CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Marriage can be defined as a legal union between husband and wife. It is
recognized by all and publicly accepted by the society as a pre-condition for the
formation of the family. According to Osuafor (1990) marriage is the approval
of social pattern whereby two or more persons establish a family. Marriage can
then be said to be the process through which a social union is formed between a
man and a woman or women for the purpose of procreation, which is bearing
and rearing children. Leneman (1999) defines marriage as legally recognized
agreement between a man and a woman making them husband and wife, the
state of being married. In most studies, it has been observed that the single most
important ingredient of marriage is companion in doing things together with the
husband as the most valuable aspect of marriage. It is also noted that emotional
support is an important ingredient of marriage for wives. Both parties expect
each other to encourage themselves in difficulty, sympathize with each other on
failure, celebrate in success, embrace their friends and defy his enemies and to
be calm when the other is angry. Emotional security is an aspect of emotional
support.
However, marriage being a union is found to be characterized by certain
demands and expectations on the part of the couple. In addition, such demands
2
and expectations embrace issues like loyalty in marriage, faithfulness,
acceptance of responsibilities, emotional security, companionship and so on.
One may observe that a marital relationship devoid of above factors often
face a lot of problems and generate a lot of stains like marital discord, lack of
emotional closeness to ones partner, psychological separation, lack of mutual
understanding, role conflict, financial conflict, lack of effective communication,
sexual conflict and unhappiness which obviously can lead to divorce.
Divorce also known as dissolution of marriage or the end of a marriage
before the death of either spouse has been an issue on ground now both in
Nigeria and outside Nigeria. South and Lioyd (1995) posited that divorce is the
legal abrogation of a valid marriage contract. It does not only end the right of
the couple to cohabit and limits the legal abrogation of the husband but also
permits remarriage.
The world Book encyclopedia (1972) defined divorce as the ending by
law of a valid marriage. It is usually distinguished from an annulment, which is
a declaration by a court that marriage is invalid (not legally binding) because of
some defect at the time of marriage ceremony.
Divorce is a severe family disorganization and a common topic of gossip
in out society. This is due to the fact that divorcees are regarded by the society
as the worst people in morals, deviants and insatiable elements. A divorced
woman is regarded as being of such bad character that a man cannot think of
3
remarrying her within a short space of time in the same community. It is the
belief of most people that once the first marriage fails, it is never easy to be
successful with other subsequent marriages. Divorce has been shown to have
some socio-psychological after effects on both partners and their children. For
instance lack of parental role model (Goode, 1975) or even emotional anxiety
and negative attitude towards life.
Based on the above overview, one may observe that divorce as a sociopsychological problem is quite common in most societies and cultures. Hence
the researcher intends to investigate on the factors influencing divorce as regard
to couples and their children.
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The aims of this study are as follows:
To examine whether marital infidelity influence divorce among couple.
To examine whether income influence divorce among couple.
To examine whether polygamy influence divorce among couple.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEMS
Within few years, I noticed consistent in marital violence cum, divorce.
For instance in my kindred, four men out of fifteen who married between 20032009 were no longer living together. A condition that is becoming uncommon to
our society. Knowing fully that majority of them took marital vow of “for better
4
for worse” on the altar, I begin to wonder why they are finding it difficult to
maintain that promise. To tackle an issue, one needs to know its causes.
Therefore they find it difficult to understand the factors that could be responsible
for this undesirable element “divorce” with a view to solving them.
However, to find solution to this problem, the following problems will be
addressed in this study.
Will there be significant influence of marital infidelity as a factor in divorce?
Will there be a significant influence of income as a factor in divorce?
Will there be a significant influence of polygamy as a factor in divorce?
DEFINITION OF TERMS
INFLUENCE: According to Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, it is the
effect that somebody or something has no the way a person thinks or behaves or
on the way that something works or develops.
DIVORCE: This is the dissolution of a valid marriage or the ending of a valid
marriage before the death of either spouse.
METROPOLIS: This is the city or capital.
5
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
THEORETICAL REVIEW
THEORIES OF CONFLICT
Theories have been posited to account for conflict in social interaction
mostly in marital relationship. Some of which include conflict spiral model,
structural change model, aggressor-defender model, and exchange equity
equality theory.
CONFLICT-SPIRAL MODEL
This theory posits that conflicts bring conflicts in social interaction mostly
in marital relationship. Each partner will be trying to react in a defensive
manner to the other partner’s behaviour. As a consequence there is spiral
conflict, which unfolds that drops on both parties. In this theory, instead of
focusing on the “first cause” as in aggressor model, it describes the changing
nature of spiral hostilities continuing going upwards.
According to this theory, failure to recognize that is hot in all cases that
action result in reaction, it has given a profitable account of violence that often
accompanying conflict especially if there is no third party intervention and the
situation remains conclusive for the conflict to keep going on.
6
STRUCTURAL CHANGE MODEL
The structural change model posits that the dynamic nature in human
society is inevitable and it is this dynamic nature that brings conflict. The
changes can occur in social setting, people’s beliefs, goals, values, attitudes and
perceptions. This theory also because of the changes bring development and
industrialization in the family structure and society and the role it played in
interpersonal transactions are expectations. In this theory, it is not all the time
that the changes will bring development and growth rather conflict may result in
marriage partner not all conflict accompanying changes, some of the conflict
may continue to lead to another conflict, which resulted into divorce, child’s
delinquency, truancy and socially undesirable behaviours.
AGGRESSOR-DEFENDER MODEL
This theory posits that when there is conflict in a material relationship,
one person perceives the other as an aggressor and depending on this or her
biases, aggressor is seen as motivated by ignoble, evil and illegitimate aims
while the defender (e.g. partner) is moved by noble morally correct and
legitimate aims. This follows that the defender must increase the deterrent
power to ensure that peace prevails. For example, a man may tell his wife not to
visit her parents that particular day the woman said that she wants to visit her
parents. The woman may see the husband as being developing hatred to the Inlaws but what the man did is just to exercise autocracy as the head of the family.
7
This is the typical marital relationship conflict. The woman may stick to her
own thought thereby visiting her parents without regarding the “talk of the
husband” which proves that the man will not be hindrance to her own personal
opinion and conflict will occur. And the blame will now be on the partner
conceived to be aggressive. So in marital relationship, one partner should be
perceived as initiating conflict if the other partner is interfering with the
spouse’s goals and values.
EMPIRICAL REVIEW
Several studies have been done on the factors that influence divorce.
Divorce as a social psychological problem is quite common in most societies.
Even before the decision of divorce arises, there are a number of factors, which
can influence people or a couple towards a divorce. The quality and amount of
time involved in a couples premarital relationship can be a good indicator of
later causes of divorce. Problems that develop before marriage do not disappear
and often lead to the causes of divorce down the road. These problems can often
even amplify themselves during a marriage. Interestingly, statistics show that
couples who cohabitates before marriage has a higher chance of divorce. This
may be a direct result of a couple’s more relaxed approach to marriage after
cohabitation or pressure to marry after cohabitation. On the other hand, it has
been argued that there is a substantial benefit to cohabitation before marriage in
8
that a couple is able to familiarize themselves to the customs and habits of one
another.
FACTORS INFLUENCING DIVORCE
Poverty according to Haralambos, (1980), can cause divorce. He went
further to explain that there is a relationship between income and divorce. Low
income place strain on marriage especially on the husband who failed to live up
to his role as a father, and as a bread-winner.
DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS
1.
Social Integration:
Social integration is the degree of interaction
between individuals and the larger community is emerging as an
important factor related to the incidence of divorce. In addition, the rates
of divorce increases from east to west. The highest rate is found in
California, where two divorces currently occur for every three marriages.
The greater likelihood of divorce in the west and Southwest may be
caused by the higher rate of residential mobility and lower levels of social
integration with extended families, ethnic neighborhoods and church
groups (Robert, 1991).
2.
Socio-economic Status: This is probably the most important correlate of
divorce.
Overall, the higher the socio-economic status comprised of
9
employment status, income and education (which tend to be interrelated).
The lower the likelihood of divorce (Otite and Ogiowo, 1999).
3.
Employment Status:
Among whites, a higher divorce rate is more
characteristics of law status occupations, such as factory worker, than of
higher status occupations such as executive.
Unemployment which
contributes to marital stress, is also related to increased divorce rates.
Conflicts arises as to whether employed wives are more likely than nonemployed wives to divorce. Overall, thought the findings seem to suggest
that female employment contributes to the likelihood of divorce, because
the employed wife is less dependent on her husband’s earnings (Witte and
John, 1997). Wives employment may lead to conflict about the traditional
division of household labour, child-care stress and other work spill over
problems that in turn, create marital distress.
4.
Income: The higher the family income, the lower the divorce rate for
both whites and African Americans. The higher a woman’s individual
income, the greater her changes of divorce, perhaps because with greater
incomes, women are not economically dependent on their husbands or
because conflict over inequitable work and family role increases marital
tension (Haralambos, 1990).
5.
Education Level: For whites, the higher the education level the lower the
divorce rate. Divorce rates among African Americans are not as strongly
10
affected by educational levels. Education level has been deemed as a
strongest effect on divorce rates. Statistics have shown that women who
have gone on a graduate school have a greater likelihood of divorce than
some less educated women. This is mainly because women who went to
graduate school mostly go into the work-force and they can stand on their
own and do not need to rely on their husband’s finance.
6.
Ethnicity: African Americans are more likely than whites to divorce. The
relation between ethnicity and divorce is not surprising because of the
strong correlation between socio-economic status and divorce, the lower
the socio-economic status and divorce, the lower the socio-economic
class, the more likely a person is to divorce (Pett, 2002).
7.
Religion: Frequency of attendance of religious services (not necessarily
the depth of beliefs) tends to be associated with the divorce rate (White
and John, 1997). Among white males, the rate of divorce for those who
never attend religious services is three times as high as for those who
attend two or three times a month.
John (1992) observed that when husband and wife belong to the same
religious faith that the rate of divorce is lower than if they belong to different
religious faith.
He maintained that divorce among Catholics is lower than
compared with that of the Protestant and Baptist churches.
11
LIFE COURSE FACTORS
Intergenerational Transmission: Both African American and white have a
slightly increased likelihood of divorce if their families of origin were disrupted
by divorce or desertion. All in all, coming from a divorced family appears to
have relatively little effect on adult children’s divorcing. People whose parents
are divorced are twice as likely to divorce their own spouses. Experts have
concluded that failure of a person’s parental marriage can lead to the causes of
divorce because these individuals have seen an example of marriage, which
ultimately ended in divorce.
Leadership by example seems to be a pretty
powerful imprint on the human psych (Pett, 2002).
Age at Time of Marriage: John (1992) posited that age at first marriage is also
a well documented predictor of divorce. Those married before age twenty have
greatly high divorce rate than those who marry later. The divorce rate declines
with age at first marriage until about twenty six for men and twenty three for
women. Beyond that point, age does not seem to matter much. Exactly why age
marriage matters is not known but there are two possibilities that immediately
arise. Young people are (on the average) worst at being spouses than older
people.
Premarital Pregnancy and Childbirth: Premarital pregnancy by itself does
not significantly increase the likelihood of divorce. But if the pregnant woman
is an adolescent, drops out of high school and faces economic problems
12
following marriage, the divorce rate increases dramatically. If a woman gives
birth prior to marriage, the likelihood for divorce in subsequent marriages
increases, especially in the early years. This negative effect on marriage is
stronger for whites than for African Americans (South and Lioyd, 1995).
Remarriage: The divorce rate among those who married in the 1980’s is so far
about 25 percent higher than those who entered first marriage in that decade
(Wineberg, 1994).
It is not clear why there is a higher divorce rate in
remarriages. Some researchers suggest that the cause may lie in a “kinds of
people” explanation. The probability factors associated with the kinds of people
who divorced in first marriages – low levels of education, unwillingness to settle
for unsatisfactory marriages and membership in certain ethnic groups are present
in subsequent marriages which increase the likelihood of divorce (Yuan and
Mitchel, 2000). Others argue that the dynamics of second marriages, especially
the presence of step children increase the chances of divorce (Robert, 1991).
FAMILY PROCESSES
The actual day-to-day marital processes of communication-handling
conflict, showing affection and other marital interactions may be the most
important factors holding marriages together or dissolving them (Ventura,
1995).
Marital Happiness: Although it seems reasonable that there would be a strong
link between marital happiness or, rather, the lack of marital happiness and
13
divorce. This is true only during the earliest years of marriage. Those who have
low marital happiness scores in the first year of marriage are four or five times
more likely to divorce within three years than those with high marital happiness
(Rosenblatt and Paul, 2006). In fact, alternatives to one’s marriage and barriers
to divorce appear to influence decisions more strongly than does marital
happiness.
Children: It is not clear what relation, if any children have to the likelihood of
divorce (Haralambo, 1990).
Children were once considered a deterrent to
divorce. People stayed together for the sake of the children but 60 percent of all
divorces now take place among couples who have children. The birth of the
first child reduces the chance of divorce to almost nil in the year following birth.
This preventive effect does not hold true, however, for subsequent births (Diouf
and Nafi, 2004). Parents of sons are less likely to divorce than parents of
daughters.
The research suggests that daughters participated more in the
parenting of sons than daughters, thereby creating greater family involvement
for the man (Diouf and Nafi, 2004). In some instances, the presence of children
may be related to higher divorce rates.
Premarital conceived (during
adolescence) children and physically or mentally limited children in general
contribute to marital dissatisfaction and possibly divorce.
Changed Nature of the Family: The shift from an agricultural society to an
industrial one undermined many of the family’s traditional functions. Schools,
14
the media, and peers are now important sources of child socialization and child
care. Hospitals and nursing homes manage birth and care for the sick and aged.
Due to this fact, that the family pays cash for goods and services rather than
producing or providing them itself, its members are no longer interdependent.
As a result of losing many of its social and economic underpinnings, the family
is not a necessity. It is now simply one of the many choices we have.
Marital Problems: If you ask divorced people to give the reasons for their
divorce, they are not likely to say “I blame the changing nature of the family” or
“it was demographics”.
Personal characteristics leading to conflicts are
obviously very important factors in the dissolution of relationships. Studies of
divorced men and women cite such problems as alcoholism, drug abuse, marital
infidelity, sexual incompatibility and conflicts about gender roles as leading to
their divorces. Ventura, 1995 found that the four most common reasons given
were in descending order of frequency, personal problems, home life,
authoritarianism and differing values.
Extramarital affairs ranked seventh.
Complaints associated with gender roles accounted for 35 percent of the men’s
responses and 41 percent of the women’s responses.
But because studies
included only divorced respondents, it is difficult to tell whether the presence of
these factors can predict divorce. We know from studying enduring marriages
than marriages often continue in the face of such problems.
15
Muslim Marriage Customs and Laws: The joutuk or dowry plays a key role in
arrangement of marriage on Bangladesh. The dowry is an arrangement between
the bride’s and groom’s family whereby the bride’s family agrees to pay certain
amount of money and/or goods in kind to the groom’s family (Pett. 2002).
Though the practice if illegal under Muslim and state law, it is widespread in
Bangladesh. The practice has consequences for the risk of divorce (Pett. 2002).
Marriages as well as divorces can be registered with the government
through the civil registration system but most of those events are not registered.
In cases where they are not, they are enacted through marriage ceremonies
following existing religious and social customs and procedures.
Marital Infidelity: Infidelity is a breach of good faith that applies in a number
of contexts. In the context involving a close relationship, infidelity is referred to
as cheating which is any violation of the mutually agreed upon rules or
boundaries of a relationship. It does not require sexual behaviour to qualify as
infidelity.
The definition of what constitutes infidelity varies between and
within cultures. Another term for marital infidelity is adultery. The facts about
marital infidelity (sexual unfaithfulness to a spouse) are outstanding. Polls show
that although 905 of marital people disapprove of extramarital relationships,
statistics from a national survey indicates that 15% of wives and 35% of
husbands have experienced extramarital sexual affairs. These numbers increase
by 20% when emotional affairs and sexual relationships without intercourse are
16
included. So studies have shown that marital infidelity (sexual unfaithfulness to
a spouse) can influence divorce among couples.
Polygamy: Polygamy is characteristic for Teknaf. It increases the possibilities
of marriage and remarriages for women. It reflects a grooms’ personal taste.
Polygamy marriages are likely to be less stable than monogamous marriages.
For several reasons competition between co-wives for husband’s love and
affection may raise tensions leading to quarrels at home. A polygamous man,
on the other hand, may view wives more as bed-partners than life partners. If
this is the case, keeping the marriage intact may be less important to him
(Wallerstein and Kurdek, 1989). This kind of view weakens the bonds of
marriage and marriage and divorce are reduced to mere formalities leading to
high probabilities of remarriage and divorce.
Divorce when instituted, however has much effect on the family both on
the children and on the couple.
EFFECTS OF DIVORCE ON CHILDREN
Pett (2002) noted that divorce among other factors are deviant behavious
such as juvenile delinquency, alcoholism, prostitution, dropping out from
school, drug addiction. This is because when the family life is unsatisfactory,
the children often develop personality difficulties and behavioural pattern due to
poor socialization, hence turn to delinquent acts to cope with their defects.
17
Heitherigton, (1987) posited that boys are affected by divorce both right
after it occurs and later on.
Although two years after the divorce, their
adjustment noticeably improves, they still have more problems getting along
with others at home and at school. If custody is given to the mother, they boy
may loose a male model. Boys are always treated negatively by their mothers
than girls after the divorce.
Wallerstein and Kurdek (1984) posited that for children below the age of
six the initial trauma seems to be especially severe because they do not
understand it and cannot derive support from others. In the first year of divorce,
the mother who is the usual remaining parent is likely to become depressed, selfinvolved, unpredictable in behaviour and less effective in dealing with children,
especially sons. Divorced adults have more health and emotional problems.
EFFECT OF DIVORCE ON COUPLES
South and Lioyd (1995) said that divorced persons show a consistently
higher rate of drinking problems and other signs of maladjustment (as well as a
higher rate of actual hospitalization for mental disorders) than do non-divorced
persons. The divorced person is likely to face difficult adjustments brought
about by the changes in life situation. He may have to cope with loss of
security, guilt and self-recrimination, the cessation or disruptions of sexual
satisfaction and financial problems, feelings of alienation and loneliness may
18
add to the stress and where the divorce was sought by the other person, a sense
of having been rejected usually leads to feeling of hurt and self devaluation.
Heitherington (1987) in his study one effect of divorce on both men and
women, found that they experience similar patterns of personal and emotional
problems but the symptoms are initially more severe in men. During the first
year following divorce, both the man and the woman report low self-esteem,
confusion concerning social and sexual roles and feeling of anger, anxiety,
ambivalence and depression. In another work, Heitherington (1987) said that
men report lack of both structure and coherent personal identity and feeling of
ruthlessness, guilt and loss.
Women report feelings of being unattractive,
helpless, personal and social incompetence.
Osuafor (1990) postulated that good marital satisfaction is a key to good
health and longevity. Also, that divorce has the secondary effect of producing
anxiety and depression in both couple.
The symptoms of anxiety include
tension, sleeplessness and excessive sweating.
SUMMARY OF REVIEW
From the literature reviewed, structural therapy and Aggressor defender
theory tend to be closer to divorce. While Structural theory is able to observe
that human beings are made of different structure or say personality. This
complexity is enough to generate misunderstanding which eventually leads to
19
conflict. Aggressor defender theory also posits that conflict can result in a bid to
defend our aggressive behaviour.
However, none of the theories was able to observe situational factor in
absence of factors in these two theories, conflict may result from situational
circumstance. Therefore the present study will look at other factors such as
poverty, marital infidelity etc as factors in divorce.
HYPOTHESES
The following hypotheses were tested:
There will be no significant influence of marital infidelity as a factor in divorce.
There will be no significant influence of income as a factor in divorce.
There will be no significant influence of polygamy as a factor in divorce.
20
CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY
PARTICIPANTS
A total of 100 participants comprising 50 males and 50 females were used
for the study. The participants were selected by using simple random sample
technique. The participants were selected from civil servants in Enugu South.
The participants had a minimum educational qualification of N.C.E and their
age range was between 23 and 54.
INSTRUMENT
A 10-item questionnaire designed to identify the factor influencing
divorce among married couple was used. The items were prepared by the
researchers. The questionnaire has dichotomous response format of Yes and
No.
The items were validated on a facial base. Three lecturers selected from
the department of psychology who served as expert judges were used. The items
were validated on a facial base surface based on the 2/3 agreement of the ratings
of the judges. Therefore any item rejected or accepted by 2/3 the judges is
rejected or accepted respectively.
In addition, a pilot study was carried out, 15 married couples selected from
Enugu North were used. Data obtained yielded a split-half reliability co-efficient
21
of 0.45. The calculated value was compared with the r-critical value of 0.36 at
P<.05 which yielded a significant outcome.
PROCEDURE
A total of 120 copies of the questionnaire were distributed within a period
of three weeks to select participants for this study. The researcher approached
the participants in their houses and offices. Simple random sampling was used to
select houses and offices used for the study.
However, the researcher approached the participants, introduced himself and his
purpose. After which, rapport and confidentiality were generated and
questionnaire administered.
With this exercise, out of the 120 copies that were administered, only 100 copies
were correctly filled and returned were used for data analysis.
DESIGN/STATISTICS
A survey research design was adopted and the sample selected from the
targeted population was given copies of the questionnaire to measure their
response.
Chi-square was used to analyze the data to test the observed and expected
differences of factors influencing divorce.
22
CHAPTER FOUR
RESULTS
TABLE 1.
Summary table of chi-square on the difference between observed and expected
frequencies on marital infidelity as a factor.
ITEM I: Problems imposed by marital infidelity among couples can lead to
divorce.
Responses
Yes
No
97
3
DF
X2
P
1
88.36
<.001
From the table one above chi-square calculated value of 88.36 is greater
than chi critical value of 10.83 at p less than <.001 indicating a significant
outcome.
Hence hypothesis one which stated that “There will be no significant
influence of marital infidelity as a factor in divorce” is hereby rejected. This
means that marital infidelity play a remarkable role as a factor in divorce.
23
TABLE II:
Summary table of chi-square on the difference between observed and expected
frequencies on family income as a factor.
ITEM II
Quarrels over the amount of family income can influence divorce among couple.
Responses
Yes
No
98
2
DF
X2
P
1
92.16
<.001
From the table two above chi calculated value of 92.16 is greater than chi
critical value of 10.83 at p less than <.001 indicating a significant outcome.
Hence hypothesis two which stated that “There will be a significant
influence of income as a factor in divorce” is hereby rejected. This means that
income play a remarkable role as a factor in divorce.
24
TABLE III
Summary table of chi-square on the difference between observed and expected
frequencies on the marriage of many wives as a factor.
ITEM 3
Quarrels arising from the marriage of many wives by a man (Polygamy) can
influence divorce.
Responses
Yes
No
98
2
DF
X2
P
1
92.16
<.001
From the table three above chi calculated value of 92.16 is greater than
the chi critical value of 10.83 at p less <.001 indicating a significant outcome.
Hence hypothesis three which stated that “There will be no significant
influence of polygamy as a factor in divorce” is hereby rejected. This means
that polygamy play a remarkable role as a factor in divorce.
25
S/NO
(2)
(3)
(4)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
ITEM
Misunderstanding between a young partner and an
old partner over cultural norms can influence
divorce
Where there is lack of understanding and love
among couples can easily influence divorce
Misunderstanding based on different religious
practices or belief held by each couple can easily
influence divorce
Age at the time of marriage, most especially where
the husband is much older than the wife can
influence divorce
Quarrels arising from inability of the couple to
produce children can influence divorce
Differences in knowledge based on level of
education can influence divorce
Lack of paid employment of one partner in a
marriage as a factor influences divorce
X2
P
84.64 <.001
77.44 <.001
12.96 <.001
81
<.001
70.56 <.001
81
<.001
5.76
<.001
The calculated chi value is greater than the critical value of 10.3 showing that all
the factors play remarkable role to divorce.
26
CHAPTER FIVE
DISCUSSION
The findings of this study revealed that the first hypothesis tested which
stated that “There will be no significant influence of marital infidelity as a factor
in divorce” was not accepted. This means that marital infidelity was found to
yield a significant outcome, indicating that marital infidelity plays a remarkable
role in divorce among couple.
This finding is in line with the views of Otite and Ogiowo (1979), where
they postulated that some causes of divorce ranges from childlessness, cruelty,
undue interference from mother In-law, marital infidelity and poverty. They
also asserted that sexual deprivation is among the factors that can influence
divorce. From all these investigations, one may observe that marital infidelity is
an important factor in divorce.
The second hypothesis tested in this study, which stated that “There will
be no significant influence of income as a factor in divorce”, is also rejected.
This mans that income was found to yield a significant outcome, indicating that
income play a remarkable role in divorce among couple.
This is also in line with the views of (Haralambos, 1990) who posited that
the higher a woman’s individual income, the greater here chances of divorce,
perhaps because with greater income, women are not economically dependent
27
on their husbands because conflict over inequitable work and family role
increases marital tension.
He further posited that low income places strain on marriage especially on
the husband who failed to live up to his role as a father, husband and a
breadwinner (Haralambos, 1980).
From these investigations, one may also observe that income is a very
important factor in divorce.
The third hypothesis which stated that “There will be no significant
influence of polygamy as a factor in divorce”, is rejected. This also means that
polygamy was found to yield significant outcome indicating that polygamy play
a remarkable role in divorce.
This third hypothesis is supported by Wallerstein and Kurdek (1989).
They posited that a polygamous man on the other hand, may view wives as bedpartners than life partners, and if this is the case, keeping the marriage intact
may be less important to him.
However, from these investigations, one can observe that polygamy play a
remarkable role in divorce.
28
IMPLICATIONS OF THE STUDY
The findings of this study have shown that marital infidelity, income and
polygamy are the major causes of divorce.
So from the findings, it is obvious that when marital infidelity, quarrels over
income, polygamy and other numerous factors are present in a marriage, that
divorce becomes inevitable.
In addition, the study will be an eye opener to married couples, marriage
counselors, and religious leaders on factors that promote divorce. It will also
serve as an empirical work for similar study. Above all, with the findings of this
study, married couples having known what could cause divorce will desist from
them now they are aware of it.
LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
Major constraint of this study was finance. Due to lack of money, only few
samples were used. In addition, the study fails to use a true sample Enugu South
due to time factor and other constraints.
SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER STUDY
Further researchers should look at other factors that can cause divorce
such as personality factors, hereditary factors and so on. In addition to that, they
should increase their sample to have a full representation of the population.
29
Furthermore, experts should also look at ways to curb high rate of divorce in our
society today by working with these factors that have been revealed ad
mediators.
SUMMARY
The findings of this study are summarized thus:

A significant influence of marital infidelity among couple as a factor in
divorce was observed.

A significant influence of income as a factor in divorce among couple was
observed.

A significant influence of polygamy as a factor in divorce among couple
was also observed.
CONCLUSION
Based on the findings of this study, the researcher hereby concludes that
divorce can be influenced by marital infidelity, income and polygamy.
30
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33
Department of Psychology
Faculty of Management and Social Sciences
Caritas University
Amorji-Nike, Enugu
Enugu State.
Dear Respondent,
QUESTIONNAIRE ON THE STUDY OF FACTORS INFLUENCING
DIVORCE
I am a final year student from the above named institution, undertaking a
research work on the Study of Factors Influencing Divorce. Kindly give your
maximum co-operation by filling this questionnaire. Your honest answer will be
highly appreciated.
Thanks for your co-operation.
Yours sincerely,
Ohiri Uchenna .F.
34
QUESTIONNAIRE
Age:…………………………………………………………………………….
How many children do you have?.......................................................................
What is your occupation?....................................................................................
Have you heard about divorce? Yes…………………
Tick Yes = Agree
S/NO
1.
No
=
No…………………
Disagree
ITEMS
Quarrels over the amount of family income can
influence divorce among couple
2.
Misunderstanding between a young partner and an
old partner over cultural norms can influence
divorce
3.
Where there is lack of understanding and love
among couples can easily influence divorce
4.
Misunderstanding based on different religious
practices or beliefs held by each couple can easily
influence divorce.
5.
Quarrels arising from the marriage of many wives
by a man (polygamy) can influence divorce
6.
Problems imposed by marital infidelity among
couples can lead to divorce
7.
Age at the time of marriage, most especially where
the husband is much older than the wife can
influence divorce
8.
Quarrels arising from inability of the couple to
YES
NO
35
produce children can influence divorce
9.
Differences in knowledge based on level of
education can influence divorce
10.
Lack of paid employment of one partner in
marriage as a factor, influences divorce
36
APPENDIX B
ITEM 1:
Quarrels over the amount of family income can influence divorce among couple.
X
O
E
O-E
(O-E)2
YES
98
50
+48
2304
(O-E)2
E
46.08
NO
2
50
-48
2304
46.08
X2
P
92.16
<.001
ITEM II:
Misunderstanding between a young partner and an old partner over cultural
norms can influence divorce.
X
O
E
O-E
(O-E)2
YES
98
50
+46
2116
(O-E)2
E
42.32
NO
4
50
-46
2116
42.32
X2
P
84.64
<.001
ITEM III:
Where there is lack of understanding and love among couples, poverty can
easily influence divorce.
X
O
E
O-E
(O-E)2
YES
94
50
+44
1936
(O-E)2
E
38.72
NO
6
50
-44
1936
38.72
X2
P
77.44
<.001
37
ITEM IV:
Misunderstanding based on different religious practices or beliefs held by each
couple can easily influence divorce.
X
O
E
O-E
(O-E)2
YES
68
50
+18
324
(O-E)2
E
6.48
NO
32
50
-18
324
6.48
X2
P
12.96
<.001
ITEM V:
Quarrels arising from the marriage of many wives (polygamy) can influence
divorce.
X
O
E
O-E
(O-E)2
YES
98
50
+48
2304
(O-E)2
E
46.08
NO
2
50
-48
2304
46.08
X2
P
92.16
<.001
ITEM VI:
Problems imposed by marital infidelity among couples can lead to divorce.
X
O
E
O-E
(O-E)2
YES
97
50
+47
2209
(O-E)2
E
44.18
NO
3
50
-47
2209
44.18
X2
P
88.36
<.001
38
ITEM VII:
Age at the time of marriage most especially when the husband is much older
than the wife can influence divorce.
X
O
E
O-E
(O-E)2
YES
95
50
+45
2025
(O-E)2
E
40.5
NO
5
50
-45
2025
40.5
X2
P
81
<.001
ITEM VIII:
Quarrels arising from inability of the couple to produce children can influence
divorce.
X
O
E
O-E
(O-E)2
YES
92
50
+42
1764
(O-E)2
E
35.28
NO
8
50
-42
1764
35.28
X2
P
70.56
<.001
ITEM IX:
Differences in knowledge based on education can influence divorce.
X
O
E
O-E
(O-E)2
YES
95
50
+45
2025
(O-E)2
E
40.5
NO
5
50
-45
2025
40.5
X2
P
81
<.001
39
ITEM X:
Lack of paid employment of one partner in marriage as a factor can influence
divorce.
X
O
E
O-E
(O-E)2
YES
62
50
+12
144
(O-E)2
E
2.88
NO
38
50
-12
144
2.88
X2
P
5.76
<.001
40
41