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Factors Contributing to Divorce in Ghana: An Exploratory Analysis of Evidence From Court Suits
Abstract
In Ghana, some divorce cases are conducted through the courts, and the reasons for such cases are important to gauge the factors that account for the dissolution of marriages in Ghana. This study was conducted to explore in-depth, the factors that lead to divorce using court suits in Ghana. Data were obtained from 30 lawsuits consisting of 11 men and 19 women with an age range of 29–71 years. Reasons for marital dissolution were assembled from a 10-year period (2007–2017) cases of divorce from the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. Conventional content analysis identified six main factors as possible reasons for divorce: infidelity, abuse, financial support, intimacy, financial problems, third-party intrusion and gender-role ideology. Men were likely to seek for divorce at an older age compared to women. Women attributed reasons for divorce to lack of respect from the husband and gender-role ideology. Our findings underscore the need for pre-marital counseling psychologists to help would-be couples address pertinent issues which could lead to distress and ultimately divorce in their marriages.
... These eight causes led to divorce, which corresponds to the first stage of TL, i.e., a disorienting dilemma. These findings are aligned with those of Hosseinpour Moghaddam et al. (2019), Khakkhor (2012), Scott et al. (2013), Vasudevan et al. (2015), Khan and Hamid (2021), and Osafo et al. (2021), who mentioned one or several of these factors. Jalili et al. (2017) also showed that among social factors, life and communication skills, familial, and individual factors are significantly associated with the mental health of women seeking divorce. ...
... Illness and infidelity were other influential factors in divorce. According to Khakkhor (2012), Amato and Previti (2003), Khan and Hamid (2021), and Osafo et al. (2021), some mild and severe psychiatric disorders, their symptoms, and infidelity can impact the stability of marriage and marital satisfaction and lead to filing for divorce. Scott et al. (2013) also stated that the most common reasons for divorce were infidelity, domestic violence, and drug use. ...
... The results are consistent with the theoretical foundations of homogamy, power distribution, and expectancy theory. Osafo et al. (2021) reported financial problems as a reason for divorce among the studied couples. Sah et al. (2014) considered economic status one of the most essential and influential variables in early marriage. ...
Divorce is a serious problem that directly and significantly changes the family structure. This qualitative and phenomenological study examined the lived experience of divorced women in Savadkooh (Iran) and the processes and outcomes of transformative learning (TA). A sample of 20 divorced women was purposively selected, and semi-structured interviews were conducted. The data resulting from the phenomenological interviews were analyzed with open, axial, and selective coding. The results demonstrated that a lack of life skills, addiction, people's interference, financial problems, hatred and emotional divorce, irresponsibility, illness, and infidelity were the most important causes of divorce. Critical thinking and problem-solving, personal and social resilience, financial independence, and self-awareness and emotion regulation were identified as the outcomes of divorce based on TA. These findings can motivate researchers to adopt a multidimensional and multimeaning view of divorce and encourage divorced women to face divorce, be transformed, and move on.
... Negative behaviors associated with dissatisfaction include disrespect, angry outbursts, contempt and criticisms, infidelity, financial difficulties, and all forms of abuse (Moller & Vossler, 2015;Osafo et al., 2021;Osei-Tutu et al., 2019;Smith & Peterson, 2008). Negative behaviors (and fewer positive behaviors) are the primary precursor of separations and divorces which are likely to lead to lifelong negative consequences for both children and adults. ...
... Negative behaviors (and fewer positive behaviors) are the primary precursor of separations and divorces which are likely to lead to lifelong negative consequences for both children and adults. These effects are not common only in Western societies but also in developing societies across the world including Ghana (Oppong-Asante et al., 2014;Osafo et al., 2021;Osei-Tutu et al., 2019). ...
... The three significant negative behaviors associated with lower marital satisfaction (dissatisfaction) were annoying habits, selfishness, and disrespect. These behaviors are consistent with other results (Carstensen et al.,1995;Osei-Tutu et al., 2019), and from a Ghanaian study of divorce cases (Osafo et al., 2021). The authors found that among reasons for divorces, females reported disrespect from husband and rigid masculine roles as negative behaviors that led to initiating a divorce. ...
This study examined factors associated with marital satisfaction/dissatisfaction among Ghanaian couples living in Ghana and abroad. Using a correlational design, data from a convenience sample of 231 married participants from Ghana and abroad were collected via an online survey. Results from regression analyses revealed that four positive behaviors—affection, companionship, commitment to the family, and financial support—and one negative behavior, beatings/slaps, were significantly associated with marital satisfaction. Three negative behaviors—annoying habits, selfishness, and disrespect—were significantly associated with marital dissatisfaction. Participants in Ghana reported significantly higher rates of beatings in marriage compared to those abroad. Also, negative behaviors experienced in marriage were significantly associated with less secure and more anxious attachment styles. Finally, slaps/beatings as associated with marital satisfaction show unique cultural/sub-cultural interpretations of behaviors. Findings contribute to growing studies and clinical practice that serve multicultural individuals and families.
... Given these adverse effects of marital dissolution, prior studies have aimed to investigate the determinants of marital dissolution to develop interventions and programmes to reduce its incidence and mitigate any adverse effects that may be associated with divorce and separation. Broadly, demographic, attitudinal and cultural, economic, and legal factors have been identified to predict the risk of marital dissolution [1,10,11]. Demographic factors associated with the risk of marital dissolution include age, educational attainment, place of residence, and employment status [12,13]. Infidelity, third-party intrusion, and lack of intimacy constitute some of the attitudinal and cultural risk factors of marital dissolution [10]. ...
... Demographic factors associated with the risk of marital dissolution include age, educational attainment, place of residence, and employment status [12,13]. Infidelity, third-party intrusion, and lack of intimacy constitute some of the attitudinal and cultural risk factors of marital dissolution [10]. Also, the liberalisation of divorce laws contributes to the risk of marital dissolution [1]. ...
Background
Marital dissolution, which refers to being divorced or separated, is considered one of the most dramatic demographic events that significantly disrupt families. Unearthing the factors predicting marital dissolution would support actions to reduce the incidence of this phenomenon. The present study sought to examine the association between sex preference for children and marital dissolution segregated by place of residence.
Methods
Data for the study were extracted from the most recent Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) of 25 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Percentages were used to summarise the proportion of marital dissolution among women in sub-Saharan Africa. Binary logistic regression models were fitted to examine the association between sex preference for children and marital dissolution per place of residence. Results of the regression analysis were presented using adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with their respective 95% confidence interval (CI).
Results
The overall prevalence of marital dissolution was 5.92% (95% CI: 5.83–6.00), and this ranged from 1.63% (95% CI: 1.41–1.85) in Burkina Faso to 15.62% (95% CI: 14.70–16.54) in Mozambique. In urban sub-Saharan Africa, the overall prevalence of marital dissolution was 8.88% (95% CI:8.78–8.99), with the lowest prevalence in Mali (3.30%; 95% CI: 2.91–3.69) and the highest in Uganda (18.60%; 95% CI: 17.95–19.25). For rural sub-Saharan Africa, the pooled prevalence was 4.11% (95% CI: 4.03–4.18), with the lowest (0.80%; 95% CI: 0.65–0.95) and highest (14.40%; 95% CI: 13.51–15.29) prevalences in Burkina Faso and Mozambique, respectively. Compared to women with no sex preference, the preference for boys was less likely to result in marital dissolution (aOR = 0.87; 95%CI = 0.83–0.90) in both urban and rural areas, whereas the preference for girls was more likely to result in marital dissolution (aOR = 1.06; 95%CI = 1.02–1.10). When the results were disaggregated by place of residence, in both urban (aOR = 0.87; 95%CI = 0.80–0.95) and rural areas (aOR = 0.87; 95%CI = 0.82–0.92), women who preferred boys were less likely to experience marital dissolution compared to those who had no preference. However, the preference for girls showed no statistically significant association with marital dissolution.
Conclusion
Our study has shown that sex preference for children has a significant association with marital dissolution in both rural and urban areas in sub-Saharan Africa. Whereas the preference for male children serves as a protective factor against marital dissolution, the preferences for females was found to increase the likelihood of marital dissolution. Thus, underscoring a need for anti-marital dissolution campaigns and initiatives to prioritise the sensitisation of society about the value of female children. Religious groups and leaders can leverage their platform to quell sex preferences and dissuade marital dissolution. Policies and programmes aimed at reducing the risk of marital dissolution in sub-Saharan Africa must also focus on enlightening the population on intimate partner violence prevention.
... In Ghana, the increase in stepfamilies is due partly to the very high number of divorce through court suites. Divorce is associated with factors such as infidelity, abuse, intimacy problems, financial problems, third-party intrusion and gender-role ideology (Osafo et al., 2021). The National Population Census conducted in 2020 revealed that 553,065 persons in Ghana have had their marriages dissolved while 405,090 have separated (Ghana Statistical Service, 2021). ...
Living in a stepfamily can be stressful due to several challenges that confront individuals within stepfamilies, hence adaptive coping is vital for wellbeing. Nonetheless, little research focus has been devoted to understating how individuals within stepfamilies cope with family-related distresses. Using a qualitative exploratory approach, this study explored coping strategies used by 11 stepparents and 22 adolescent stepchildren in the Ghanaian context. Findings show that whereas stepchildren adopted a wide range of coping strategies which were mostly emotion-focused, stepparents used less diverse strategies. Nonetheless, both groups used strategies that were both emotion-focused and problem-focused although, for stepchildren, two of the problem-solving strategies were maladaptive. Findings reflect the imbalanced power hierarchy that exists within the stepfamily household that tends to disadvantage stepchildren. Implications of the findings are discussed.
... For the past three decades, marriage breakdown has increasingly affected several lives in Ghana. There is anecdotal evidence to indicate that several marriages are being dissolved through the legal system in Ghana [9]. According to the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), there were 664 divorces out of over 1,647 registered marriages between 2006 and 2007 in Accra (the nation's capital) alone [10]. ...
Aims: The study aimed to establish the reasons for marriage breakdown among young couples. Approach and Design: The qualitative approach and case study design were adopted for the study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at Bomso in the Oforikrom Municipality in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. It was conducted between August 2022 and May 2023. Methodology: The purposive sampling technique was used to select twelve (12) participants for the study between the ages of 35 years and below as a criterion. Data was analysed using thematic analysis. Findings: The analysis shows lack of respect, lack of responsibility, differences in decision-making, family interference, differences in values and beliefs, infidelity, and miscommunication were identified as reasons for the breakdown of marriages among young couples. Also, the findings show there are many implications of marriage breakdown among young couples including; financial burden, loneliness and emotional disturbance, additional responsibility for children, temptation to commit adultery, and uncertainty about the future. Conclusion: In all, the most significant issue identified in the breakdown of marriages among young couples in Bomso was a lack of respect, followed by a lack of responsibility and differences in decision-making.
... Men were permitted to be polygynous in traditional Ghanaian society, as well as in other African communities, and they often lived in a single compound with all of their wives and children [12,13]. Before marrying the second or subsequent wife, the man often asks for the first wife's consent and pays her a "pacification price" [14,15]. Children also play an important role in such unions as they serve as social capital for their parents [16]. ...
Background
Biological fathering, especially in patrilineal societies, was traditionally acceptable only in the context of marriage to the mother of the child. Many men were polygynous, often staying in one household with all their wives and children. However, this phenomenon has been on the decline in recent times, mainly due to Christianity, which encourages monogamy while frowning on polygyny. The Ghanaian family has for the past few years been undergoing changes due to migration, urbanization, and industrialization. With an increase in non-marital births and the dissolution of marital unions, multi-partner fertility is likely to increase. Contemporary Ghanaian perspectives on the circumstances that lead men to engage in paternal multi-partner fertility, otherwise referred to in this study as serial fathering, are scanty, hence this study examines the factors that lead to serial fathering among Ghanaian men.
Methods
The study employed the qualitative method, using in-depth interviews with twenty (20) serial fathers and a focus group discussion with seven (7) women.
Results
It was found that factors such as the attitude of women in relationships, the duolocal post-marital residential pattern, and the age at first birth are some of the reasons why some men father children with multiple partners.
Conclusion
The study concludes that both situational and personal factors account for the phenomenon of serial fathering amongst men in Prampram, Ghana, and these factors bring about distinctions in serial fathering as occurring either within or outside of marriage.
... They observed that, women's labour force participation, the sexual revolution, the supreme court's granting of marriage as a fundamental right under the U.S constitution and the abolition of laws restricting marriage between races over time have given rise in divorce. Authors in [7] observed in Ghana society that, on the average, women divorce at earlier age (mean duration of 9.68 years) of marriage than their male counterparts (mean duration of 16.63 years). The authors in [8] used statistical tools to asses the relationship among couples and the factors that influence their relationship. ...
In this paper a mathematical model is developed to explain changes in the ratios of married persons, adulterers, and divorcees. A formula for predicting the percentage of couples in the country using the inversion transformation was formulated using the equations expressing the proportions of adulterers and divorcees. The qualitative study revealed two threshold conditions: the basic reproductive numbers for a divorcee (RoY) and an adulterer (RoZ) in a married context. Based on these threshold conditions, it was found that, on average, a divorcee persuades a spouse to dissolve their marriage every year. However, we found that a significant fraction of couples were either divorcing or committing adultery, as shown by the instability of the divorce-adultery equilibrium point. Every month, a couple will occasionally spend 5 or 6 days apart sleeping outside of their union. The results of the sensitivity analysis revealed that the main cause of the country’s growing divorce problem is the rate at which spouses end their relationships while being influenced by others. On the other hand, the prevalence of adultery in the nation is largely influenced by the rate at which an adulterer divorces their spouse.
... Arguably, sexual-related issues are the major causes of divorce in marriages. Research conducted by (Osafo et al., 2021) indicated that sexual infidelity is the major cause of divorce in Ghana. The report asserts that sexual infidelity was expressed by having children outside the marriage, sleeping with someone in the same matrimonial bed, giving attention to other people believed to be in a relationship with a spouse, and receiving calls at odd times at night. ...
Undeniably, one of the most daunting questions that confront the Church today is whether or not
Christian couples can engage in sexual activities while they are fasting. Arguably, sexual-related
issues are the major causes of divorce in marriages. Research conducted by (Osafo et al., 2021)
indicated that sexual infidelity is the major cause of divorce in Ghana. The report asserts that sexual
infidelity was expressed by having children outside the marriage, sleeping with someone in the same
matrimonial bed, giving attention to other people believed to be in a relationship with a spouse, and
receiving calls at odd times at night. Sadly, all the respondents in this report indicated that they were
Christians. This is a clear indication that most of the marriages that end in divorce in Ghana are
Christian marriages. This is so because many Christians in the name of spirituality shirk their marital
responsibilities. Specifically, some of these Christian folks may not enjoy sexual relations with their
spouses for one reason or another and, as such, may use fasting as an excuse. The thrust of this paper
is to attempt a theological interpretation of 1 Corinthians 7:2-5 and to posit that sexual intercourse
between couples is legitimate even in the context of fasting.
... Verbal abuses such as insulting the victims were revealed by participants in this study which in the views of interview participants, caused emotional and psychological problems to the intimate partners. Previous studies [47] have collaborated on these findings. Some of the participants narrated how they reacted to the disclosure by refusing to pray with the partners as a result of a loss of hope and the feeling that prayer was of no essence since having HIV infection was condemned to death. ...
Background
Gender-Based (GB) intimate partner violence is a social and public health issue globally. Several risks of violence related to male sexual partners’ perpetration of intimate partner violence (IPV) following the disclosure of their female intimate partners’ HIV + status have been reported. No research has been conducted on male sexual partner’s perspectives of perpetrating IPV following their female intimate partners’ disclosure of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositive status as a risk factor for the perpetration of IPV in Ghana.
Objective
The objective of this study is to explore and describe male sexual partners’ views or perspectives of perpetrating IPV following their female intimate partners’ disclosure of being HIV positive in Ghana.
Methods
Interpretive phenomenological approach was used to collect and analyse data from a purposive sample of 18 Male participants whose female intimate relations informed them of being HIV + in Ghana. The sample population was taken from Ghana because such research has been reported elsewhere but none has been done in Ghana. A semi-structured interview guide was used to collect the data. The interview guide covered topics such as background information, participants’ reaction to HIV positive disclosure, lived experiences of participants, and Participants’ understanding of different forms of IPV.
Results
The findings of this study reveal five main themes that emerged from the interviews which include views on the perpetration of emotional, psychological, and verbal abuse; views on the perpetration of sexual deprivation; views on the perpetration of social isolation; views on the perpetration of financial abuse and views on escalated perpetration of physical abuse.
Conclusion
From the data, HIV positive status disclosure served as a risk factor for different forms of GB IPV against HIV positive women in Ghana, thus making this group more vulnerable and exposed to more GB IPV. Strategies to prevent the perpetration of IPV against women newly diagnosed as HIV positive are needed. We recommend screening all newly diagnosed HIV-positive women for abuse as an additional prevention strategy for IPV associated with disclosure of positive HIV status.
KEY MESSAGES
HIV positive status disclosure serves as a risk for the perpetration of IPV.
Men are predisposed to violence upon hearing that their female heterosexual intimate partners are HIV positive.
HIV infection information is distressful to receive from an intimate partner.
... i [11] features changes in the reasons for divorce in the South in examination with past separate from concentrates in the North of Vietnam and talks according to modernization, independence, and sex fairness. Conventional content analysis of Osafo et al. [12] study distinguished six fundamental elements' reasons for divorce: unfaithfulness, misuse, monetary help, closeness, monetary issues, outsider interruption, and sexual orientation job belief system. Nakhaee et al. [13] revealed that the factors that lead to divorce are the separation searchers who gave clarification to their choice; three were conspicuous: the failure to determine clashes, which prompted questions, disappointment with the way their mates communicated their affection and feelings, and discontent in regards to a life partner's character attributes. ...
Background. Increasing divorce rates is a major problem in Saudi society. Divorce has become the primary solution for many couples who are experiencing problems in their relationships, and the language of divorce has become prevalent in both the daily register of Saudi courts on a daily basis and in fictional works. This trend has become a threat to marital life and is particularly damaging for children and young people. There has been previous research on the increase in divorce rates; however, no one addresses this important issue statistically. The specific research question is what are the actual reasons for the increase in divorce rates mentioned in previous studies? Objective. This study contains a statistical analysis of the underlying reasons for rising divorce rates in Saudi society. Methods. An online survey was conducted that gathered quantitative data from 800 participants. The responses of factual relevance were examined via edge plan analysis, regression analysis, and analyses with SPSS software to determine the causes for the rise in divorces in Saudi society. A predesign of edge consisting of six factors and twelve trials is selected. The design is examined in all the data for each row of it and according to the factor or reason chosen, provided that all design items are fulfilled; after that, it is analyzed in two ways. Results. Some examples are presented, so the findings indicated that differences on the couple’s characters and the length of time the wife spent doing housework and amount of attention to the husband are factors that contributed to divorce. Conclusion. The Saudi Arabian government needs to develop an operational plan to study these causes of divorce and take action. Future studies could analyze the data using supersaturated prototypes, where a large number of variables are studied in just a few simulation trials.
Divorce is a complex phenomenon that has a significant impact not only on the couples involved, but also on the family and society at large. This research aims to make a positive contribution as steps to reduce the occurrence of divorce in Pantai Cermin, Serdang Bedagai Regency. The research method used is qualitative research with an empirical juridical approach. Data were collected through observation, interviews and documentation. The results of the study show that there are factors that cause divorce that have been reported at the Religious Court. These causes include poor communication, partner incompatibility, financial pressure, and infidelity. Efforts to reduce the occurrence of divorce are collaborative between BP4, KUA and the Religious Court which is implemented in the form of prevention, socialization and counseling in a planned manner, namely by providing marriage advice and legal consultation with mediation and deliberation as stipulated in KHI Article 36 Paragraph (1) and PMA No. 447 of 2015. Keywords: Collaborative Divorce, Divorce, Serdang Bedagai Perceraian merupakan fenomena kompleks yang memiliki dampak yang signifikan tidak hanya pada pasangan yang terlibat, tetapi juga pada keluarga dan masyarakat secara luas. Penelitian ini bertujuan memberikan kontribusi positif sebagai langkah-langkah untuk mengurangi terjadinya perceraian di Pantai Cermin Kabupaten Serdang Bedagai. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah penelitian kualitatif dengan pendekatan yuridis empiris. Data dikumpulkan melalui observasi, wawancara dan dokumentasi. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa terdapat faktor-faktor yang menyebabkan terjadinya gugatan perceraian yang telah terlapor di Pengadilan Agama. Penyebab tersebut antara lain komunikasi yang buruk, ketidakcocokan nilai-nilai, tekanan finansial, dan ketidaksetiaan yang berujung pada keinginan untuk bercerai. Implikasi hukum dari temuan ini adalah organisasi BP4 dan KUA berperan penting sebagai upaya kontribusi positif untuk mengurangi dan mencegah terjadinya perceraian di Pantai Cermin Kabupaten Serdang Bedagai. Upaya yang dilakukan merupakan langkah-langkah perceraian kolaboratif dimana kasus perceraian dapat diatasi dengan cara-cara mediasi diantara kedua belah pihak tanpa harus ke pengadilan.
Divorce is a phenomenon that is experienced in various age ranges, including among the elderly showing an increasing trend. Previous studies emphasize the negative impact of divorce in old age. This study aims to identify the factors that lead to divorce among the elderly, particularly in the Palembang Religious Court, as well as understand the judges' views on this phenomenon. This field research used a qualitative approach, involving interviews with four judges and analyzing 56 divorce decisions among the elderly. The findings show that elderly couples tend to delay divorce in order to sustain the household, especially for the sake of their children. The decision to divorce is made when they feel unable to endure further problems, considering the greater impact. Thirteen main factors were cited as reasons why elderly couples decided to divorce. While judges attempted mediation, they did not have the authority to force a settlement. The results of this study are expected to provide valuable guidance for legal practitioners and policy makers in designing programs to prevent divorce at an elderly age. The limitation of this study lies in its focus only on the views of judges and decisions in religious courts. Examining the opinions of older people who have divorced directly has not been done, an aspect that needs further research.[Perceraian merupakan fenomena yang terjadi di berbagai rentang usia, termasuk di kalangan lansia yang menunjukkan peningkatan tren. Kajian sebelumnya menegaskan dampak negatif dari perceraian di usia lanjut. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengidentifikasi faktor-faktor yang memicu perceraian di kalangan lansia, khususnya di Pengadilan Agama Palembang, serta memahami pandangan hakim terhadap fenomena ini. Penelitian lapangan ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif, melibatkan wawancara dengan empat hakim dan menganalisis 56 putusan perceraian di kalangan lansia. Temuan menunjukkan bahwa pasangan lanjut usia cenderung menunda perceraian demi mempertahankan rumah tangga, terutama demi anak-anak mereka. Keputusan bercerai diambil ketika mereka merasa tak mampu lagi menahan permasalahan lebih lanjut, dengan pertimbangan dampak yang lebih besar. Terdapat tiga belas faktor utama yang menjadi alasan pasangan lanjut usia dalam memutuskan perceraian. Meskipun hakim berupaya melakukan mediasi, namun mereka tidak memiliki kewenangan untuk memaksa perdamaian. Hasil penelitian ini diharapkan memberikan panduan berharga bagi praktisi hukum dan pembuat kebijakan dalam merancang program pencegahan perceraian di usia lanjut. Keterbatasan penelitian ini terletak pada fokusnya yang hanya pada pandangan hakim dan putusan di pengadilan agama. Menguji pendapat lansia yang telah bercerai secara langsung belum dilakukan, menjadi aspek yang perlu diteliti lebih lanjut.]
Albeit a global phenomenon, the socio-spatial determinants of marital dissolution are local. This study examined the socio-demographic correlates and spatial distribution of women’s marital dissolution in Ghana. Using data on 6032 ever-married women aged 15–49 years from the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey, we employed logistic regression and Getis-Ord spatial clustering analyses. Results showed a divorce rate of about 12%. Per logistic regression analyses, older women and those with primary education compared to no education were more likely to be divorced. Marital age and parity correlated negatively with likelihood of divorce. Pre-marital childbirth is associated with a higher likelihood of marital dissolution. Rural women and those employed in agriculture were less likely to have marital dissolution. Compared with their poor counterparts, rich women were less likely to experience marital dissolution. Women in Islam were less likely than Orthodox Christian women to currently have a marital dissolution. Spatial analyses revealed sparse distribution of marital dissolution in northern Ghana with concentrated hotspots in the south, particularly in Greater Accra Region. The implications for policy interventions and future studies are discussed.
Committed to entering marriage requires an understanding of the readiness to carry out a role in the family to be committed for life to form a happy family. The complex psychological challenges and problems associated with failure to properly prepare for marriage will result in misery and threaten the quality of life of family members. Research that explores the preparation of the bride and groom in entering the marriage gate is still very limited, even though this topic has implications for the achievement of family happiness. The purpose of this study was to explore the readiness of the bride and groom in undergoing marital status. This qualitative research explores the facts in the field to describe and analyze the phenomenon of the wedding preparation of the bride and groom. Data collection was carried out through in-depth interviews with six pairs of prospective brides and grooms who were going to get married in the same year. Determination of participants is adjusted based on the inclusion criteria of research participants and the number is determined based on the results of data saturation. The theme of this research is the legacy of parental experience, ignoring the most important marriage, financial and work planning and the lack of anticipation of physical and psychological changes. The results of the study concluded that the preparation of the bride and groom that is not comprehensive has the opportunity to lead to marriage failure. Explanation of wedding preparation through the use of technology is suggested as an implementation of increasing literacy of the bride and groom, in collaboration with the Office of Religious Affairs which legalizes marriage.
In this study, we examined the association between naturalistically observed in-person contact with an ex-partner and separation-related psychological distress (SRPD). One hundred twenty-two recently separated adults were assessed using the Electronically Activated Recorder on three occasions across 5 months. The association between in-person contact with an ex-partner, as a between-person variable, and concurrent SRPD was not reliably different from zero, nor was the time-varying effect of in-person contact. However, more frequent in-person contact with an ex-partner predicted higher SRPD 2 months later, above and beyond the variance accounted for by concurrent in-person contact, demographic, relationship, and attachment factors. Follow-up analyses showed that this effect was present only for people without children; a 1 SD increase in in-person contact offset and slowed the predicted decline in SRPD over 2 months by 112%. In our discussion, we emphasize new ways to think about the role of in-person contact in shaping adults’ psychological adjustment to separation over time.
At the centre of Ghanaian society is the institution of marriage and family. These two well established institutions are acknowledged as the foundation of all social life. However, despite the importance of marriage and family, the stability of these two institutions is on the decline in Ghana. This is because of the changing attitude towards marriage and family formation1. This changing attitude is more prominent among the literate community in Ghana. The paper sought to assess the perception and attitude of Ghanaian tertiary students towards marriage and family formation. Specifically, the paper assessed the perception of students on marriage and factors they would consider in selecting a potential spouse, determined the opinion of students about family formation and also examined the challenges married students faced in managing the family and seeking higher education and how these challenges affect their family formation. The study revealed that majority of students did not intend to marry but wants to have children. It was also observed that marriage under the ordinance was the most preferred form of marriage by tertiary students while monogamy (single marriage) was the most preferred type of marriage among respondents. While educational status, ethnicity, religious affiliation and financial status came up as the top most factors students would consider in selecting a potential spouse, nuclear family remain the most preferred family type to the traditional African extended family type. The paper also discovered financial constraints, time management constraints, power relations and division of labour as key challenges married students face in their pursuit for higher education which affects not only their academic work but most importantly their marriage and family formation.
The ability of the media to function effectively as a fourth estate is hooked firmly on the maximum cooperation it receives from the different entities within society at whose service it operates. Recently, concerns have been raised in Ghana about the spate of assault and intimidation against media practitioners, and this action appears to hinder the independence, growth, and development of the media. Using an inductive approach for qualitative data analysis and drawing on the provocation theory, this study explored the degree of assault and intimidation in Ghana’s media environment and found that attacks on the media were traced to three major sources, namely, security agencies, communities/individual citizens, and supporters of political parties. The article further argued that the communication interplay of the aforementioned entities is ideal for a functioning public.
Adolescent suicide is now a major health concern for many countries. However, there is paucity of systematic studies and lack of official statistics on adolescent suicide in Ghana. Mass media coverage of adolescent suicide (even though crude), at least, may reflect the reality of the phenomenon. With an ecological orientation, this study used qualitative content analysis to analyse the pattern of 44 media reports of adolescent suicide in Ghana from January 2001 through September 2014. Results showed that hanging was the dominant method used. The behaviour usually takes place within or near the adolescent's home environment. The act was often attributed to precursors within the microsystem (family and school) of the deceased. This study serves a seminal function for future empirical studies aimed at deeper examination of the phenomenon in order to inform prevention programmes.
Much has been written about the sub-Saharan African family during the past the past three decades. For the most part, this literature deals with reproductive-related behavior and gender relations. Less explored is the issue of marital instability. Using national-level data, this study explores the factors influencing one indicator of instability, divorce in Ghana. The theoretical arguments draw on a number of institutional and noninstitutional factors that are believed to affect marital stability in sub-Saharan Africa. Our findings provide some empirical support for a structural determinist interpretation of divorce in Ghana. For instance, the incidence of divorce was higher among women from matrilineal (Akan) societies, and also among women who were urban residents. Regarding the respondents' background measures, we found that previous marital history, the duration of marriage, religion, and parity (children ever born) were strong predictors of divorce in Ghana. The implications of the study and specific suggestions for further research are proposed.
Bridewealth is fundamental to marriage in Africa. Anthropological research provides substantial information regarding characteristics of the bridewealth transaction, but scholars and policymakers know little about its consequences for women in contemporary Africa. We argue that the payment of bridewealth strengthens normative constraints on women's autonomy in the reproductive domain. We test and find support for our argument using a unique vignette experiment conducted with rural women in the Volta Region of Ghana.
Palliative patients and their family caregivers were interviewed at the beginning of home care in personal interviews at home in regard to their psychological distress as well as their quality of life.
Quality of life was collected with the palliative module EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL (patients) and the Short Form-8 Health Survey (caregivers). The psychological distress was assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the extent of social support with the Oslo 3-items social support scale. Two multiple regression models were employed to examine factors associated with psychological distress. Data from 106 palliative patients (39.6 % female) and their family caregivers (67.9 % female) were included in the analysis.
Every fourth patient had clinically relevant anxiety levels and half of the palliative patients had clinically symptomatic depression scores. The main symptoms of the patients were: fatigue, loss of appetite, pain, and shortness of breath. Patients' and caregivers' anxiety and depression scores were significantly correlated (anxiety r = 0.386, depression r = 0.416). Thirty-three percent of caregivers suffered from high anxiety and 28 % from depression. Spousal caregivers had higher psychological distress than other caregivers. Other relevant factors for higher distress were high financial burden and low social support. There was hardly any family member receiving professional psychological support.
In palliative patients, depressive symptoms should not be judged as a normal attendant of the terminal illness situation. Instead, patients should be referred to appropriate support services for pharmacological or psychological treatment. Spousal caregivers and caregivers who are socially not well integrated are in particular need of support. Attention to the financial burden of family caregivers is also very important. Due to the existing correlation between the psychological situation of palliative patients and their caring relatives, couples must be considered an emotional system rather than just two individuals.
Against the backdrop that divorce is increasingly becoming a public health problem in Ghana, especially in urban areas, a qualitative approach was used to explore the possible reasons for divorce among 12 Ghanaian divorcees living in the urban area of Accra. Participants selected purposively were made up of 4 males and 8 females between the ages of 32 and 45 years, with a mean age of 36.5. Findings showed that the period of honeymooning provided a context that either destabilized or stabilized the union. Non-submissiveness, inadequate love and affection, and lack of trust were identified as the main reasons for divorce. Participants expressed mixed feelings about early expectations from marriage and a sense of regret and stigmatization after the dissolution of the marriage. Postmarital counseling should be encouraged to help address possible problems that are likely to arise and destabilize couples during the course of the marriage.
This article examines the function of documents as a data source in qualitative research and discusses document analysis procedure in the context of actual research experiences. Targeted to research novices, the article takes a nuts-and-bolts approach to document analysis. It describes the nature and forms of documents, outlines the advantages and limitations of document analysis, and offers specific examples of the use of documents in the research process. The application of document analysis to a grounded theory study is illustrated.
Although previous work has attributed the instability of African marriages to the diffusion of Western norms and values in the region, fewer attempts have been made to empirically assess how Africa's internal institutional structures, such as extended kinship ties, impact marital outcomes. Guided by rational choice and exchange theories, we argue that the strong bonds that exist among matrilineal family members in particular, rather than within the conjugal unit, may be important to understanding the dynamics of marital processes in the region, and particularly divorce processes. We test our hypothesis with data from the 1988, 1993, 1998, and 2003 Ghana Demographic and Health Surveys. Consistent with our hypothesis, the results indicate a significantly higher risk of divorce among matrilineal than nonmatrilineal women. The matrilineal effect persisted even after we controlled for sociocultural and demographic characteristics.
Much contemporary dialogue has centered on the difficulty of establishing validity criteria in qualitative research. Developing validity standards in qualitative research is challenging because of the necessity to incorporate rigor and subjectivity as well as creativity into the scientific process. This article explores the extant issues related to the science and art of qualitative research and proposes a synthesis of contemporary viewpoints. A distinction between primary and secondary validity criteria in qualitative research is made with credibility, authenticity, criticality, and integrity identified as primary validity criteria and explicitness, vividness, creativity, thoroughness, congruence, and sensitivity identified as secondary validity criteria.
Content analysis is a widely used qualitative research technique. Rather than being a single method, current applications of content analysis show three distinct approaches: conventional, directed, or summative. All three approaches are used to interpret meaning from the content of text data and, hence, adhere to the naturalistic paradigm. The major differences among the approaches are coding schemes, origins of codes, and threats to trustworthiness. In conventional content analysis, coding categories are derived directly from the text data. With a directed approach, analysis starts with a theory or relevant research findings as guidance for initial codes. A summative content analysis involves counting and comparisons, usually of keywords or content, followed by the interpretation of the underlying context. The authors delineate analytic procedures specific to each approach and techniques addressing trustworthiness with hypothetical examples drawn from the area of end-of-life care.
This paper provides a pragmatic approach to analysing qualitative data, using actual data from a qualitative dental public health study for demonstration purposes. The paper also critically explores how computers can be used to facilitate this process, the debate about the verification (validation) of qualitative analyses and how to write up and present qualitative research studies.
One key hypothesis that has received considerable attention in recent family discourse is the notion that improvements in women’s socioeconomic circumstances (also called female autonomy) has a positive effect on familial processes and outcomes such as marital instability. Absent from this debate are cross-cultural research that test the applicability of these findings with non-U.S. data. We use representative data from Ghana to explore whether dimensions of women’s autonomy have the hypothesized positive effect on divorce processes in Africa. Consistent with findings from the United States, results from our African data demonstrate that women’s autonomy has a positive effect on divorce. This observation is true not only with the use of conventional autonomy measures such as work and education, but also with regard to institutional measures of autonomy such as matrilineal kinship ties. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media, Inc. 2006
Interparental Conflict and Child Development is a 2001 text that provides an in-depth analysis of the rapidly expanding body of research on the impact of interparental conflict on children. Emphasizing developmental and family systems perspectives, it investigates a range of important issues, including the processes by which exposure to conflict may lead to child maladjustment, the role of gender and ethnicity in understanding the effects of conflict, the influence of conflict on parent–child, sibling, and peer relations, family violence, and interparental conflict in divorced and step-families. It also addresses the implications of this research for prevention, clinical intervention, and public policy. Each chapter examines relevant conceptual and methodological questions, reviews on pertinent data, and identifies pathways for future research. Thus, the book serves to chart the course for continued investigation into the links between marital and child functioning.
The study investigated the influence of attachment styles and gender on marital satisfaction. One hundred and fifty participants (73 males and 77
females) were randomly selected from members of a Christian organization, Ewet Offot and indigenous residents of Nwaniba Road, Uyo. Two instruments used were the Love (2001) Attachment Style Survey and Hudson (1982) Index of Marital Satisfaction adapted by Anene (1994) for Nigerian use. A 2x2 Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) for unequal sample sizes was used for data analysis.Two hypotheses were tested. The first hypothesis predicted a statistically significant difference in marital satisfaction between participants with secure and insecure attachment styles while the second hypothesis made a similar prediction in respect of gender. The first finding showed a significant difference between participants with secure and insecure attachment styles on marital
satisfaction [F(1,146) = 360.21, P<.05], indicating that attachment styles are salient indicators of marital satisfaction. The second finding showed
that there was no significant difference between males and females on marital satisfaction [F(1,146) = 2.58, P>.05]. The interaction effect of attachment styles and gender was however found to be significant [F(1,146) = 5.00, P<.05). The significance of the interaction raised further
concerns about the role of gender in the study. Statistical evidence suggests that such interactions signify that any related variable, and in this case gender, has reliable effects on the measured variable. These manifest and latent findings were discussed in line with existing evidence and suggestions made for therapy, intervention and policy.
The rising rate of divorce in modern Iranian society indicates its importance. This study aims to investigate the causes of divorce in the marriage phase from the viewpoint of couples who have been referred to family courts. To do so, in a qualitative design and based on the content analysis approach, 57 people who had been referred to family courts were selected through a purposive sampling method and were studied through semistructured interviews. The data analysis was conducted according to the conventional content method. The results indicated three components as the chief reasons for divorce in the marriage phase: personal problems, the style of communication with one’s spouse, and social issues. With respect to the important portion of dysfunctional relationships with the spouse in divorce cases, these results emphasize the need for premarital counseling and life skills training for couples.
Social relationships play a vital role in health and well-being, and it follows that loss experiences can be highly stressful for some people. This article reviews what is known about the association between marital separation, divorce, and health outcomes.
Key findings in the area of divorce and health are discussed, and the review outlines a series of specific questions for future research. In particular, the article integrates research in social epidemiology with research in social psychophysiology. The former approach provides a broad-based estimate of the association between marital status and health outcomes, whereas the latter approach studies mechanisms of action and individual differences associated with increased risk for poor outcomes.
The experience of separation or divorce confers risk for poor health outcomes, including a 23% higher mortality rate. However, most people cope well and are resilient after their marriage or long-term relationship ends. Despite the fact that resilience is the most common response, a small percentage of people (approximately 10%-15%) struggle quite substantially, and it seems that the overall elevated adverse health risks are driven by the poor functioning of this group. Several candidate mechanisms and novel (ambulatory) assessment techniques that may elucidate the poor outcomes among people who adapt poorly to separation are discussed.
To increase knowledge on the association between divorce and health, three primary areas require more research: a) genetic and third variable explanations for divorce-related health outcomes, (b) better studies of objective social behavior after separation, and
(c) increased attention to interventions targeting high-risk adults.
Using data from the young and mature women samples of the National Longitudinal Survey, this paper examines how the determinants of divorce (and separation) vary by the duration of marriage. In general, we find little evidence that the strength of previously identified predictors of divorce varies by marital duration. Variables such as race, wife's labor force participation, husband's employment, and urban residence seem to influence the probability of divorce, irrespective of the stage in the marital life course. The principal exception to this finding is the effect of wife's education, which appears to decrease the probability of divorce at early marital durations but to increase it at later durations. There is also suggestive evidence that the effects of home ownership and age at marriage may vary by marital duration.
Marital dissolution is commonly assumed to cause increased depression among adults, but causality can be questioned based on directionality and third-variable concerns. The present study improves on past research by using a propensity score matching algorithm to identify a subsample of continuously married participants equivalent in divorce risk to participants who actually experienced separation/divorce between two waves of the nationally representative Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS) study. After correcting for participants' propensity to separate/divorce, we observed increased rates of depression at the second MIDUS assessment only among participants who (a) were depressed at the initial MIDUS assessment and (b) experienced a separation/divorce. Participants who were not depressed at the initial assessment but who experienced a separation/divorce were not at increased risk for a later major depressive disorder. Thus, both social selection and social causation contribute to the increased risk for a major depressive disorder found among separated/divorced adults.
Although research into intimate partner abuse has expanded throughout the past several decades and increased our understanding
of this multi-faceted phenomenon, the vast majority of empirical work is still focused almost exclusively on physical violence—against
women in particular. Although a crucial issue in our society, physical violence against women is only one facet in an array
of possible abusive behaviors toward an intimate partner. Researchers have long acknowledged the existence of multiple forms
of non-physical abuse. These types of abuse have received little research attention, however, and are commonly lumped together
simply as “non-physical” or “emotional” abuse. There is no reason to believe, however, that all forms of non-physical abuse
are the same, whether in intensity, frequency, or co-existence with physical violence. The current study attempts to disentangle
the multiple types of nonviolent abuse to examine prevalence, differences by sex, and its relationships to physical abuse.
Using Tjaden and Thoennes’ (1998) survey data, this study examines the prevalence of different types of non-physical abuse, both in the general population
and among those experiencing physical violence Findings indicate that non-physical partner abuse is more common than physical
and that non-physical abuse does not show striking sex differences, as is commonly believed. There is strong evidence that
some types of non-physical abuse serve as clear risk factors for physical abuse and may increase risk of more frequent violence
among those already being abused. These relationships do not, however, differ by sex. Implications for future research are
discussed.
Surveyed 1,024 residents of shelters for abused women concerning the social and demographic characteristics of women and their abusers, various dimensions of the batterings, and previous experiences with domestic violence. Findings reveal that, as predicted, the wives' economic dependence on their husbands almost always ensured that they would return to their husbands. The more decisions Ss made while in the shelters, the more they tended to separate from their husbands. Ss who reported that the shelters were useful had a higher tendency to make a decision to return to their husbands. (34 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
The purpose of this paper is to introduce an updated system of annual indexes of divorce risks and to use the system to display trends in divorce risks for Swedish women over the years since 1971. Divorce-risk trends turn out to have been quite different for women at different parities. Trends for women in their first marriage (the majority) are also somewhat different from trends in later marriages. After a spurt in divorces at parity 0 connected with a divorce reform in 1974, divorce risks have been quite stable for women at this parity, but they have increased steadily among married mothers, mostly as an effect of an increasing prevalence of premarital childbearing. Our indexes are produced by an indirect standardization of register data with respect to women's age at marriage, duration of marriage, and order of marriage. We also recommend standardization with respect to an indicator of premarital childbearing, which is particularly important in a population with extensive nonmarital cohabitation.
"The purpose of this paper is to introduce an updated system of annual indexes of divorce risks and to use the system to display trends in divorce risks for Swedish women over the years since 1971. Divorce-risk trends turn out to have been quite different for women at different parities. Trends for women in their first marriage (the majority) are also somewhat different from trends in later marriages. After a spurt in divorces at parity 0 connected with a divorce reform in 1974, divorce risks have been quite stable for women at this parity, but they have increased steadily among married mothers, mostly as an effect of an increasing prevalence of premarital childbearing. Our indexes are produced by an indirect standardization of register data with respect to women's age at marriage, duration of marriage, and order of marriage. We also recommend standardization with respect to an indicator of premarital childbearing, which is particularly important in a population with extensive nonmarital cohabitation." (SUMMARY IN FRE)
This study investigated the role of gender, family cohesion, religiosity, and negative suicide attitudes as potential determinants of cultural differences in suicide ideation among 375 college students from Ghana and the United States. Significant cultural differences were found for suicide ideation, family closeness, religiosity, and negative suicide attitudes. Family cohesion and negative attitudes were significant predictors for both cultural groups. Gender was a significant determinant for suicide ideation among Ghanaians, but not Americans; religiosity was not a significant determinant for either group. More extensive research on sociocultural influences on suicide, especially among countries in which suicide is underreported or not documented, is encouraged.
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