Effects of Broken Homes on the Academic Life of University Students, Case University of Eswatini Students

Dumisa Mabuza

doi:10.53103/cjess.v5i1.302

Authors

Dumisa Mabuza University of Eswatini, Eswatini

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53103/cjess.v5i1.302

Keywords:

Broken Home, Academic Life, Family Structure, Parental Support, Divorce

Abstract

Children's overall well-being includes social, psychological, moral, and academic dimensions. Both parents have a pivotal and complementary role in the formation of this multidimensional growth, leading to the mental health, academic success, and future career paths of their children. On the other hand, divorce and another unstable family life factored in the resulting dynamic. This work strove to investigate the situations of scholars with broken families, concentrating on the influence of solitary-family homes on the learners and the deviation of the students towards their career goals, to mention a few of the issues. The nature of the study required a qualitative design, more specifically, a descriptive research method. It was composed of semi-structured interviews using an already prepared guide. Beforehand, 20 of the students from Luyengo Campus, the University of Eswatini, from broken homes, were interviewed. The findings reveal that the learners experienced disruption on their lives, affecting their emotional well-being, academic performance, and future aspirations. They experience emotional turmoil, including feelings of isolation, anxiety, and depression. The lack of parental support and guidance contributes to low self-esteem and a negative self-image and academic challenges. The instability and stress associated with broken homes can hinder academic performance. Students may struggle with concentration, motivation, and attendance, leading to lower grades and difficulty in achieving academic goals. The children lacked the social interaction proficiency to be able to communicate in the school context affect their social life too. Further research on how mental health issues impact academic performance is recommended.

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