Article Type : Research Article
Authors : Sibanda N , Gasva D and Moyo W
Keywords : Family; Marriage; Parental separation; Divorce; Children; Adolescents
The
current study utilised the case study research design. Parents affected by
separation and/or divorce in the mining town of Hwange, Zimbabwe; were
considered as the target population. Purposive sampling technique was used in
coming up with a sample of 30 participants. The researchers used Interviews in
collecting data. The major findings were that there are quite a number of
causes of parental separation and/or divorce in the area studied; and most of
them had to do with individual and/or societal factors such as unfaithfulness,
intolerance, incompatibility, strained relations between spouses and economic
challenges. The researchers concluded that parental separation and/or divorce
has several devastating effects on children and adolescents; which include
psycho-social and emotional problems. The researchers recommend that there be
more awareness campaigns on these social mishaps which may make spouses more
tolerant to one another; thereby appreciating the detrimental effects their
separation or divorce.
Background to the study
The family is ideally
considered as the building block of any community or society, and marriage is
its essential foundation; hence, any form of its breakdown or break-up affects
its members [1]. For them, parental separation or divorce, in as much as they
disrupt family stability and order, are often the first major negative change
in a child or adolescent’s life. These distressing events drastically alter the
family’s future, bringing a sense of loss particularly to younger children due
to disruption in family normal routines including the absence of daily contact
with both parents [2]. As noted, parental separation or divorce are rated as
some of the most stressful life events for both affected parents and their
offspring’s; while in some cases, the effects also spill over to the extended
family, community and nation at large. Such social mishaps were found to
strongly destabilise and in?uence the quality of family relationships even two
decades later [3,4]. Globally, there is a consensus that the presence of a
mother and a father in a home, based on mutual relationship and love, are
crucial in the upbringing of well-developed and well-adjusted children and
adolescents. However, the absence of one of the parents due to either
separation or divorce usually poses a major threat to the general welfare of
children as well as adolescents particularly with regards their physical,
social, intellectual and emotional well-being [5]. Marriage resorts morality,
fosters mutual love between spouses, confirms families with divine strength,
fosters education and protection of offspring’s, restores the dignity of both
men and women and establishes the honour and prosperity of families and civil
associations in a most excellent and beneficial way. On the other hand, parental
separation or divorce begets almost the exact opposite of the above marriage
functions and advantages [6]. Parental separation or divorce and its ensuing
ramifications can have a significant and life-altering impact on the well-being
and subsequent development of children and adolescents. Of late, many
researchers claim that the marriage institution in the recent years has been
facing increased cases of irreconcilable differences between husband and wife
that have led to increased rates of separation or divorce cases [7]. The
Zimbabwe Herald Newspaper (2013) reported that in Zimbabwe, the High Court in
Harare received 1 250 divorce applications and the major causes of the
breakdown of marriages were attributed to socio-economic challenges including
the decay of the extended family system being one of the major causes. In the
same vein, the Zimbabwe Sunday Mail Newspaper (2014) notes that financial
stress, marital infidelity and domestic violence are also some of the reasons
behind the increase in parental separation or divorce in Zimbabwe and possibly
many other countries in recent years. Statistics from the Zimbabwe High Court
show that the country recorded an average of 96 divorces monthly in 2012, a
figure that grew to105 by 2015 (The Herald Newspaper, 2015). The same source
opined and lamented on the increase of cases of separation and divorce that
reached alarming rates with couples increasingly filing for separation or
divorce at the High Court in Harare. These figures are a cause of concern to
communities in general and the Zimbabwean society at large. The problem of
parental separation or divorce often has long term consequences for families as
they are usually a difficult and painful time for a family, both for the
parents and offspring’s. Not only are the parents realising new ways of
relating to each other, but they are also learning new ways to parent their
children in particular ways while at the same time adjusting to the realities
of the mishap. Offspring’s of separated or divorced parents, young and old,
often react to the separation or divorce in different ways; with most often
struggling with the transition [8]. Generally, the experience of separation or
divorce is often a sad, devastating and painful one though some offspring’s;
particularly those beyond childhood, are sometimes resilient and with some form
of assistance such as counselling, can effectively adjust [9]. Notably, both
parental separation and divorce have become a common phenomenon in modern
society and often result from a constellation of causes. Sadly, both have
effects and implications for the entire members of the family, particularly the
offsprings. Thus, it is against this background that the current study was
undertaken in the small town of Hwange in Zimbabwe in order to proffer possible
recommendations that may lead to the arrest of such social mishaps.
Statement of the problem
Marriage is regarded as
an institution that fosters mutual love between spouses and their children.
However, due to parental separation or divorce, affected parents and their
offsprings must confront a series of life adjustments and challenging changes
that consequently modify their lifestyle, behaviour, emotional well-being and
their expectation and concept of life. This often leads to children and adolescents
facing psycho-social challenges including emotional and behavioural disorders
such as anger, fear and confusion which negatively impact on their self-esteem,
social interactions, behaviour and academic performance. Even though some
sociological perspective says that parental separation or divorce may be a
better option for a troubled marriage the problem at stake is how these social
mishaps (parental separation or divorce) affect children and adolescents’
development and wellbeing; which is what this study sought to explore in the
area under study in order to draw wider implications for society [10].
Purpose of the study
The purpose of this study
was to determine the causes and effects of parental separation or divorce as
well as their implications for children and adolescents. The study was
delimited to the mining town of Hwange in Matabeleland North Province of
Zimbabwe. Thus, the thrust of the study was to establish the range of causes
and effects of parental separation or divorce in order to illuminate possible
solutions to these social phenomenal problems. The findings were also meant to
foster possible preventive measures from the Zimbabwean-African perspective.
Research questions
The study was guided by
the following specific research questions:
· What
are some of the causes of parental separation or divorce in in the area under
study?
· What
are the psycho-social effects of parental separation or divorce on children and
adolescents in the area under study?
· What
other problems are associated with parental separation or divorce on children
and adolescents in the area under study?
· How
can parental separation or divorce be managed in order to protect the general
welfare of affected parents, children and adolescents?
Significance of the
study
The researchers
anticipate that this study would be of benefit to parents, other family
members, teachers, social workers, counsellor and other professional support
services in making the coping-assimilation process of parental separation or
divorce easier for affected children and adolescents as well as the involved
parents. It is envisaged that the study will enlighten the community on the
pivotal role played by parents living together in the socialization of their
children and adolescents while also exposing the negative effects of parental
separation or divorce on children, adolescents, other members of the extended
family and the community in general. Furthermore, the findings may shed light
on what role communities and central government may play in curbing the
parental separation or divorce challenge. Arguably, the findings of this study
will also be useful to guidance and counselling personnel on what type of
psycho-social and emotional disorders they can expect from a child and
adolescent coming from a family that has broken down or up and what assistance
may be rendered to the affected children and adolescents as well as the
concerned parents in order to help them readjust and live a normal life for the
good of their well-being and society at large.
Conceptual framework
The conceptual framework
for this study comprises of several concepts; namely, family, parental
separation, divorce, children and adolescents. A family is a group of people
related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by
recognised marriage or other relationship). The purpose of families is to
maintain the well-being of its members and of society; ideally offering
predictability, structure, and safety as members mature and participate in the
community. The same source asserts that in most societies, it is within
families that children acquire socialization for life outside the family while
the family is also the basic unit for meeting the basic needs of its members.
In addition, it provides a sense of boundaries for performing tasks in a safe
environment while also building children into functional adults, transmitting
culture, and ensures continuity of humankind with precedents of knowledge and
social adjustment. Anthropologists generally classify most family organizations
as matrifocal (a mother and her children); patrifocal (a father and his
children); conjugal (a wife, her husband, and children, also called ‘nuclear’)
or extended (parents and children co-reside with other members of one parent's
family. The two concepts of ‘parental separation’ and ‘divorce’ are often
differentiated by a thin line, yet, the distinction is important in as far as
their implications on individuals, society and the nation at large are
concerned [11]. Gahler (ibid) further says that the concept of ‘separation’ in
the context of marriage is generally described as temporary marriage breakdown
or official provisional parting between husband and wife. Divorce, on the other
hand, is the judicial separation of the spouses and complete disruption of
their marital relations and obligations. It is the dissolution of marital
relations and functions; in this process marriage is completely broken down,
either in the social or legal context or both. For divorce is a legal complete break
up or end of the marriage and is often the result of a process of marital
dysfunction, discord and miscommunication that would have developed for some
time in most cases. In most cases, divorce has far more reaching implications
than separation as divorce often implies that there is no more room for the
reunion of spouses; hence, implying permanent consequences for the family.
‘Children’ are generally defined as individuals below the age of 18 years.
According to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)
cited [12]. “A child is any human being under the age of eighteen, unless the
age of majority is attained earlier under a state's own domestic legislation”.
As noted by Erik Erikson’s 1959 psychosocial developmental theory childhood is
a period largely characterised by the need for protection, love and care as
well as high sensitivity and vulnerability [13]. According to the United
Nations, at the UN General Assembly Special Session on Children in 2002, State
Parties committed themselves in the declaration of ‘A World Fit for Children’,
to building. A world in which all girls and boys can enjoy childhood… in which
they are loved, respected and cherished in which their safety and well-being
are paramount and in which they can develop in health, peace and dignity”. This
gives this study a basis for striving to understand how social mishaps such as
parental separation and divorce influence children’s well-being and general
welfare. ‘Adolescents’ are commonly described as teenagers within the
adolescence stage; where ‘adolescence’ is considered as a dynamically evolving
theoretical construct informed through physiologic, psychosocial, temporal and
cultural lenses. For, adolescence is a critical developmental period which is
conventionally understood as the years between the onset of puberty and
pre-adulthood while it is predominantly characterised by the establishment of
psycho-social independence [14]. Adolescence is sometimes viewed as a
transitional state; during which youths begin to separate themselves from their
parents but still lack a clearly defined role in society. It is a period marked
by complex changes, such as rapid physical growth, rise of reproductive
sexuality, new social roles, and growth in thinking, feelings and morals as
well as school transition. It is further characterised by the high need for
belonging, identity crisis as well as the fact that every change or event
brings with it a new trauma and anxiety, hence, is often described as a stage
of ‘developmental turmoil [15].
Review of some of the
causes of parental separation or divorce
The following factors as
the general causes of parental separation or divorce: poorly performing
economy; wrong use of tongues; bad company; unloving spouses; infidelity;
impatience; lack of dialogue between spouses; alcohol and fighting; gossip and
rumour mongering as well as power tussles between partners [16]. Many studies
have shown that parental separation or divorce wreaks havoc among both the
young and old couples; further exacerbating partners and offsprings’
psychological, social and economic problems. In support of this assertion, in
an Australian study revealed that there is a correlation between parental
separation or divorce and children’s poor academic achievement, low self?esteem,
psychological distress, delinquency, criminal offending and recidivism,
substance abuse, moral decadence, depression and suicidal behaviour among
adolescents. As parents, the researchers agree with at least one or more of
Rodgers’ findings; which substantiates the fact that parental separation or
divorce is indeed a cause for concern. That in many countries, personal
characteristics and socio-cultural factors were attributed to parental
separation or divorce in most families and communities [17]. For example,
studies in Iran showed that sexual problems especially sexual dysfunction by
partners or at least one of them was one of the major causes of separation or
divorce [18]. In many submissions, it is also argued that the existence of
certain factors in marriages place relationships at a high risk of breakdown or
complete parting. Today, many spouses separate or divorce for a multitude of
reasons; some of which are beyond their control. The same source opined that
personal characteristics and socio-cultural factors such as wrong selection of
mate, unmet emotional needs, interference by relatives and friends may cause
separation or divorce. Studies on parental separation and divorce in Iran
revealed that primary wrong selection of mate was the most important cause of
divorce further defined primary wrong selection as not having any idea about
each other’s characteristics and interests before marriage, which may lead to
different behaviour and expectations in couples, thereby consequently leading
to separation or divorce. View that unfaithfulness of spouses or one of the
partners one of the major causes of divorce in most families the world over.
Concur with Tembe’s findings by revealing in his findings that infidelity and
extramarital affairs by any one of the spouses is the main cause of divorce in
the Gulf region and possible many parts of the world [19]. Accentuates that
women's feministic-oriented independence and unclear understanding of the
notion of equal rights between men and women; early marriages; tough economic
environment; poor intellectual, educational and social skills; liberal
community and national separation and divorce laws, sexual factors leading to
incompatibility, role conflicts, alcoholism and substance abuse, risk-taking
behaviours, differences between the partners leading to acrimony, religious
differences, attitudes to separation or divorce are some of the factors that
cause separation or divorce. Some causes that can lead to separation or divorce
are but not limited to; poor social communication between partners especially
those with different cultural backgrounds, lack of social support systems
(every couple needs support system from family, relatives and friends),
unrealistic expectations in life from one of the spouses and partner role
conflicts are also reasons for failed marriages; most of which end up in
parental separation or divorce. Source
https://www.familymeans.org/causes-effects-of-separation-divorce.html indicate
that many contemporary social science researchers are also in general consensus
that irresponsible social networking, couple addiction to social networking
(such as use of Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp), sexual incompatibility,
sedentary life style, poor sex drive and dysfunction usually cause stress in
relationships and; hence, are also important reasons for destroying marriages.
Furthermore, mordenisation has also brought with it many social disorders;
including long travels to and stay at work, work stress, child rearing
conflicts in the absence of a family support structure; many new working
partners who are sometimes confused on how to share household and child rearing
responsibilities resulting in strain between spouses; more often than not,
cause conflicts in marriage and can consequently result in separation or
divorce [21].
Review of some of the
effects and implications of parental separation or divorce
Research has generally
revealed that the psycho-social impact of parental separation or divorce on
children and adolescents resides in three main factors, namely, the quality of
family relationship, intensity and duration of family conflict, and covering
children and adolescents’ needs after separation or divorce note that parental
separation or divorce may contribute to the development of mood disorders, bipolar
disorder, dysthymia (mild chronic depression), anxiety, depression and
post-traumatic stress disorder [22]. An embittered mental relationship and
hostile or rejecting parent-child relationship that often results from parental
separation or divorce provides a context that scarcely facilitates
intellectual, psychosocial and emotional development in children; hence, may
consequently retard it. A variety of negative psychosocial and emotional
outcomes are also associated with parental separation or divorce that lead to
vulnerability in some children and adolescents; while leading to resiliency in
others. When a couple is going through separation or a divorce, the children
and adolescents are often the ones most affected; and are, often the ones that
are given the least amount of attention and consideration. Children and
adolescents can be severely traumatized emotionally by parental separation or
divorce, especially if these happenings are nasty, and/or if there is a
prolonged or an intense custody battle. Parental separation or divorce often
creates emotional turmoil for the entire family, but for kids, the situation
can be quite scary, confusing, and frustrating. Cameron (2008) points out that
the negative factors in the separated or divorced parents’ lives; anger over
parental separation or divorce, stress over financial issues and ongoing
conflict with the other parent, low levels of education and a lack of emotional
support from the social environment; may, at times, overflow onto their
children and adolescents’ life; whether or not they intend to do it, or are
even aware that it is happening. This spill over effect from the separated or
divorced parent to the child or adolescent can, in turn, cause anxiety and
stress in the child or adolescent over conflicts that the affected offspring’s
are not fully able to grasp. Growing up in this sort of emotionally turbulent
environment can have a negative emotional effect on the child or adolescent.
Arguably, the biggest socio-emotional area that is often affected by parental
separation or divorce is the area of self-image and self-esteem. The same
source notes that many of challenges associated with socio-emotional life are
due to a change in the way that the affected child or adolescent views himself
or herself and sometimes how they think others views them. They may believe
that they themselves caused the separation or divorce, or that they did
something wrong that made mommy and/or daddy want to not be with them or live
together. This can cause a child or adolescent to feel sad, depressed, angry,
dejected and self-rejecting. In the same vein, aver that upon the separation or
divorce of their parents, children and adolescents experience a wide range of
emotional reactions, including sadness, anger, loneliness and depression,
heightened anxiety, worry, lower life satisfaction and expectation, lower
self-esteem and self-confidence, fear, yearning, rejection, conflicting
loyalties and a sense of fault for their parents marital problems. Sadly, and
often, these challenges frequently last into later phases of children and
adolescents lives. That while there is nothing inherently ‘wrong’ with a single
parent family, it is often a fact that a child or adolescent who suddenly goes
from having two parents to one parent will almost certainly feel the missing
parent’s absence acutely, especially if the transition or the actual separation
or divorce is abrupt or lacking reason or explanation from one or both parents
[23]. A child or adolescent in these circumstances may feel abandoned, unloved,
or come to believe that there is something ‘wrong with them’ or ‘one of their
parents’ that caused the other parent to decide to go for separation or divorce
at the expense of marriage and the welfare of children, further notes that a
parent’s absence can affect a child or adolescent not only through the direct
factor of their absence, but through a lack of fiscal support as well. For
parental separation or divorce may lead to behaviour problems during childhood
into adolescence and sometimes until adulthood. In that regard, violent and
assaultive behaviour is an increasingly common referral problem in children and
adolescents; and is often seen in conjunction with a recent parental separation
or divorce [24]. Studies indicate that parental separation or divorce
contributes to an increased risk for a wide facet of undesirable behaviours in
affected children and adolescents; including an inability to handle con?ict,
promiscuity, di?culty in school, increased crime rates, increased drug and alcohol
abuse, and even increased rates of suicide [1]. The social behaviour of the
child or adolescent gets affected, which results in handicaps in learning how
to get along with other people, lack of responsiveness to the advances and
behaviour of others as well as lack of co-operation and hostility towards
others. Parental separation or divorce is believed, on average, to be a cause
of a wide range of behavioural and emotional problems in children and
adolescents. Comparative studies carried out point out that, children and
adolescents are likely going to experience little or no problems associated
with their well-being where parents live together, whereas, children and
adolescents whose parents have broken up are more likely to experience certain
challenges including physical health problems, suffer from depression, anxiety
and other psycho-affective disorders, present various externalized behaviour
problems, be less successful in school, stay in school for a shorter length of
time than expected and as well experience more social relations problems
[25,26]. In related studies, Cherlin, Chase-Lansdale and McRae reveal that
offspring’s of separated or divorced parents are more likely to experience
poverty, educational failure, early and risky sexual activity, non-marital
childbirth, early marriages, cohabitation, marital discord and circular
divorce. In fact, emotional problems associated with separation or divorce tend
to increase during young adulthood and separation or divorce also has the
potential to cause major disruption in the lives of adults and children; and
the effects can be long-lasting. In most functioning societies, an intact
family helps children and adolescents to develop strong moral character.
Lacking such guidance, offsprings of separated or divorced parents are more
likely to behave as social deviants. It is sad to note that a number of
findings on parental separation or divorce revealed that children and
adolescents in separated or divorced families are often in unfortunate and sad
circumstances; hence, are more likely to become maladjusted individuals, may
commit minor and serious crimes, run away from home for no apparent reasons, be
suspended from school, smoke cigarettes, abuse alcohol, carry weapons, engage
in physical fighting, use marijuana and cocaine or even commit suicide. Also
notes that the following are some of the major effects of parental separation
or divorce on children and adolescents:
·
Poor
performance in schoolwork
·
Loss
of interest in social activity
·
Stress,
anxiety and depression
·
Emotional
instability and insensitivity
·
Anger
and irritability
·
Feelings
of guilty and blame
·
Adoption
of destructive behaviour
·
Increase
in health problems
·
Loss
of self-esteem and confidence
·
Loss
of faith in marriage and the family unit.
As noted, what makes the
whole experience of parental separation or divorce even more difficult and sad
for children and adolescents is that it often causes increased levels of
anxiety and dejection during the process and after the separation and divorce,
which can be aggravated by stress emanating from parents failing on their role
to keep engaging in effective parenting roles. State that parental separation
or divorce has a great impact on children and adolescents who start by grieving
then begin on a journey of feelings involving self-judgement, fear, guilt,
anger and blame-shifting. The aftermath of parental separation or divorce, one
of the more unfortunate outcomes is that one of the parents may become
insignificant or even absent from the child or adolescent’s life; which has far
reaching ramifications for both affected parents and offspring’s unless
otherwise corrected by other means [27]. For many children more than
adolescents, however, many of the effects of parental separation or divorce are
relatively short-lived as many adjust to the new situation reasonably well over
time particularly if other social support systems such as the extended family
come forward to complement family responsibility.
The current study adopted
a qualitative research methodology which is defined by cite as ‘a type of
social science research that collects and works with non-numerical data and
that seeks to interpret meaning from these data that help us understand social
life through the study of targeted populations or cases’. The case study
research design; which views as ‘a strategy for doing qualitative research
which involves an empirical investigation of a particular contemporary
phenomenon within its real-life context using multiple sources of evidence’,
was utilised. The case study design was preferred because it allowed for the
generation of rich and thick data through eliciting participants’ views of
their lived experiences of the effects of parental separation or divorce on
children and adolescents. In that regard, the researchers ensured that all
participants; who were parents, were either direct or indirect victims of
parental separation or divorce within the area under study. A case study was
also considered because of its important trademarks, including the fact that it
is concerned with a rich and vivid description of issues relevant to the case,
provides a blended description of phenomena and its analysis, focuses on
individual actors or groups and seeks to understand their perceptions while the
researcher(s) is or are integrally involved [28-30]. In most cases, a case
study method selects a small geographical area or a very limited number of
individuals as the subjects of study; which was the case in the current study
where a sample of 30 participants (N=30) comprising of parents affected by
separation or divorce was drawn from the population based in Number 1 Township
in the mining town of Hwange in Zimbabwe. Purposive sampling technique under
the non-probability sampling framework was used in coming up with the sample;
and was considered ideal on the basis that it accommodated the required
participants and also prevented inappropriate elements from being part of the
study, which ensured the generation of relevant, reliable and rich data
regarding the research problem. The researchers used interviews in collecting
data from the participants. As noted, the major advantages of the interview
technique is that the researchers are able to explain further the research
questions that the interviewees would not have understood and participants are,
therefore, able to elaborate their responses in depth in areas of interest
while their body language meant to emphasize certain issues is also easily
captured during data generation. Accordingly, the researchers realised these
benefits of using interviews in the current study. Consistent with qualitative
research studies, the researchers were the primary research media through which
research data was generated and interpreted [31,32]. Thus, the researchers were
directly involved in the collection, interpretation and reporting of findings
after utilising the interviews to collect the data. Findings were then
presented using two themes, namely causes and effects of parental separation
and divorce, which allowed for the analysis of participants’ views by
researchers; thereby ensuring the trustworthiness and credibility of the study
findings [33,34].
Major causes of parental
separation or divorce in Hwange
Participants indicated a
number of causes that often lead to parental separation or divorce in the area
under study; and the following were noted to be some of the major ones:
· Having
a child or children is one of the most treasured things in the African society
so when one fails to bear children, she/he may be rejected by family and even
the larger community which can lead to separation or divorce;
· When
a spouse experiences continuous miscarriage, it may be interpreted and
understood to imply that the spouse is most likely a witch who probably wants
to use the children who die before birth for rituals. This may lead to
separation or divorce;
· The
area under study generally believes in African tradition where if a woman gives
birth to a child and in a short period, that child dies and the trend continues
for three or more times, such a misfortune may strain relationships and force
one partner to opt out;
· When
a spouse discovers that the other partners’ parents or relatives are into
witchcraft practices, it may bring fear and panic which may cause separation or
divorce;
· A
lot of men and women would love to have a partner who performs well in bed in
terms of sexual needs satisfaction needs. Needless to say, a partner who
performs poorly in bed, makes the other feel short-changed, which may result in
separation or divorce;
· Promiscuity
and/or infidelity by one of the partners can cause separation or divorce;
that’s when spouse discovers that his/her partner is not faithful in marriage;
· In
some Churches that believe in prophesy, if one spouse is prophesised to be
promiscuous, it may strain relationships, leading to separation or divorce;
· Irresponsible
use of social media such as WhatsApp, Face book, Twitter also causes parental
separation or divorce (e.g. having sexual conversations with other people);
· Addiction
to gambling when one gambles with property of the family may cause strained
relationships that can lead to separation or divorce;
· Domestic
violence is yet another cause of parental separation or divorce as it has negative
effects on both family relationships and the security of family members;
· Impotence
in man can also cause separation or divorce even when the female spouse may
think that her partner has been ‘locked’ by other women;
· Lack
of communication between spouses can also cause separation and divorce since it
often leads to spouses mistrusting each other or even misrepresenting what the
other spouse things and does;
· Financial
challenges experienced by a family can cause division in a family. In some
cases, some spouses engage in extra marital affairs in order to supplement the
family income; which if discovered by the other partner, may lead to separation
or divorce;
· Gossiping
is also very common amongst women in particular though some men also do the
same, which can cause cracks in a marriage; further leading to separation or
divorce;
· Migration
by one of the spouses to other countries, often for greener pastures, has also
caused many families to disintegrate forcing spouses to separate or divorce.
The researchers noted
that the causes of parental separation or divorce provided were endless in list
as they varied from family to family within the area under study.
Effects of parental
separation or divorce on children and adolescents in Hwange
Participants also highlighted
several effects of parental separation or divorce on children and adolescents
in the area under study. The following were noted to be some of the major ones:
· Children
and adolescents from separated or divorced families have more behavioural problems
and social difficulties including showing signs of withdrawal, forced to lie
about their parents’ relationship so that they can fit well in the group of
their peers;
· Children
and adolescents from separated or divorced families are often discriminated
against; hence end up feeling totally secluded by peers, the extended family
and society;
· The
majority of the affected children and adolescences lack guidance either at
family or community level; which further exacerbates their involvement in
unacceptable behaviour, including early sexual activities, theft and drug
abuse;
· Affected
children in school end up performing badly in schoolwork because of distraction
of concentration and may even be forced to drop from school so as to avoid
being humiliated by peers because of coming from a broken family;
· Affected
adolescents tend to interpret and react to the separation or divorce of their
parents differently; which usually results in the formation of camps; with some
adolescents aligning themselves to the father while others align themselves to
the mother’ camp, which is often determined by whom they sympathise with or
believe did not really cause the separation or divorce;
· Children
and adolescents from broken families often show mood swings; at one time they are
jovial and playing or interacting well with others and at one point they are
withdrawn, do not want to play or talk to anyone, which affects their social
adjustment;
· Name
calling and labelling of the child or adolescent from separated or divorced
families by peers and other parents in the neighbourhood also makes the child
feel inferior and unacceptable;
Thus, the researchers
noted that the above effects of parental separation or divorce on children and
adolescents had far reaching implications for their wellbeing and general
existence.
Based on the findings,
the researchers concluded that parental separation or divorce is a result of a
constellation of causes; most of which have to do with individual and/or
societally-related factors such as unfaithfulness, intolerance,
incompatibility, strained relations between the spouses, economic challenges
and interference from non-family members. On the other hand, the researchers
concluded that parental separation and divorce has several devastating effects
on children and adolescents. These mostly include psycho-social and emotional
problems including negative effects on their personality and self-esteem,
stress, anxiety, depression, dejection, general standing in society and trauma which
further affects their behaviour, development and life chances.
Based on the findings and
conclusions, the study recommends that:
· There
be more awareness campaigns on the causes and effects of parental separation
and divorce which may make spouses more tolerant to one another and also
appreciate the detrimental effects that separation or divorce brings to
children and adolescents within the affected family in particular;
· For
the affected children and adolescents as well as parents separated or divorced,
counselling services for them should be provided in order to help them to
readjust to life and the new expectations of society. This will also help the
affected children and adolescents to readjust in life so that they don’t feel
unaccepted by peers, the wider family and society or completely betrayed by
their parents’ separation or divorce and even the world. This will also enable
the concerned parents to continue playing their parental role to children and
adolescents despite their changed circumstances;
· The
divorced spouses where the separation or divorce could not be avoided, may be
assisted with basic resources where need is considered to be high; and such
assistance may come from relatives and government’s Social Welfare Department
in order to make their life normal or at least to lessen the economic effects
of the separation or divorce on them and the affected children and adolescents.