Browsing by Author "Feven Enkesha"

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Marital Conceptions of Students from Divorced and Intact Families: The Case of Undergraduate Students in Addis Ababa University
    (Addis Ababa University, 2026-05) Feven Enkesha; Belay Tefera
    Divorce has become increasingly common and prevalent in Ethiopia. Several studies have revealed the general impacts of divorce on both parents and children. This study focused on examining impacts on children focusing on children’ s marital conceptions (attitudes, intentions and expectations) and if these impacts would vary across family background, sex and age at parental divorce. A sequential explanatory mixed-method research design was used to collect data from a sample of 135 undergraduate students of Addis Ababa University (60 from divorced and 75 from intact families) through a validated five-point rating-type questionnaire and interviews (10 from divorced families). Findings indicated that university students reported mean scores above the scale midpoint for marital attitudes (M = 3.71, SD = 0.66), marital intentions (M = 3.74, SD = 0.76), and marital expectations (M = 4.45, SD = 0.44). Differences in marital attitudes, intentions, and expectations were examined across family background, sex, and age at parental divorce. Students from divorced families obtained significantly higher marital expectation scores than students from intact families (t(133) = -2.42, p = .017). Similarly, female students reported significantly higher marital expectations than male students (t(133) = -3.97, p < .001). Students who experienced parental divorce during early childhood reported significantly higher marital intentions than those who experienced divorce at a later age (t(57) = 2.79, p = .007). No statistically significant differences were found in marital attitudes across family background, sex, or age at parental divorce. Correlation analysis revealed significant positive relationships among marital attitudes, marital intentions, and marital expectations, including associations between marital attitudes and intentions (r = .72, p < .01), marital expectations and attitudes (r = .20, p < .05), and marital expectations and intentions (r = .24, p < .01). Qualitative findings indicated that participants reported difficulties in emotional regulation, distrust, loneliness, and psychological stress following parental divorce, while also describing increased resilience, independence, and caution in their future relationships. The findings have implications for counseling and psychoeducational programs aimed at promoting healthy relationships and realistic marital expectations among young adults. Keywords: marital conceptions, marital attitudes, marital intentions, marital expectations, parental divorce, university students, Ethiopia