CHILDREN

The incidences of broken marriages are on the increase, and resulting in the
failure of children in such homes (Bubelwe, 2014). According to Ghaerba a (2001), broken home is a situation where by one’s family is submerged with
misunderstanding of marriage and family structure. Egbo (2012) viewed broken home as a place where the parents engage themselves in quarreling, fighting, suspecting, keeping late hours to the detriment of the children’s primary drive for food, sleep and other basic needs. Broken homes are in various forms and these include divorce, separation and death of either parent’s (Agu and Bebelwa, 2014). According to landis (1977) were a matter within the clan and it’s environments, parents were not anxious to see their son’s getting married to girls from distant places or other tribes. Marriage were arranged by parents on basis of family friendship and such marriage hardly break up because of the close relationship between both parents

Divorce, a phenomenon that has become increasingly prevalent in many societies, has far-reaching implications, especially on the lives of children. This study investigates the implications of divorce on children in the Obe Community, located in Benin City, Edo State. The research focuses on understanding how parental separation affects children’s psychological, emotional, social, and educational development. Using a qualitative and descriptive methodology, data were collected through interviews, focus group discussions, and questionnaires administered to divorced parents, children from divorced homes, teachers, and community leaders. The findings reveal that divorce significantly disrupts the emotional stability of children in Obe Community, leading to feelings of abandonment, insecurity, and low self-esteem. Many children experience difficulty adjusting to new family structures, such as living with a single parent or a step-parent. Educationally, children from divorced homes were observed to perform less favorably in school due to divided attention, lack of parental guidance, and emotional distress. Socially, these children often exhibit behavioral issues such as aggression, withdrawal, or involvement in delinquent activities, stemming from the absence of a balanced parental model and inadequate supervision. The study further highlights the cultural and economic factors in Obe Community that exacerbate the negative effects of divorce. In many cases, single- parent households struggle financially, affecting the children’s access to quality education, healthcare, and other basic needs. Additionally, societal stigma and communal perceptions of broken homes contribute to the isolation and discrimination faced by children of divorced parents, thereby hindering their social integration and personal development.

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.