It is no longer news that the incidencce of broken homes and its consequent effects on the present day society is on the increase, especially with the current economic crunch in the country.
Dr (Mrs) Jumoke Aina, a mother and an educator said some of the causes of broken homes include divorce, separation, death of a parent, or abandonment.
According to her, these situations can be triggered by marital conflicts, infidelity, financial difficulties, substance abuse, domestic violence and incompatibility among partners.
Aina said that the consequences of these on the children among others, were emotional distress, academic failure and behavioral problems, which affect the society.
“These are some of the components of social development, which causes difficulty in forming and maintaining healthy relationships, leading to social isolation,” she added.
Aina said that people from broken homes had increased the societal problems, because there were higher rates of juvenile delinquency, crime and substance abuse.
Aina said this could be avoided or minimized by providing access to professional counseling, which could assist couples resolve conflicts and improve communication.
Also speaking, Prof. Folasade Alade, a specialist in family sex and marital counseling also attributed causes of broken homes among others to financial challenges, lack of communication, infidelity, incompatibility and in-law interferences.
Alade said that the psychological and emotional impact on the children could lead to low self-esteem, depression, anxiety and aggression.
“As a lecturer, I easily recognise anyone from broken home in the school, because they are aggressive, not always happy and they are bullies.
“It really have negatives effects on the society especially in our citadel of learning. They mix with the good ones and they corrupt some of them, thereby belonging to secret society, “she said.
Alade said the issue of broken homes could only be prevented by means of tolerance and patience in marriages.
“Since the two people who are joined together in marriage come from different backgrounds, a significant amount of patience and tolerance is therefore, needed to prevent broken homes,” she said.
Dr (Mrs) Abimbola Oladotun, Founder, Happily Ever After Counseling, an NGO said that divorce was a disease that should be denied entrance into one’s marital life.
According to her, it eats up the body, heart and soul of those affected.
Oladotun spoke about what she called “hardness of heart”, as part of the major causes of broken marriages .
“As humans, couple would hurt themselves in different ways, intensity and frequency, but if couple would practice “advance forgiveness”, that way, each partner can decide to forgive the wrong his/her spouse is yet to commit.
“So, when one’s spouse go extremes, fails to meet expectations, not measuring up in any capacity, such person will have the stamina to deal with the unexpected, than choosing to walk away, ” she said.
According to her, divorce leaves the children broken in bits, that may never be fix together, thereby becoming miscreants in the society.
She said that some of the preventive ways is to practice the concept of “Leaving and Cleaving”.
“Most couple go into marriage not leaving their past, mistakes, fears, wrong assumptions of the other gender and so it begins to play out in little things,” she said.
Barrister Kabir Akingbolu, a human right activist, said most present day marriages were too casually prepared for and arranged, leaving the intended couples not truly knowing themselves.
Akingbolu said that most of this marriages doesn’t work nor last and leaving the children it produced to become threat to the society, as a result of what they have learnt.
“A broken home often times, produces irresponsible and psychologically imbalanced children, these set of people lack patience and it leads to vices like stealing/ robbery.
“By addressing the causes and implementing supportive measures, the negative impacts of broken homes on society can be reduced, fostering a healthier and more stable community environment,” he said.