not have a spouse or live – partner to assist in the upbringing or support of the child. Reasons for becoming a single parent include divorce, breakup, and abandonment, becoming widowed, domestic violence, rape, childbirth by a single person or single person adoption. A single parent family is a family with children that is headed by a single parent. A single parent, sometimes called a solo parent is a parent that is not living with a spouse or partner, who has most of the day – to – day responsibilities in raising the child or children by Merriam Webster (20 July, 2023).Single parenting can be defined as when one out of two people who are responsible for the nurturing and rearing of a child is not available, and the work meant for two people is now been carried out by one person. According to Longman Dictionary of contemporary English, a single parent is defined as a mother or father who looks after children of their own, without the other partner. Single parenting can be viewed as a situation whereby the duties that require children is being carried out by a single parent, either the wife or the husband. Single parenthood is the act of raising a child or children with only one parent in the house. Single parenthood is very common in US and can be caused by death, divorced and non-marriage.

On average, children of single parents don’t do as well academically, socially or emotionally as those by both of their biological parents, and the biggest difference is academically. However, many children raised by a father alone often do better than those raised by a father and step- mother. It seems that the biggest predictor of a child struggling is the level of conflict in house, a child from a high-conflict home is likely to struggle, while one from a low conflict home even a single parent one is likely to do fine. In addition to the struggles of children, single parents are more likely to live in poverty be depressed or anxious.

People become single parents in various ways, some chose single parenting as a conscious life choice, but most single parenting is circumstantial. There are different types of single parent (Hallows Divorce Team, 2003), such as Divorced or Separated parents, unmarried parents, widowed parents, single parents by choice. Other types of single parent’s families are single – adoptive mothers or father. Single – mother custody, single father custody include those headed by grandparents (usually grandmothers/raising their grandchildren and most recently, adolescent children raising their siblings (often co-orphans) in some central and South African Countries (Akinade 2015). Divorced and separated parents. The most majority of single parent households today are due to divorce and separation. According to The Annie E. Casey foundation, “more than 20% of children born to married couples will experience a divorce by age 9”.

They face the following challenges Divorce and separation rarely allow for a lot of mental and financial preparation. As a divorced single-parent, finances can be tight, and may struggle to find appropriate child care for the kids while at work. In the middle of trying to be emotionally and physically available to the children, the person also dealing with the heartbreak of ending the marriage and making sure that kids are not adversely affected by it. One may be dealing with loneliness, fear and concerns about everyone’s mental health and wellbeing.

Divorce and separation of various kinds or death of one spouse may leave a child with no option than to have a single parent. Immediately divorce occurs, the family life is distorted and everybody in the family including children redefines relationships. The children experience divorce as a painful emotional feelings in their life. The children feel angry at one or both of the parents’ behaviour.

The future appears uncertain and unpredictable. Aggressive behaviours are common and at times, the children may have feelings of loneliness. School performance and ability to relate to peers may decline as the children are struggling to adjust to living in a single parent family. Some teachers commonly describe children from single parents as more hostile, aggressive, anxious, fearful, hyperactive and distractible than children from intact families (Nwachukwu 2018).

Unmarried single refers to a split-up, they still have the same rights and responsibilities toward the kids. But without the legal framework of marriage divorce or separation. It can be more challenging to enforce them. Challenges faced by unmarried singles include, laws differ in how they regard unmarried parents. In some places, courts may be based toward the biological mother, and unmarried fathers may have limited parental rights. As an unmarried father may have to petition the court and prove paternity to gain access to the children. Unfortunately, unmarried mothers are often left to single handedly. Unmarried mother may be financially vulnerable and enforcing support or custody with the former partner.

Widowed single parents, typically, individuals lose a spouse later in life, when their children are grown. But in some cases, the death of a spouse leaves younger children behind who must be parented solely by the surviving spouse. Challenges faced by a widowed single parent may suddenly be thrust into sole parenting roles that are unprepared for. Unlike divorce, children of a deceased parent will never see that parent again. A surviving spouse grieving on loss in addition to dealing with the kid can be a difficult balancing act. Single parent have to come from a place of strength for the benefit of the children despite facing fear and uncertainty about the future.

An individual may choose to have children on their own. This choice may result from an unplanned pregnancy. Or may be a woman who feels biological clock limits have chance of finding a suitable partner. The person may decide to create a family of her own, without the constraint of a partner. Whether you choose to continue a pregnancy alone, adopt, arrange for a child through surrogacy, or conceive through in vitro fertilization with donor eggs or sperm, you have probably considered the options and consequences and now feel in control of the choices.

Challenges faced by single parent by choice, will face the same financial and emotional hurdles of caring alone for a child as any other single parent.

The person will also be confronted with eventually having to disclose the child’s biological origin to them at some point. There are many different causes of single parenthood and many specific situations that only apply to certain group.

1. Death: Hundred of years ago, the over whelming cause of single parenthood stemmed from the death of one of the parents. Since divorce and separation were uncommon and having children out of wedlock was frowned on, death was the chief reasons. It is still a cause of single parenthood today but makes up a smaller percentage than it once did.
2. Divorce: Married parents who get a divorce are a significant cause of single parenthood. When a couple splits, one parent is almost always granted primary custody and the child lives with that parent. Even if the other parent is involved and contributes to the child’s raising, the primary parent is still legally considered single.

• Unmarried Couples: If two unmarried people have a child and one of the parents does not reside with the other, the parent who lives with the child is a single parent.

1. Absent Parent: An absent parent is when a woman gets pregnant, and the father disappears from the picture or after the child’s birth, one of the parents disappears and does not make contact or attempt to help the other parent.
2. Other Facilities: Mostly in the West, parents can become single parent. If the other parent is declared unfit due to drug, alcohol, or mental health. If there is a history of violence, a judge might take away parent rights, which would leave the other parent as a single parent.

Desertion is one of the ways to single parenthood in our society. It is a situation whereby either the father or the mother walks away from the marriage, leaving the other party without help or support. Desertion is also known as the poor man’s divorce. It is called the two divorces, Kendall (2019). The process of socialization depend on both parents playing complementary roles in raising such children, which will definitely impact positively on the children during school.

On the other hand, children from single parent’s homes are more likely to suffer deprivations and denials of some rights and opportunities that will have negative psycho-social impact on them in school years (Azuka Obieke Uchenna, 2018). Children of deserted parents find it more difficult to understand the reason why they have to do without the other parent. Santrock (2021), assets that these children see abscond parent desertion.

Child socialization process requires two parents for optimal cognitive and social growth and development. Single parent children were observed to exhibit high levels of behavioral issues in schools. Barajas (2011), Salamiand Alwonde (2013) and Abbott (2012) argued that suffered parental deprivation children could hardly notice opportunities around them.

In many aspects of public and discoveries, single-parent families are looked upon as undesirable alternative household entities that are discouraged are thus excluded from some social services that are available to “two parent’s families (Wong et al 2004). Life in single parent households may be stressful for adult children as well as those who depend on the custodial parent. In comparison with the two parent household, single parent households often have more of the areas of potential problems and pressures that single parent families may have to face which include, dwindling family  finances and resources security or maintaining a respectable job and keeping up with bills and household chores, effects of marital breakup on children’s school performance and peer relations visitation and custody problems, effects of continuing conflicts between parents, less opportunity for parents and children to spend time together, disruptions of extended family relationships and problems caused by parents dating and entering new relationship, (Olaleye and Oladeji, 2010).

Some psychologists have asserted that “children who grow up in a household with only one of their biological parents on the average are worse off than two parent counter parts. It puts such children at risk. When parents experience problems with their children they often blame themselves or the children. Parents hold a sacred responsibility both to themselves, the child or children and the entire society to provide.

Psychologically conductive environment for the overall development of the child’s personality. The personality of an individual is made up of intelligence abilities, talents, physical make-up behavior, attitude to life health condition, self-concept, the way the child talks and overall life perception. The parents lay very important role in education of the child. Parents are the most significant aspect of the child, (Werner, 2002).

Parenthood is challenging enough even under the best of conditions and being a single parent in our society is tasking and very demanding. This is because, with one parent, the challenges are multifaceted. In fact, the effects are more devastating on the part of the children because single parenthood leaves them with deep scars, (Ekpenyong and Lawrence, 2016). Amadu and Moses (2013) investigated the influence of single parenthood on Wa Municipality in Ghana and the result showed that the female pupils from single parent homes have better academic performance than the male from the same family.

Chukwuka (2018) conducted a research on the impact of single parenthood on child education in primary schools in Oshimili South Local Government Area of Delta State. The result showed that there was no significant difference between the academic performance of male and female pupils from single parenthood.

However, the primary function of the family seems to be failing due to single parenthood which may be induce marital disharmony leading to separation and eventual divorce, teenage pregnancy, where a single girl chooses to procreate outside wedlock. It can also result from cultural practices which permit families without male children to cause their daughters to bear children for them by special arrangement with male partners from outside the family cycle. In all these instances, single parenthood may entail problems which may be partly general in nature and partly specific to each situation, (Okonkwo 2004). This was because when the parents are overburdened by responsibilities and by their own emotional reactions to environmental situation they often become irritable, impatient and insensitive to their student’s plight. It is against this backdrop that this study was being planned to investigate the possible influence of single parent upbringing on the academic performance of secondary school in Delta State.

Studies have denoted a significant different between gender and academic performance of children in single parent homes. Brewer (2001) argued that boys are more adversely affected by the type of family they are brought up in and this has an influence in the overall academic achievement.

Carrigan (2015) observed that there is a significant relationship between the number of years a child was under single parent and their low performance. Anderson (2014) carried out a study on fatherhood and academic performance of children noted that there was a greater risk of boys from single mothers posting worse results and eventual dropout from school compared to boys in both parent homes.

Single parents were formerly unknown and where they existed, they were simply ignored by the society in general as something out of the ordinary. Nowadays they are fast growing family patterns both outside and inside Nigeria. Over the last decades, the single parent families have become more common than the nuclear families which consist of a father, mother and children (APA 2016). It has also been observed that research has not being really focused on this, in Delta State and its influence on academic performance of children from the single parent families in Delta State, hence this study intends to fill the gap. Whiting & Edwards (2018) further argued that there is a missing link that children in single parenthood families face and normally is seen in a break in the network of friends, associated and family members.

• Statement of the Problem

The influence of single parenthood on the academic performance of secondary school students is a complex issue with multifaceted challenges. One prominent statement of  the problem revolves around the potential impact of the absence of one parent on a child’s educational journey. Research indicates that students from single-parent households may face increased academic difficulties, including lower grades and higher truancy rates. The emotional and financial strains on single-parent families may contribute to these challenges, affecting the overall learning experience.

Moreover, the study of challenges, needs, and experiences faced by single-parent households emphasizes the importance of understanding how these factors intersect to influence academic outcomes. This research aims to shed light on the nuanced dynamics surrounding single parenthood and its potential repercussions on the academic achievements of secondary school students

• Aim & Objectives of the Study

The purpose of this study is to determine the influence of single parenthood on the academic performance of secondary school students in Oshimili South Local Government Area of Delta State. The specific objective is:

1. To identify the influence of income on the academic performance of secondary school students in Delta State.
2. To determine the influence of stigmatization experience by students from single parenthood on their academic performance of secondary school students in Delta.
3. To access the aggressive behaviour expresses by students from single parents, influences their academic performance of secondary school students in Delta.
4. To examine the influence of withdrawal behavior expresses by students from single parenthood on their academic performance of secondary school students in Delta.
5. To determine the influence of psychological trauma experience by students from single parenthood on their academic performance of secondary school students in Delta.
   • Research Questions
6. To what extent does the income of the single parents influence the academic performance of their children in secondary school in Oshimili South Local Government Area of Delta?
7. To what extent does stigmatization experienced by students from single parents influence their academic performance in Oshimili South Local Government Area of Delta?
8. To what extent does aggressive behaviour expressed by students from single parents, influence their academic performance in Oshimili South Local Government Area of Delta?
9. To what extent does withdrawer behaviour expressed by students from single parents, influence their academic performance in secondary school?
10. To what extent does psychological trauma experienced by students from single parents influence their academic performance in secondary school?
    • Hypotheses
11. There is no significant relationship between the influence of income of single parents and stigmatization experienced by their children on the academic performance of students from single parenting.
12. There is no significant relationship between the influence of aggressive behaivour and withdrawal behaviour expressed by students from single parent.
    • Significance of the Study

The significance of study would be of great benefit to the students, teachers, parents, and the society at large.

Single parenthood may introduce challenges for students due to potential economic and emotional strains. However, it can also foster resilience as students learn to overcome obstacles

Teachers play a crucial role in recognizing and providing support for students facing challenges related to single parenthood. Understanding these dynamics enables educators to tailor their approaches to better assist students.

Single parents benefit from understanding the potential impact on their children’s academic performance. Open communication with teachers and active involvement in their child’s education can mitigate challenges and enhance academic support.

Acknowledging the influence of single parenthood on academic performance contributes to addressing broader socioeconomic gaps in society. Initiatives aimed at supporting single-parent families can lead to improved educational outcomes and social equality

• Scope of the Study

This research study is narrowed to look into the influence of single parenthood on the academic performance of secondary school students in Oshimili South Local Government Area of Delta State. It is delimited to students of S.S.2 classes in public and private schools, located in Delta State.

• Area of the Study

The area of study was Oshimili – South Local Government Area in Delta State. The LGA is the capital city of oil rich Delta State of Nigeria. Asaba is located at the Northern end of the state. It is a semi-urban area whose major occupation is farming, fishing, and hunting. Asaba forms a connector between Western, Eastern, and Northern Nigeria. It is situated on a hill at the northern edge of the Niger River. The great Asaba occupies an average of about 300 square kilometers. It maintains an average tropical temperature of 320C during the dry season and average fertile rainfall during the rainy season.  The LGA is saturated with   public primary schools,  government secondary schools, private schools  and tertiary institutions; Delta State University Anwai, Federal College of Education (T) Asaba,  and National Open University of Nigeria (Asaba study centre).

• Definition of Terms

Single Parenthood: Is the act of raising a child or children with only one parent in the house.

Academic Performance: Is the measurement of student performance across various academic subjects.

Students: Is primarily a person living with a parent in a school or other educational institution and who is under learning with goals of acquiring knowledge, developing professional and achieving employment at desired field. It is also defines a person who is studying at a school, especially a secondary school

Pages:  101

Category: Project

Format:  Word & PDF               

Chapters: 1-5                                          

Source: Imsuinfo

Material contains Table of Content, Abstract and References.