Title:
SINGLE MOTHERHOOD AND ITS IMPACT ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF ADOLESCENTS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN FUNGOM SUB-DIVISION, NORTH WEST REGION OF CAMEROON

Authors:
Kai Walburga Ndum and Nsangha Sarah

Abstract:
The concept of family has changed dramatically over the last few decades. Family structure have moved from the traditional two-parent family that is, man, woman and children to diverse forms of family structure. These family structures include blended families, single parent families (single father, single mother. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of single motherhood on the academic performance of adolescents in secondary schools in Fungom Sub-Division of Cameroon. The study employed the descriptive research design with a sample of 325 participants of whom 293 adolescents and 32 single mothers. Qquestionnaire and interview guide were the instruments used to collect data. The instruments were validated by some experts. The reliability coefficient of the questionnaire was 0.75. Findings revealed that single mother’s involvement, single mothers’ parenting styles and single mother-adolescent conflicts moderately influenced academic performance of adolescents. In aggregate, findings of the study equally revealed that single motherhood moderately influenced academic performance of adolescents positively. It was recommended that parents should model good attitude and behavior towards academics as they serve as role models imitated by adolescents, they should practice an eclectic parenting style dominated by an authoritative parenting style and single mothers should improve on and vary their home conflict management with the adolescents.

Keywords:
Single motherhood, involvement, parenting style, single-mother adolescent conflict academic performance.

DOI: