Journal of Psychology & Behavioral Science

Social Adaptability of Adolescent Students from Divorce Homes in various Religious Backgrounds in Ghana
Prince Yaw Adofo, Y. K. A. Etsey

Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the impact parental divorce has on adolescent students in Senior High Schools in Ghana and whether gender differences exist in the impact as well as the internalizing and externalizing types of behaviours. The participants comprised of adolescent students from four Senior High Schools in Obuasi Municipality in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. A purposive sample of 396 students consisting of 198 males and 198 females participated in the study. The cross-sectional descriptive survey using a questionnaire, was adopted in collecting the data. The questionnaire had Cronbach"s alpha of 0.84. The study did not show any difference in social adaptability for both adolescent males and females. However, it was found that adolescents from Christian divorced homes adapt better psychosocially than adolescents from Muslim divorced homes. It is recommended that for adolescent students from Moslem homes adapt socially after divorce, in- service training should be organised periodically for teachers on how to identify and assist children from divorced homes to enable them cope with their social adaptation challenges. It is also recommended that counselling be given to adolescent students in schools from divorced homes especially those from Muslim homes. Parents should also be sensitized on the impact of divorce on their children.

Full Text: PDF     DOI: 10.15640/jpbs.v9n1a1