FAMILY STRUCTURE AND DIVORCE RATE IN OREDO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA BENIN CITY, EDO STATE

This work focuses on family structure and divorce rate in Oredo Local Government Area of Benin City, Edo State. The increasing rate of divorce has raised questions and concerns regarding it's impact on families and their structure. This study is aimed at finding out the relationship between family structure and increase in divorce rate. The study objectives are to find out the effect of divorce on individual's wellbeing, to understand how the changes in family structure such as decline in traditional nuclear family and the rise of single parent families have influenced divorce rate. Also, to analyze the impact of divorce on children within different family structures and to investigate how the changing role of women has impacted divorce. The theoretical framework deployed for this study is symbolic Interactionism theory by George Herbert Mead (1934) which focuses on understanding the subjective meanings, interpersonal interactions and societal influences that contribute to changing family dynamics and allows for a better understanding of divorce as a social process rather than just a statistical trend considering the unique experience and interpretation of individuals. The study is a survey research and the instrument used to elicit data was the questionnaire with a sample size of 380 respondents. Findings of this study revealed that family structure is a significant factor that must be considered when examining the complex and multi-faceted issue of divorce and that more single parents and family types have emerged with various effects on individuals and their children. Although factors like domestic violence, infidelity and changing roles of women have impacted divorce, its impact on the wellbeing, mental health and overall quality of life of individuals and their children are mostly negative. The study recommends that there should be more economic and social support for families especially those with single parents and also policies and programs that promote healthy marriages and relationships should be prioritized. These could include premarital counseling, marriage education and relationship skill training.