EFFECT OF BROKEN HOME ON CHILDREN

ABSTRACT: The present study examined the impact of disrupted family structures on children residing in Edo State. The research was conducted with the assistance of five research inquiries. The study employed an ex-post facto research design. The study sample consisted of 450 secondary school pupils who came from broken households within the designated study area. This study employed two distinct instruments. The initial instrument employed was the Broken Home Questionnaire (BHQ), which was specifically developed to gather information regarding students' family structure, distinguishing between broken or intact households, as well as their academic difficulties. The second instrument utilised was a checklist assessing students' academic performance. The primary outcomes of the investigation indicate that secondary school students residing in broken households within the Egor Local Government Area encounter educational difficulties such as inadequate access to textbooks, financial constraints in meeting educational expenses, subpar academic achievement, and diminished focus during school hours. The findings indicate that secondary school children residing in broken households within the Egor Local Government Area encounter various emotional issues, including emotional stress, despair, inferiority complex, feelings of insecurity, and unhappiness. Additionally, it was shown that secondary school kids residing in broken households within the Egor Local Government Area have social difficulties like as neglect and are more susceptible to illnesses resulting from starvation, among other issues. The findings also indicated that there was no statistically significant difference in the average academic achievement scores among secondary school students from broken homes when considering gender and location as variables. The study suggests that the State Ministry of Education should consider implementing measures to provide specialised support for secondary school children from disrupted family backgrounds, in order to enhance their school attendance.