1.1 Introduction
Family instability is a multifaceted phenomenon that has garnered significant attention in recent years due to its profound implications for child development and well-being. in the context of contemporary society, characterized by diverse family structures and changing social norms, understanding the impact of family instability on child upbringing is paramount. Family instability encompasses a range of experiences and events that disrupt the coherence and predictability of family life. These may include parental divorce or separation, remarriage, parental conflict, domestic violence, parental incarceration, economic instability, and residential mobility. Each dimension of family instability can have unique and overlapping effects on child well-being, depending on factors such as the child's age, temperament, and resilience.
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitation of the study and Definition of terms.
1.2 Background of Study
A family can be recognized as a unit of people who have agreed to live together as father, mother and children. It is a single protective umbrella in the wider society. As an umbrella it protects, covers or shield it members from the buffeting characteristics of a wider society. It is an institution that protects, covers, shield and nurture it members.
Research indicates that children exposed to family instability may experience heightened levels of stress and insecurity, as the predictability and consistency of their home environment are compromised. This instability can manifest in various forms, including parental separation or divorce, frequent moves, remarriages, or changes in caregiver arrangements. Each of these disruptions can disrupt the stability and security that are fundamental to healthy child development.
Contemporary society is characterized by diverse family structures and dynamics, including single-parent households, blended families, and cohabiting couples. The heterogeneity of family arrangements poses challenges in understanding the differential impact of family instability on child upbringing across different contexts (Cherlin, 2010). Family instability can influence the quality of parent-child relationships, affecting attachment bonds and care giving practices. When parents navigate transitions or conflicts, their ability to provide emotional support, guidance, and supervision may be compromised, impacting the child's sense of security and trust in parental figures. Additionally, shifts in family dynamics may introduce new caregivers or siblings into the child's life, necessitating adjustments and potentially altering the familial hierarchy.
The implications of family instability extend beyond the immediate family context, shaping children's interactions with peers, academic performance, and long-term outcomes. For instance, children experiencing family disruptions may exhibit difficulties in forming secure peer relationships or maintaining concentration in school due to heightened emotional distress or instability at home. Moreover, the effects of family instability can persist into adulthood, influencing relationship patterns, mental health outcomes, and socioeconomic attainment.
Josh billings (2008) defined upbringing children as the rearing of children, especially the care love and guidance given by parents. It is the way that your parents care for you and teach you behave when growing up.
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Family Instability Implication for Child Upbringing.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that family instability is a complex phenomenon encompassing various experiences such as divorce, remarriage, parental conflict, and economic instability. However, there is a lack of consensus regarding the definitions and measurement of family instability, leading to inconsistencies in research findings and hindering the development of effective interventions (Amato, 2010).
Additionally, family instability does not operate in isolation but interacts with various mediating and moderating factors that can influence its impact on child development. These factors may include parental mental health, socio-economic status, neighborhood characteristics, and access to support services (Fomby & Cherlin, 2007).
Furthermore, many studies have examined the immediate effects of family instability on child well-being; there is a need for longitudinal research to elucidate the long-term developmental trajectories associated with different forms and durations of family instability (Cavanagh & Huston, 2008). These identified problems underscore the need for further research that addresses methodological challenges, explores diverse family contexts, examines longitudinal effects, considers intersectional perspectives, and informs the development of targeted interventions and policies to promote resilience and well-being in children experiencing family instability.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to investigate family instability, implication for child upbringing in Umuchiatu Obe Nkanu West Local Government Area. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To identify mediating and moderating factors that influences the relationship between family instability and child well-being;
- To ascertain the causes of family instability in Umuchiatu Obe Nkanu West Local Government Area, Enugu State;
- To examine the differential impact of family instability on child development across multiple domains;
- To ascertain the likely solution to family instability in Umuchiate Obe Nkanu Local Government Area, Enugu State; and
- To identify the effects of family instability on children in Umuchiatu Obe Nkanu West Local Government Area, Enugu State.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- What are the mediating and moderating factors that influence the relationship between family instability and child well-being?
- What are the causes of family instability in Umuchiatu Obe Nkanu West Local Government Area, Enugu State?
- What is the differential impact of family instability on child development across multiple domains?
- What is the likely solution to family instability in Umuchiate Obe Nkanu Local Government Area, Enugu State?
- What are the effects of family instability on children in Umuchiatu Obe Nkanu West Local Government Area, Enugu State?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: There are no effects of family instability on children in Umuchiatu Obe Nkanu West Local Government Area, Enugu State
- H1: There are effects of family instability on children in Umuchiatu Obe Nkanu West Local Government Area, Enugu State
Hypothesis Two
- H0: There are no causes of family instability in Umuchiatu Obe Nkanu West Local Government Area, Enugu State.
- H1: There are causes of family instability in Umuchiatu Obe Nkanu West Local Government Area, Enugu State
1.7 Significance of Study
The study would be of great important to many distressed families, intending couples intellectual community, welfare officers, parents and society at large. The study will help distressed families to know or root of their problems and how to handle or solve them. It will also make couple in Nigeria especially in Umuchiatu, Obe Nkanu West to take and nurture their families and also bear in mind that family makes the children to suffer. This study would encourage parents to try as much as possible to create a peaceful and loving home for the benefit of their children's education social and psychological lives.
1.8 Scope of Study
The scope of the study covers family instability implication for child upbringing. The researcher encounters some constrain which limited the scope of the study.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, there were some problems encountered which stood as limitations to the research work. Some of the limitations include:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Organizational Privacy: Limited Access to the selected auditing firm makes it difficult to get all the necessary and required information concerning the activities
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
- Initial Cooperation Delay from Respondents: A particular limitation of this work came as a result of the respondent refusal to offer their cooperation at the initial time they were contacted. This contributed in making the success of this research study difficult.
1.10 Definition of Terms
Family:
In the context of human society, a family (from Latin:familia) is a group of people affiliated either by consanguinity (by recognized birth), affinity (by marriage or other relationship), or co-residence (as implied by the etymology of the English word “family”) or some combination of these
Instability:
It is the state of being unstable; lack of stability.
Implication:
It is the conclusion that can be drawn from something although it is not explicitly stated.
Child Upbringing:
Child upbringing is not an easy task. Both husband and wife have important role to play in the home front so as to raise good children that will be useful to the family and society at large. Some parents have failed in their responsibilities to their children.
1.11 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), historical background, statement of problem, objectives of the study, research hypotheses, significance of the study, scope and limitation of the study, definition of terms and historical background of the study.
Chapter two highlights 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.