IMPACT OF BROKEN FAMILY SYSTEM ON ACADEMIC

ACHIEVEMENT OF THE STUDENTS

Researcher Supervisor
Memoona Batool Prof. Dr. Akhtar Ali
Roll No. 01 Chairman, Department of Education

M.Phil Education Dean, Faculty of Education

A thesis submitted In the partial fullfillment of the requirements for the

Degree of M. Phil Education

Session: 2015-2017

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

The Islamia University of Bahawalpur

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 ABSTRACT
The purpose of study was to evaluate the impact of broken family system on academic
achievement of students. The main objectives of the study were to determine the extent to
which broken family system affects students’ academic achievement. It also aimed to find
out whether rural or urban students are more affected by broken families in Bahawalpur
district. It also focused to analyze whether it is the male or female children who are more
affected by broken family system. To analyze the academic performance of students
belonging to broken family system was another objective of the study. Population of the
study was the students (both male and female) and parents of the students from rural and
urban areas of District Bahawalpur. Sample size comprised of 57 families that was
chosen by adopting simple random sampling technique. Survey method was used to
collect data from three Tehsils i.e. Yazman, Bahawalpur and Ahmad Pur city of district
Bahawalpur. A questionnaire and interview were used to collect data. Data were
analyzed by using t-test, ANOVA and independent sample t-test in Statistical Package for
Social Sciences (SPSS) software. The findings of the study revealed that significance
impact of students’ academic achievement belongs to broken families and location of
school on facilities for students in schools. The results concluded that there is broken
home and conflict in the parents, a large number of parents/guardians spend little time
discussing academic issues with their children. Most parents do not confide to their
peers when their parents are fighting. More female students have average or poor
academic achievements since they are more exposed to broken family and
conflicts/violence. School attendance for parents who are experiencing conflict is poor
and this negatively affects the teacher – parents’ relationship. Parents or guardians who
are experiencing conflicts in broken family should council with psychologists to reduce
negative effects on their children.

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page

CHAPTER 1 1
INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 Statement of the Problem 2
1.2 Purpose of the Study 3
1.3 Objectives of the Study 3
1.4 Research Questions 4
1.5 Significance of the Study 4
1.6 Scope of the Study 4
1.7 Delimitations of the Study 4
1.8 Assumptions of the Study 5
1.9 Definition of Key Terms 5
1.9.1 Broken Families 5
1.9.2 Academic Achievement 5
1.9.3 Home 5
1.9.4 Divorce 5
1.9.5 Conflict 5
1.9.6 Delinquency 5
1.9.7 Parents 5
1.9.8 Parental Conflict 5
1.9.9 Family Violence 6
1.9.10 Impact 6
1.9.11 Interpersonal Relationships 6
1.9.12 Maltreated Children 6
1.9.13 College 6
1.9.14 Pupil 6
1.9.15 Truant 6
CHAPTER 2 7
LITERATURE REVIEW 7
2.1 The Theoretical Framework of Broken Home 7
2.2 Meaning and Description of Broken Family 7

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 2.3 Definition of Broken Family 9
2.4 Broken Homes and Academic Achievement. 9
2.5 Implication of Divorce, Conflicts and Death on Academic Achievement 11
2.6 Causes of Poor Performance by Children from Broken Homes 13
2.7 Types of Broken Family 16
2.8 Causes of Broken Family 16
2.8.1 Parental Divorce 16
2.8.2 Parental Death 17
2.8.3 Misconception Between Family Members 17
2.8.4 Accountability Administration 17
2.8.5 Siblings or Friends Influence 17
2.8.6 To Earn Livelihood Going out of Country 17
2.9 Consequences of Broken Family 18
2.9.1 To the Children 18
2.9.2 To the Adolescence 18
2.9.3 To The Parents 18
2.9.4 To the Society 18
2.10 Socio-economic Factors 18
2.11 Repeated Changes in Family Structures 19
2.12 Effects of Broken Home on Children Academic Achievements 20
2.13 Broken Homes and Children Individual‟s Behavior 21
CHAPTER 3 22
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 22
3.1 Research Design of the Study 22
3.2 Population of the Study 22
3.3 Location of Study 22
3.4 Sampling 23
3.5 Development of Research Tools 23
3.5.1 Questionnaire for Students 23
3.6 Pilot Study 23
3.7 Validity of Tools 23
3.8 Reliability of Tool 24
3.9 Data Collection Procedures 24

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 3.10 Data Analysis 24
CHAPTER 4 25
DATA ANALYSIS 25
4.1 Demographic Details of Respondents 25
4.2 Factor Matrix of the Responses 30
4.3 Results of the Respondents 33
4.4 Interview Data Analysis 38
4.5 ANOVA And Independent Sample T-Test on Results of Respondents
Analysis 39
CHAPTER 5 43
SUMMARY, FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND REOCMMENDATIONS 43
5.1 Summary Error! Bookmark not defined.
5.2 Findings 43
5.3 Conclusion 47
5.4 Recommendations 48
REFERENCES 49
APPENDICES 58
Appendix-A: Questionnaire for Students 58
Appendix-B: Interview for Parents 61

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 CHAPTER 1
1 INTRODUCTION
Family is the very important and unit of social system. Marriage, the foundation of
family is also another small social system. But when the disturbance creates between the
spouses, it leads to Broken home. There are several reasons that major impact the family
unity or family structure. As example, parental death, separation by divorce, conflicts or
overseas trips. According to ISAKE 1963 Broken homes occurs as end of marriage either
by death or divorce. Marriage is a legal contract between two people male and female
and the legal dissolution of marriage contracted is called divorce. When, two individuals
start living together to continue producing their new generation. But divorce has severe
impact on the family and ultimately on the society. It fractures a family unit, interrupts
child rearing as well as children‟s and women‟s socioeconomic security in the society. It
has been found that to establish a peaceful conjugal life some factors should be
considered such as age at marriage, age gap, accepting couple‟s opinion before arranging
marriage, physical fitness, social and mental consistency between couples, economic
solvency, equal social status etc.

The issues of broken homes are a universal phenomenon which impact both equally
developed and developing countries. Despite its effect still persist in the different part of
the world.

In an ideal home atmosphere, Children live happily with their parents; they appreciate
the affection and care of their parent for them. One of the important tasks is that the
parents duty to educate their children because the children education of starts from home.
Home becomes house with members of family live in and it also became a house when is
not broken.

According to Berk (1999), children‟s academic performance gets affected when they
experience delegation by their parents or any physical or sexual harm like beaten or
psychologically tortured.

Kiura (1999) noted that the husband and wife can make their relationship as healthy as
positive with mental understandings, respect and care, managing differences and creating
space of bearing little or minor mistakes from each other, physical or sexual harmonies,
mutual decisions making and mutual discussions that a healthy relationship between
husband and wife depends on self-understanding, understanding spouse, balance between

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individuality, and improving communication skills between them.it is children parents
who share the responsibility of their children entire future, educate them and make them
able for future life. When the parents are not united then it might be possible that their
children will also suffer same problems in future life.

Parental relationship pay Major role in formation of the academic achievement of the
children in academic institution. The effects of broken homes and parental conflicts can
be from minor to major. It also impacts the academic achievement of the children even it
lead to drop out from academic institution. Recent studies suggested that parental
relationships health directly or indirectly affects the academic achievements of the
children. The effects of broken homes on children are very long lasting and savior in its
nature. In a broken marriage it is difficult for children to understand what parental
security importance for them is and past experiences of many families .The children
brought up in the broken family also face many problems in their future life and
relationships.

The gender also pays impact on academic achievement of children. According to Fauto-
Sterling, Gender has influence on learning and achievements of children. Friedman
2005) argued that gender cognitive ability has no difference in but researches don‟t agree
with them. According Bielinskia & Davison 2003 that mostly males proven abstract
learners, while females have more anxiety for study successful outcomes, males are extra
instructive, and females are more organized .Okoye (2008) stated that gender
differentiation might have low on academic achievement, till, he submits that any
achievement of gender personal effort than rather than gender category. As the results, ,
the overall image shows that males and females learning ability may differently.

In the same context students, socio-economic background also affects academic

achievement of children. This background consult to the parents are how much educated,
their occupation, the monthly income level and social class status in society. The
children basic when are needs not completed, their learning strength will be affected.
Many researches have resulted factor children academic outputs.

1.1 Statement of the Problem

Impacts of the home environment on students‟ academic achievement also have been the
concern of researches and there is global awareness of this. In Pakistan, most home are
unimpaired as a result of issues of incompatibility of the spouses, natural or accidental
death of a parent and going for the overseas to earn more livelihoods, and due to family

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disruption at home. This happened in the separation of parents and their children. In
many countries, it‟s happens that majority of the young women leave their house, and go
to other countries trips with thinking to making money for their family. Some men who
travel abroad for the sake of money and never come back for their family behind.
Children from these type homes remain in puzzle, especially case of adjustment in social
life. Chador in 2008 suggests that the environment students come from, pay solid
influence their achievement in academic institution. The broken homes may impact
strongly child‟s emotion, social interaction, personality and academic achievement.

Other cases are reported where a mother leave home with her children because of her
husband‟s bad dealing in daily life. In many cases where it is men move out of their
homes for the same reasons. There are also cases of suicidal killings, where the head of
the family or husband kills his wife and children and then himself. There is also the case
of street children, some have run away from violent home environments and another type
of case is parental death of one father or mother or both. The increasing death rate also
occur the reason of broken homes. In many cases natural death is happens or mostly
females died due to maternity complications (giving birth to child). These types of
incidents take place in rural and urban both areas. There many cases in record in Pakistan
when homes expose to broken families the children get physical, mental, feelings, values
and the spiritual growth. Their lives are remains in fix if they in such kind of
environment. This study was designed to find out the impact of broken homes on a pupil
especially on his or her academic achievement and social interactions with peers.

1.2 Purpose of the Study

The motive behind this study was to investigate the impact of broken family system on
the academic achievements of students in Bahawalpur District.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

The objectives of the study were following:
1. To determine the extent to which broken family system affect students‟ academic
achievement.
2. To find out whether rural or urban students more affected by broken families in
Bahawalpur district.
3. To explore whether male or female children are more affected by broken family
system.

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 4. To analyze the academic achievements of students belonging to broken family
system.
5. To determine the attitude of students toward their peers in institution

1.4 Research Questions

Following questions were the main aim:-

1. How broken family system affects students‟ academic achievement?

2. Are rural or urban students‟ academic achievements getting more affected by
broken homes?
3. In terms of male or female, who is more affected by broken family system?
4. What is the academic achievement level of children‟s who face broken home?
5. What is the attitude of from broken homes towards their parents, classmates and
academic institution?

1.5 Significance of the Study

This study is significant in the way it may help to students, teachers‟ parents and social
bodies. It the study will be beneficial to spouses and their children who experience
broken homes. They will understand that how problems in a broken home can affect their
children‟s‟ childhood, academic life and their future. it will parents to motivate to the
parents to sit and make a discussion and resolve their problems and differences for the
sake of their child future. In case of serious parental conflicts and sever problems
between spouses are serve to create understanding and mutual harmony service. The
study will also increase the knowledge and literature on broken family system and its
influence on school and college going children‟s‟ academic achievement

1.6 Scope of the Study

The study was concerned to rural and urban areas in Bahawalpur district. 60 families and
their children (students) were involved from Bahawalpur district. In filling the researcher
got the help of institution teachers to in the questionnaires. The study covered the impact
of broken family system in the academic achievement of students. The research was
limited to rural and urban areas in Bahawalpur district.

1.7 Delimitations of the Study

The limitations of the study were following:-
1. It was limited to public primary to high schools and Gov. Colleges only.

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 2. It looked at how broken family system affects the academic achievement of
students.
3. some of the respondents were not sincere the what they answered the questions in
questionnaires and interviews even they assured the confidentiality of
information .some parents and students were too shy to provide the correct
information

1.8 Assumptions of the Study

The respondents will honestly fill questionnaire and parents will cooperate for interview
data.

1.9 Definition of Key Terms

The key terms had following operational meanings:-

1.9.1 Broken Families

Broken families in this with parental being Separated as a result of death, divorce and
willful but temporally staying apart

1.9.2 Academic Achievement

The academic outputs of students annually, formative or co-curriculum participation
rewards, attendance record and rewards

1.9.3 Home
This is place where people live together as a family.

1.9.4 Divorce
This is a legal dissolution of marriage.

1.9.5 Conflict
State of disagreement or difference between two spouses between parents and their
children‟s.

1.9.6 Delinquency
Criminal behavior of Young practiced by public school, college students.

1.9.7 Parents
In this study, parents is unit of children guardians or biological

1.9.8 Parental Conflict

Misunderstandings or differences between parents

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1.9.9 Family Violence
An act of hurt, kill or mentally torture by family member to a child

1.9.10 Impact
A strong effect or force on something.

1.9.11 Interpersonal Relationships

Means the communication setup between family and parents with their children at home.

1.9.12 Maltreated Children

Physical or sexual harm children face from their home

1.9.13 College
A college is place where students study after completing their high school education till
graduation.it begins from first year to fourth year or masters in some colleges

1.9.14 Pupil
This is any child or adult, who is enrolled in the academic institute to peruse degree of
academic year completion.

1.9.15 Truant
Truant in this study means the children fails in his or her academic studies

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5.3 Conclusion
The following conclusions were made on the basis of the findings:-

1. When there is broken home, children's academic achievements get affected.

2. When there is dispute in the spouses, large number 0f parents/guardians spend little
time discussing academic issues with their children‟s.
3. Most of the students feel insecure in institution during their study because they
think that in absence of both parents and any of parents they are not secure.
4. More male students become truant to when they exposed to the loss of their father.
5. Most of the female students had average or poor academic achievements since they
had exposed to broken home
6. Male found dropout students as compare to female students.
7. Children from non-intact homes, don‟t have sufficient needs as the result they have
poor relation with their classmates because they ignore them.
8. Parents health of relationship also play very important role in students‟ academic
achievement and relation with peers.

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