Influence of Marital Instability on School Adjustment among Secondary School Students in Kano Metropolis, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the influence of marital instability on school adjustment of secondary
school students in Kano metropolis Nigeria. The study had two research questions and two
null hypotheses. The target Population of the study was 11,412 Secondary School students in
Kano metropolis. The sample of the study was upmade of 361 students. Ex post- facto and
correlational design were adopted for the present study.Marital Instability Questionnaire and
School Adjustment Scale were used for data collection. Pearson Product Correlation
Coefficient (r) and t-test were used to analyze the data. The finding of the study revealed that
negative relationship exist between marital instability and School Adjustment among
secondary school students in Kano Metropoliswith (r= -.68, P<0.05). The study also
revealed that difference exist between male and female students in relation to marital
instability and School Adjustment (t= -3.367, P=0.001).It was concluded that marital
instability has negative influence on school adjustment of secondary school students in Kano
metropolis and female students differ negatively from their male counterpart in experiencing
marital instability on school adjustment. Based on the findings it was recommended that
couples must maintained the habit of understanding, tolerance and forgiveness in order to
avoid marital instability on school adjustment, so as to enhance theircognitive, socio –
emotionaland mental health their children in secondary schools.