CAUSES AND IMPACTS OF DIVORCE ON THE LIVES OF DIVORCED WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN: A COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN DIVORCED AND INTACT FAMILIES THE CASE OF MEKELLE.

Abstract

Nowadays, divorce as a prominent social problem, has become a common phenomenon in every society. It represents a major life stressor for the persons involved. The main objective of the study was to explore the causes of divorce and its impact on the lives of divorced women and their children in Mekelle City. For this purpose, the study was guided by qualitative and quantitative approach. To attain the stated objectives of the study both primary and secondary data were employed. In this respect, to collect the necessary data from the field, the study participants were purposively selected and qualitative methods of data collection like survey, interview (in-depth) and key informant interviews were employed. To analysis data collected from primary sources thematic analysis was used. The finding of the study revealed that among the surveyed 50 participants aged 19-29, aged 30 and older, with 32% having completed secondary education. Employment status has considerably affected the socio-economic welfare, mainly for divorced mothers and children, which 48% gets between 3,000-6,000 ETB per-month. The finding of study revealed that psycho-social, and economic factors contributing to divorce like lack of proper communication, infidelity, cheating, and dishonesty, domestic violence, drug and substance addiction (Khat), social pressures (intervention from family, friends and relatives). Moreover, the study also found that financial infidelity and poor financial management, income (salary) disparity, parent’s debt or poor debt performance and management can cause significant martial tension. Likewise, the study found that regarding the socio-economic impacts of divorce on divorced women, and children revealed that financial problem of divorced women particularly those with children are more severe. Regarding the social impact, loss of shared friendships or disruption among friends, difficulty in maintaining relationships, challenge of trust and social acceptance, experiencing loneliness and isolation have seen. Also, divorce have negative impact on academic performance, and makes misery of school life. Similarly, the study found that divorce also negatively impacts the emotional well-being of children divorce there has been observed new behavior including hopelessness, mood swings, sleep disorders, social removal, and feelings of lack of confidence specify the children is struggling to manner the emotional well-being disturbance produced by the divorce and being single parented. Also divorced have seen linked to poor outcomes in social interactions, conduct, academic performance, psychological adjustment, and self-esteem. The study also found out that divorce increases children’s withdrawal school and also from extra-curricular activities, learning capacity and educational attainment. Finally, the study finding regarding the comparison between intact and divorce families indicates that underscores the emotional, societal, and mental difficulties encountered by children from divorced, single-parent families, comprising a sense of weakness, lowliness, mistreatment, and prejudice that influences their welfare and pressures divorced kids to look for retreat in alternate quick engagements. Divorced mother and children had encountered underscores the extreme economic deterioration after her divorce. While the intact family have relatively stable economic condition. Regarding the social engagement the study revealed that intact mothers are encompassed and maintained in their societies, separated mothers regularly agonize over segregation and reduced community prestige. Finally, regarding the PSS the finding revealed that divorced women received psycho social support from the CSO in post-divorce.