Influence of Domestic Violence on the Academic Performance of Adolescents
Chapter One
Purpose of the Study
This study will be conducted with the following objectives:
- To explore the influence of domestic violence on adolescents’ academic performance.
- To find out the influence of a broken homes on adolescents’ academic performance.
- To determine if is there any joint influence of domestic violence and broken home on adolescents’ academic performance.
- To examine the influence of gender on adolescents’ academic performance.
- To find out if tribal differences have a significant influence on adolescents’ academic performance.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Introduction
According to Ganley (1989) Domestic violence includes: physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological abuse and abuse to property and pets. According to him, exposure to these forms of violence has considerable potential to be perceived as life threatening by those victimized and can leave them with a sense of vulnerability, helplessness and in extreme cases horror. Dutton (1992) defines Physical abuse as any behavior that involves the intentional use of force against the body of another person that risks physical injury, harm and or pain. It includes pushing, hitting, slapping, choking, using an object to hit, twisting of a body part, forcing the ingestion of an unwanted substance and use of a weapon.
Dutton (1994) defines sexual abuse as any unwanted sexual intimacy forced on an individual by another. It may include oral anal or vaginal stimulation or penetration, forced nudity, forced exposure to sexual explicit material or activity. Compliance may be obtained through actual or threatened physical force or through some other form of coercion. Psychological abuse may include derogatory statements or threat of being killed by another individual. It may also involve isolation, economic threats and emotional abuse.
Straus and Gelles (1990) domestic violence is widespread and occurs among all social economic groups. In a national survey of over 6000 American families it was estimated that between 53% and 70% of male batterers also frequently abuse their children. Domestic violence is one of the most under reported crimes in the United States, and the department of justice, in 1998 estimated that there are between 960000 and four million domestic incidences each year. In 1994 the bureau of justice statistics estimated that about 92% of domestic violence cases involved female victims. Wopadovi (women against domestic violence) 2014, domestic violence is threatening many Kenyan families and is unfortunately increasing in our society. Many people, the vast majority of them women have been injured, disabled and killed as a result of domestic violence. Following the recent happenings where domestic violence has become rampant and each day is reporting of deaths of spouses and lovers out of domestic violence, it has become a great priority that domestic violence is a menace that needs to be addressed as soon as possible and accorded with all seriousness that it deserves. Wopadovi further notes that domestic violence does not recognize social classes or education standards. Domestic violence according to Wikipedia (2004) is a problem as in many parts of Africa.
Academic performance is an important parameter in measuring success in student. The concept of academic performance is inevitable in any formal educational institution. It expresses the learning achievement of an individual or a group at the end of an academic programme. It is a criterion for ascertaining the capabilities of student from which his potentials could be assimilate, retain, recall and communicate his knowledge of what has been learnt (joe, Kpolovie, Osonwa and iderima 2014). This concept has close relationship in meaning with academic achievement and academic attainment. Academic performance is demonstrated achievement as knowledge attained or skills developed in school subject usually designed by test scores or marks assigned by the teacher or both. These definitions imply that academic performance is observed and measured aspect of a student’s mastery of skill(s) or subject content(s). It suggests that academic performance is one of the three required aspects of a properly composed learning objective as noted in Singh(2010) and it denotes an expression of a learner’s attainment in properly stated behavioural objectives. Meanwhile, poor academic performances of secondary school students’ have been affected by many factors which domestic violence is among.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research design
The researcher used descriptive research survey design in building up this project work the choice of this research design was considered appropriate because of its advantages of identifying attributes of a large population from a group of individuals. The design was suitable for the study as the study sought to influence of domestic violence on the academic performance of adolescents
Sources of data collection
Data were collected from two main sources namely:
(i)Primary source and
(ii)Secondary source
Primary source:
These are materials of statistical investigation which were collected by the research for a particular purpose. They can be obtained through a survey, observation questionnaire or as experiment; the researcher has adopted the questionnaire method for this study.
Secondary source:
These are data from textbook Journal handset etc. they arise as byproducts of the same other purposes. Example administration, various other unpublished works and write ups were also used.
Population of the study
Population of a study is a group of persons or aggregate items, things the researcher is interested in getting information influence of domestic violence on the academic performance of adolescents. 200 selected residents in Abia state was selected randomly by the researcher as the population of the study.
Sample and sampling procedure
Sample is the set people or items which constitute part of a given population sampling. Due to large size of the target population, the researcher used the Taro Yamani formula to arrive at the sample population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION ANALYSIS INTERPRETATION OF DATA
Introduction
Efforts will be made at this stage to present, analyze and interpret the data collected during the field survey. This presentation will be based on the responses from the completed questionnaires. The result of this exercise will be summarized in tabular forms for easy references and analysis. It will also show answers to questions relating to the research questions for this research study. The researcher employed simple percentage in the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain Influence of domestic violence on the academic performance of adolescents
In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of domestic violence on the academic performance of adolescents
Summary
This study was on Influence of domestic violence on the academic performance of adolescents. Five objectives were raised which included: To explore the influence of domestic violence on adolescents’ academic performance, to find out the influence of a broken homes on adolescents’ academic performance, to determine if is there any joint influence of domestic violence and broken home on adolescents’ academic performance, to examine the influence of gender on adolescents’ academic performance and to find out if tribal differences have a significant influence on adolescents’ academic performance. In line with these objectives, two research hypotheses were formulated and two null hypotheses were posited. The total population for the study is 200 residents in selected local government in Abia state. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made married men, married women, youths and students were used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies
Conclusion
It reveals a strong negative relationship between domestic violence and student’s academic performance. Domestic violence therefore has the effect of reducing the performance of students. Apart from mainstream cognitive factors that influence performance, domestic violence hinders ability of students to achieve as it reduces their participation in school, attendance, self-esteem and interaction with other pupils and teachers. Child exposure to domestic violence is a major social and health concern affecting many countries the world over. Witnessing and experiencing domestic violence has a negative impact on school age children’s’ physical, social, cognitive and emotional development
Recommendation
Domestic violence awareness campaigns should be put in place, when people become aware of the dangers and effects domestic violence has on lives. It keeps the issue alive and important. Some examples of awareness campaigns include: Posters and pamphlets Using drama, dance or song to express an idea Radio discussions and public service announcement Video presentation slogans printed on T shirts, containers Domestic Violence Act should be enacted in Nigeria to protect victims of domestic violence and provide long term measures of prevention of domestic violence.
Efforts should be made right from kindergarten, primary schools and colleges to inculcate more responsible behaviour at a tender age, and to teach and educate young people that violence is never acceptable behaviour. Teaching young children that violence is not a way to handle anger and emotions, will go a long way in preventing violent behaviour when they become adults.
References
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- BBC News Education (2003). Violence at Home hits childrens’ IQ. Retrieved from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/2981312.stm, May,20 , 2016. Birmingham.
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