INFLUENCE OF FAMILY INSTABILITY ON CHILD UPBRINGING IN OVIA NORTH EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF EDO STATE

ABSTRACT

This study examined the influence of family instability on child upbringing in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State. Five (5) research questions were raised and answered. Two (2) hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.5 level of significance. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. The population of the study comprised 5,288 parents of senior secondary schools within Ovia North East Local Government Area, Edo State. The sample size of this study was 264 respondents. The instrument for data collection were a structured questionnaire developed by the researcher. The instrument was subjected to validation by the researchers’ supervisor, another expert in Home Economics Education and an expert in Measurement and Evaluation in the Faculty of Education, University of Benin. Reliability coefficient of the Instrument was 0.81 using Cronbach alpha statistical tool. The data collected were analysed using mean and standard deviation to answer the research questions. The formulated hypotheses were tested using t-test analysis. The findings revealed that the causes of family instability are extramarital affairs, lack of communication, financial difficulties, conflict of interest among others. The factors responsible for family instability are in-law related issues, psychological abuse, physical abuse as well as sexual abuse. the extent of family instability in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State is relatively low. the consequences of family instability in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State were civil unrest, kidnapping, drug abuse and vandalism among others. the solutions to family instability as it affects child upbringing in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State are parents should have enough time in courtship before marriage, organize programmes that will encourage marital stability, high level of parental involvement among others. the correlation coefficient is positive, it means that there is a significance difference between male and female parents of the cause of family instability. the consequences of family instability were civil unrest, kidnapping, drug abuse and vandalism among others. based on the findings stated above, the following recommendations were made: the family should be financially secured with good jobs in order to provide for their households. this will reduce increasing rate of family instability and disunity among married couples. effective and efficient communication must be pursued vigorously among couples. this will enable them to understand, prevent constant disagreement which usually threatens peaceful family. undue influence or interference from mother-in-laws should be avoided. this will reduce cases of family instability and promote good child upbringing, finally, married parents should be given couselling regularly to help mitigate or reduce the incidence of family instability.