Marriage
is honourable in all - (Heb. 13:14). It is a socially
approved sexual union of one or more men with one or more women that is expected to persist
for life. The union is also expected to
include common residence, economic cooperation and reproduction. Marriages a social arrangement by which a child is
given, a legitimate position in the society determined by parenthood in the social sense (Ezeah,
2004). The Encyclopaedia Americana described marriage as a more
or less durable union sanctioned by the society, between one
or more men and one or more women.
According to Okonkwo (2005) marriage should be enjoyed and not to be endured. But it is quite unfortunate
that the opposite is the case. In
marriage these days, there has been such paradox that those inside struggle to get out and those outside struggle to get in. It is very common today to
hear a young man saying to a young girl. "I love you more than any
other person, if I do not marry you I will
hang" and the next day you hear the same person
saying of the same girl. "This girl is devil, if she does not pack out of my house,
I will kill her". On the other hand a girl will tell her man "Darling, it is you or never, without you, life is
meaningless" Tomorrow, the same girl will tell the man, I have never met such a bad and wicked man since my
birth, marrying you was the worst mistake of my life".
Marital instability still remains the worst problem
in the family because, it affects both partners and children of
the affected
horn'es. In the most extreme case, children are the most affected (Ezeh, 2000). In addition to the above,
the possibilities of delinquent
disposition for the children of such homes became obvious and to the detriment of the whole society.
The effect of marital instability on children has been a great cause of concern to counselors, the church and the
society at large, all striving to find
a way out of this intractable problem.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Marital instability has grown to a destructive stage
and both the people and the government can no longer pretend
that all is well. Okonkwo (2005) person
saying of the same girl. "This girl is devil, if she does not pack out of my house,
I will kill her". On the other hand a girl will tell her man "Darling, it is you or never, without you, life is
meaningless" Tomorrow, the same girl will tell the man, I have never met such a bad and wicked man since my
birth, marrying you was the worst mistake of my life".
Marital instability still remains the worst problem
in the family because, it affects both partners and children of
the affected
horn'es. In the most extreme case, children are the most affected (Ezeh, 2000). In addition to the above,
the possibilities of delinquent
disposition for the children of such homes became obvious and to the detriment of the whole society.
The effect of marital instability on children has been a great cause of concern to counselors, the church and the
society at large, all striving to find
a way out of this intractable problem.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
In view of the nature of the effects of marital
instability on children, certain questions are drawn to enable the
researcher achieve the set objectives:
1.
What
are the causes
of marital instability in
Akpawfu Town?
2. What are the effects of marital
instability on the children of such parents?
3. What 'are the possible solutions to the effects of marital instability in Akpawfu Town?
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The
general objective of this
study is to determine
the effects of marital instability on
children of Akpawfu Town.To attain
this objective, the following specific objectives were used:
i. To find out the causes of marital instability
in Akpawfu Town,
ii. To find out the effects of marital
instability on the children of such parents.
iii. To proffer solutions to the problems of
marital instability in Akpawfu Town.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
Marital instability being one of the most sensitive problems among many homes, a study into its effects on
children would be of value to many of
the couples, the counselors and the society at large. If the major
causes of marital instability are known and the negative effects portrayed there will be peace in our homes. A peaceful
home makes for a happy home. If a man or woman has a happy home, he/she would be happy with himself/herself, he/she would be happy in the office or whenever
he/she works because he/she is a
settled human being. Happy individuals make
a happy nation, a happy nation is a peaceful nation. Many couples or individuals that may be opportuned to read this write up
and who might be directly or indirectly victims of marital problems would most likely benefit from the
study. Also it will be of a great importance
to the children of the affected homes.
DEFINITION OF TERMS
ABORTION:
The act of causing a pregnancy to end early in order to prevent the baby from developing and being born alive.
DELINQUENT: Young person showing the
tendency to commit crimes, especially
not of a serious kind.
DRUG ABUSE:
To make wrong or excessive use of drug.
EFFECT:
A result or an out come.
INSTABILITY: The state of being not
steady or stable
MARRIAGE: This is legally recognized, agreement
between a man and a woman making them husband and
wife; the state of being married.
PROSTITUTION: This
is the offering of sexual intercourse
for payment.
SEXUAL ABUSE:
This is the improper and unacceptable sexual
relationship
in the society e.g. homosexual.
TEENAGE PREGNANCY: This is pregnancy of a
person between 13 and 19 years old.