PERCEPTION OF SOCIAL WORKERS ON MONO-PARENTING AND CHILDREN’S PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING

Abstract

The adolescents’ inner turmoil and mental health disturbance from the turbulence of mono-parenting is alarming hence, this study investigated mono-parenting and children’s psychological well-being using social workers as respondents.  Multi stage sampling techniques was used to select 211 respondents from Ogun State Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Social Development using a well-structured questionnaire to elicit information from the respondents’. Data collected were analysed using a descriptive statistical tool (frequency, percentages, mean, standard deviation) and inferential statistical tools (Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) and Chi-square (X²) at p≤0.05. The findings from the research work revealed that mono-parenting can occur as a result of divorce =3.22), marital separation ( =3.00), death of a spouse (mean=2.93) and domestic abuse (mean=2.88).  It is perceived that mono-parenting children often hate themselves (mean=3.53) and for coping strategies, they turn to work or other activities (mean=3.47), learn to live with their problems (mean =3.37), concentrate their efforts on doing something about their situation (mean=3.23), think about the next steps to take (mean=3.22) and come up with strategies on what to do (mean=3.13) etc. There is significant association between the sex (X² =15.30, P=0.000), age (X² = -0.187, P=0.007), religion (X² =8.72, P=0.013) and children’s psychological well-being. In addition, significant relationship existed between the respondents’ perception of mono-parenting and children’s psychological well-being
(r-value=0.500, p-value=0.001). The study concludes that mono-parenting greatly affect children’s psychological well-being in the study area. Therefore, the study recommends that parents should ensure their marriages stay intact to enhance their children’s psychological well-being.

Key words: Mono-parenting, children, psychological, well-being