Effect of Parental Conflict and Divorce / Separation on Children’S Attitude towards Marriage in Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the effect of parental conflict and divorce/separation on children’s attitude towards marriage in Nigeria. Three hundred and six undergraduate students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko in Ondo State, Nigeria were randomly selected and used for the study. Participants’ age ranges between 19 and 27 years with a mean age of 22.03 years.

Three hypotheses were tested and results of analysis of data showed that parental conflict and divorce significantly affects children’s attitude towards marriage [t (304) = 13.96, p <.05]. It was also revealed that there was a significant effect of sex on attitude of undergraduate students from divorced families towards marriage [t (124) = 7.95, p<.05]. Results also indicated that children who attributed parental conflict and divorce to inability of parents to give up personal freedom were significantly different on their attitude towards marriage from those who attributed parental conflict and divorce to a lack of mutual trust, poor communication, and discontentment [F (4,270) = 13.25, p<.05]. Results were discussed in light of available literature and recommendations were made.

Keywords: Parental conflict, Divorce, Children’s Attitude, Marriage, Nigeria.