CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

The effect of marital conflict on the academic performance of students (a case study of Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State. Marital relationships exist between a man and a woman when the two of them agree to live together and to establish their own family and live together until the end of their lives or till death separates them. Hornby (1978) said that marriage is a union of man and a woman as husband and wife, most societies establish certain procedure and activities that must be followed before a marital relationship between a man and a woman can take place. These procedures include a period of courtship, the introduction of the man to the woman and vice versa. There will be a marital dowry. All these are done to make the marital relationship a lasting and happy one. But all these notwithstanding, one finds that some marital relationship do not go along well with each other. Even though they had made a serious vow to live happily together either by the church or the traditional rite.

Conflicts occur in all human societies but, it occurs in various degrees, marital conflict is that situation between man and woman. This is where husband and wife have different opinion about issues, events or activities which cannot be mutually resolved. Marital conflict usually arises mostly due to lack of understanding between the man and the woman. This comes in different ways such as difference in education and social backgrounds, physical maintenance, love making, extra marital affairs.

As people become more educated and society becomes more enlightened one expects the frequency of marital conflicts to reduce but ironically, the reverse has been the case. The divorce rate has been on the increase, this project work attempts to examine conflicts, and suggest ways of reducing their rate of occurrence.

1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

One wonders why our society has remained passively perplexed and helpless to the high increase of divorce rate which is a result and effect of marital conflicts in most societies, it was still in the tradition for parents to choose marital partners for their children. This has been one of the major causes of marital conflict and possibly divorce because the spouses are not opportune to know and understand themselves before getting married.

The rate of divorce in our locality is increasing because many get into marriage without been matured enough for it. This again is another factor of marital conflict in the society. In this, they have no experiences that guide them in the marriage institution. In the case of this research, many questions that related to marital conflict would be asked and these include

·        Is there any way to reduce or resolved those conflicts so as to reduce divorce rates?

·        When could marital conflicts generate problems in the home?

·        Who are those affected by these conflicts?

1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The objectives of this study are many.

1. To examine the influence of social influence, taste and competitive living.

2. To find out the serve consequences of early marriage as it leads to divorce and separation (man and woman going into it unprepared).

3. To find out whether pressure from family members can lead to marital conflict.

4. To find out the effect of marital conflicts on the child academic performance.

5. To investigate into the areas of conflicts among married couple or people to be able to solve its sources of conflict.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The following research questions are therefore formulated

1.     Do marital conflicts bring about broken homes?

2.     Does inability of family head to meet up with assumed social status affect the child’s academic performance?

3.     Does immaturity of couples cause marital conflict?

4.     Do students from divorced home often isolate themselves from children of stable home?

5.     Does marital conflict has any effect in families?

6.     Does marital conflict expose the children to bad influence?

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The importance of this study is that the society as a whole will stand to benefit greatly in the sense that, it will aim at bringing out the effects marital conflict people in the society will have less marital and psychological problems and as such, they will be able to contribute their maximum potential to the benefit of the community. This research will help the members of the society to know those things that bring about marital conflicts between married people so as to avoid divorce. And also quest to keep a simple eye and avoid competitive living.

1.6 SCOPE OF STUDY

The scope of the study covers the geographical location of the following town, Irrua, Ewu, UgbegunUjiabhole and Opoji. To start with, it was not easy getting enough funds. The researcher also had difficulties in collecting information because the people concerned felt reluctant to give useful information and time to attend to us. And the belief to keep secret family issues to only family members.

This project was constrained by the following factors:

Financial Constraints

Bearing in mind the economic state of the nation, it was found difficult in making both ends meet, because of the exorbitant nature of things nowadays in travelling for the collection of data needed for the project.

Time Constraints

Looking at the interval between the resumption and vacation of the final semester for the project to be completed, the time given seemed to be short for the collection of required information for better work to be done.

Non-Availability of Material

During this project, it was noticed that the required materials needed for the project are not documented. Those that were documented lacked storage facilities where they can be reached.

1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Marital: Connected with marriage or with the relationship between a husband and wife.

Conflict: A situation in which people or countries are involved in a serious disagreement ort arguments.

Information: Facts of details about somebody or something.

Divorce: A separation, the ending of a relationship

Society: People in general living together in communities.

Couple Two people who are seen together especially if they are married or in a romantic or sexual relationship.

Marriage: The legal relationship between a husband and a wife

Academic: Connected with education especially studying in school and universities

Performance: How well or badly you do something or work,

Family: A group consisting of one or two parents their children and close relations.

1.8 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY

This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), statement of problem, objectives of the study, research question, significance or the study, research methodology, definition of terms and historical background of the study. Chapter two highlight the theoretical framework on which the study is based, thus the review of related literature. Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study. Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding.  Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study.

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