Social Research Marriage Institution

Question: Discuss about theSocial Research for Marriage Institution. Answer: Introduction plays a significant role in imparting the psycho-social makeup of children. The family unit is typically a source of social, economic and emotional stability (Ahiaoma, 2013: 162). Instability in a family institution significantly affects other various surrounding Microsystems and this result to negative impacts. Parental separation and subsequent divorce do not only lead to negative outcomes for the parties involved but also directly affect children. Consequently, effects of separation tend to have an impact on a child's behavior, psychological adjustment, academic performance, self-esteem and social ability (Turney and Haskins, 2014: 245). These effects may be long-term where they persist through the adolescent stage to adulthood. Parental separation and divorces have continuously increased in most parts of the world. In this respect, this paper seeks to discuss the effects of separation on students self-esteem and their perception of future romantic relationships. Children/adolescents who grow up under the care of both parents have advantages such as developing high self-esteem, abstinence of risky behavior and development of healthy interpersonal relationships (Murray, Farrington, and Sekol, 2012: 175). Conversely, children/adolescents who experience effects of separation or divorce tend to have very low esteem, difficulties in developing interpersonal relationships and are likely to engage in delinquent behavior. School going children suffer tremendous self-esteem which affects their performance and general well-being (Fine and Harvey, 2013). Social support influences a student's self-esteem he or she receives first from the parents than from those close to the students within the school environment including the classmates, teachers, and friends (Fine and Harvey, 2013). Self esteem is, therefore, an element of self-concept that links emotional, social aspects of personality and the cognitive (Turney and Haskins, 2014: 249). Inadequate or la ck of social support may result in stress and depression among the students. Sometimes when parents are involved in separations, they tend to involve children who suffer the dire consequences of the separation. Students who find themselves at the center of separated families may not receive adequate acceptance by their peers, teachers and the society (Murray, Farrington, and Sekol, 2012: 175). This is unlikely in students brought up in dual parents household. The unacceptability and lack of recognition result to low self-esteem. Low-self esteem among students may negatively affect them and influence their engagement in behaviors such as drug use and abuse, indiscipline cases or even having suicidal feelings (Murray, Farrington, and Sekol, 2012: 175). In essence, separation of parents may lead to neglect of children or loss of children custody. Consequently, students who are victims of family separation encounter a lack of financial and moral support from their parents. These experiences affect self-image, perceptions, psychological crisis and self-esteem. Students whose parents are separated tend to demonstrate marked setbacks not only in their academic performance but also in establishing lasting romantic relationships in future (Amato and Anthony, 2014: 373). Amato and Anthony also maintain that family institution is the primary agent of socialization thus ensures that children are adequately socialized before their exposure to the secondary agents of socialization. Parents and close relatives, therefore, play a fundamental role in socializing children by instilling discipline, inculcating moral values as well as instilling societal norms. In this view, parents act as role models to their children. When parents separate, the children's perceptions about marriage and relationships may be affected, and the effects may affect them to adulthood. The trust that children have in their parents is consequently affected thus when the children become adults their relationships with others may be affected (Amato and Anthony, 2013: 384). Persons raised in broken families tend to possess negative attitudes towards romantic relationships and marriage in general while they have positive attitudes towards divorce (Cui, Fincham, and Durtschi, 2010: 1). The negative perception about marriage leads to less or no commitment to romantic relationships. As a result, such people may express difficulties in staying long in relationships as well as expressing affection towards their partners. One of the factors that constrain romantic relationships where both or one partner has been a victim of separated family is the issue of trust in a relationship (Cui, Fincham, and Durtschi, 2010: 1). Parental separation often results to low trust among the children. The repercussions of separation are replicated in later adulthood relationships. The victims may carry the negative perceptions, attitudes and past emotions in their relationships and may also fear that the same experiences may happen to reoccur in their romantic relationships. Fo r these reasons, some people may be deterred from engaging in romantic relationships. In addition, persons raised in separated families are less likely to believe in endurance and stability of marriage or relationships as compared to those raised in intact families (Fergusson, McLeod, and John, 2014: 360). The feelings about marriage or relationship unpredictability and instability have negative effects on their relationships. Such persons according to Cui, Fincham, and Durtschi (2010: 3) tend to think negatively about themselves as parents. While parental separation may be precipitated by factors such as infidelity, lack of trust, lack of love, physical or psychological abuse or conflict as well as the lack of communication and cooperation. Individual raised in such families tend to have the perception that the same might happen in their relationships (Fergusson, McLeod, and John, 2014:362: Roth, Harkins, and Eng, 2014). Unfortunately, an attempt to deal with such negative attitudes, feelings, and perception may take long while in other people the effects have long-t erm impacts in their lives. In conclusion, it is quite clear that parental separations and divorces have affected many homes in most parts of the world. More often than not, effects of family separations affect children negatively as it affects the separated couple. Students from separated families are likely to be affected by the decision. The impacts of separation tend to alter their behavior, attitude towards others, low self-esteem, difficulties in developing and maintaining relationships and poor academic performance. Nonetheless, it cannot entirely be said to have uniform effects on young adults' romantic relationships. There are thus differential outcomes in different persons. This is primarily because some people can overcome the effects of separation while others do not. However, a positive attitude towards separation or divorce is associated with less commitment to romantic relationships thus leading to the dissolution of the relationship. The perception about marriage is affected by inter-parental co nflict and the quality of relationship before the separation. Despite the challenges faced by the young adults in establishing lasting romantic relationships due to the experiences of separated families which persist to adulthood, they should be counseled on how to lead healthy relationships. 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