Abstract

The topic of this study is the cause of family instability and its effects on children in Umuchiatu Obe, Nkanu West Local Government Area Enugu State. The purpose of the study was to find out the causes of family, instability and its effects on children.This is survey research questionnaire was used as the main instrument of data collection. The population of the study was 600. The researcher selected 100 people to form the sample size of the study. The mode of selection was through convenient they are techniques, all data collected from following data findings were made family instability was caused by infidelity, poverty intolerance, peer group, influence, alcoholism. Children from unstable families are delinquent they are emotionally disturbed, they are more stress prone, there are less interested in academic researcher recommends that couple should learn to tolerate each other shortcomings bearing in mind that human beings are not perfect. They should join hands to discipline and train children though exemplary life. Internal disputes should be settled internally.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCCTION

1.1      Background of the study

A family can be recognized as a unit of people who have agreed to live together as father, mother and children. It is a single protective umbrella in the wider society. As an umbrella it protects, covers or shield it members from the buffeting characteristics of a wider society. It is an institution that protects, covers, shield and nurture it members. Nwobi (1996) family members are important to each other and offer each other love and support. The family protects its members from external attach, by proving food, clothes shelter and care. The young ones grow to trust the family as a place of peace and comfort sharing their problem with the family member than outsiders. This is because family members respect and love each other and would like to keep their secret. It is not ideal for family member to expose each other secret; they are supposed to bear each other burden. Chukwuemeka (1999) defined family as a set of people related by blood, marriage or some other agreed upon relationship or adoption who shares the primary responsibility for reproduction and caring for the members. Nwobi (1997) defined family instability as a situation where the family knows no peace poor structure and organization, emotional separation of members and poor relationship with relation in-laws. Josh billings (2008) defined upbringing children as the rearing of children, especially the care love and guidance given by parents.
It is the way that your parents care for you and teach you behave when growing up.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

However, in recent time, it has been observed that family instability I Nigeria has increased especially in Umuchiatu, Obe Nkanu West Local Government Area Enugu State. This phenomenon has resulted into various social problems as a result of unchecked effects by the social welfare, government, and individual themselves. Children brought up in such homes encounter problems moving from mother to father in order meet their needs and when they cannot cope with the situation they indulge in various social vices like truancy, robbery, stealing, drug trafficking, prostitution and other socially vices. These normally affect the society as a whole because family is the nucleus of the bedrock of the society. 
Why am interested in this topic is to enable me to know the cause of family instability, as a newly married woman when it occurs in my family or around me, I will advice them and bring solution to their problem.

OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The purpose of this study is to investigate family instability, implication for child upbringing in Umuchiatu Obe Nkanu West Local Government Area. Specifically the study will investigate:

1. To ascertain the causes of family instability in Umuchiatu Obe Nkanu West Local Government Area, Enugu State.

2.To  identify the effects of family instability on children in Umuchiatu Obe Nkanu West Local Government Area, Enugu State
3. To ascertain the likely solution to family instability in Umuchiate Obe Nkanu Local Government Area, Enugu State.

RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

For the successful completion of the study, the following research hypotheses were formulated by the researcher; 

H0:   there are no effects of family instability on children in Umuchiatu Obe Nkanu West Local Government Area, Enugu State

H1: there are effects of family instability on children in Umuchiatu Obe Nkanu West Local Government Area, Enugu State

H02: there are no causes of family instability in Umuchiatu Obe Nkanu West Local Government Area, Enugu State.

H2: there are causes of family instability in Umuchiatu Obe Nkanu West Local Government Area, Enugu State

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study would be of great important to many distressed families, intending couples intellectual community, welfare officers, parents and society at large. The study will help distressed families to know or root of 
their problems and how to handle or solve them. It will also make couple in Nigeria especially in Umuchiatu, Obe Nkanu West to take and nurture their families and also bear in mind that family makes the children to suffer. This study would encourage parents to try as much as possible to create a peaceful and loving home for the benefit of their children’s education social and psychological lives 

SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The scope of the study covers family instability implication for child upbringing. The researcher encounters some constrain which limited the scope of the study;

 a) AVAILABILITY OF RESEARCH MATERIAL: The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study     

b) TIME: The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.

c) Organizational privacy: Limited Access to the selected auditing firm makes it difficult to get all the necessary and required information concerning the activities

DEFINITION OF TERMS

FAMILY: In the context of human society, a family (from Latin: familia) is a group of people affiliated either by consanguinity (by recognized birth), affinity (by marriage or other relationship), or co-residence (as implied by the etymology of the English word "family") or some combination of these

INSTABILITY: The state of being unstable; lack of stability.

IMPLICATION: The conclusion that can be drawn from something although it is not explicitly stated.

CHILD UPBRINGING: Child upbringing is not an easy task. Both husband and wife have important role to play in the home front so as to raise good children that will be useful to the family and society at large. Some parents have failed in their responsibilities to their children. As long as parents do not play their roles adequately, these children

1.8 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY

This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows

Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), historical background, statement of problem, objectives of the study, research hypotheses, significance of the study, scope and limitation of the study, definition of terms and historical background of the study. Chapter two highlights the theoretical framework on which the study is based, thus the review of related literature. Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study. Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding.  Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study