PSYCHOSOCIAL IMPACT OF DIVORCE ON CHILDREN ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE: A CASE STUDY OF AMUFI COMMUNITY BENIN CITY, EDO STATE.

Divorce, defined as the legal dissolution of marriage, represents the formal termination of a marital union, marking its official end just as a wedding ceremony signifies its beginning. The causes of divorce are multifaceted and include factors such as abuse, financial mismanagement, infidelity, infertility, poor communication, early marriage, prolonged hardship, substance abuse, external family influence, and other marital conflicts. As a significant life crisis, divorce has increasingly attracted global attention due to its psychological, social, and economic implications for couples, their children, and society at large. Available literature indicates that marriage breakdown is on the rise worldwide. Statistics from developed countries reveal steady increases in divorce rates over the past decades, with notable figures recorded in the United States, Australia, and Sweden. Although accurate statistical data in Nigeria remain limited due to the tendency to handle divorce matters privately outside formal legal systems, existing studies and societal observations suggest a growing incidence of marital dissolution. Factors contributing to this increase in Nigeria include economic pressures, changing family structures, post-war societal shifts, women’s increasing independence, and broader processes of social liberalization. Overall, divorce continues to pose significant emotional and social challenges, highlighting the need for deeper understanding and intervention strategies.