THE IMPACT OF EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN'S WELL-BEING IN NIGERIA

1.1 Introduction

Communication is the bedrock of any relationship in the world today, families, schools, and the world at large because information can never be exchanged or transferred without communication. As we know, communication is about sharing ideas, sending information from one person to another, and it could be positive or negative, effective or ineffective (Greg Duran, 2010). Communication involves a two-way thing; sharing of information that helps develop a common understanding between two parties and both participants have an active role to play in the process. A person transmits a message to ensure that the message is delivered and understood, while the receiver of the message must be an active listener to ensure that the message sent was properly received and understood.

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.

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1.2 Background of Study

Communication takes place only when the listener clearly understands the message that the spokesman is conveying, Communication enables parents and children to express their thoughts and feelings to one another, meaning it is very important for parents to communicate openly and effectively with their children to enable them to build trust, develop honesty and respectful relationship and this benefits not only the children but every member of the family. Effective communication involves conversation or an exchange of information between two or more persons.

Effective communication abilities are developed and might be augmented or improved with amplified understanding and practice. For communication to be considered effective there must be message sending and message receiving activities. This can be carried out using both direct and indirect approaches. Effective communication between persons occurs when the message senders and the message receivers understand the message. This can however be achieved either through speech/verbal communication or the use of nonverbal means of communication. Effective communication is an act that is intended to convey meanings from one person or group to another because of the use of signs and semiotic rules that are reciprocally understood.

The platform of effective communication can be visual (through the use of eyes), auditory (the use of ears), tactile (such as in Braille through the sense of torch), and haptic and olfactory (use of nose). However, communication in humans is very exceptional for its extensive utilization of theoretical language. This has given room for social development and civilization which are basic concepts that are strongly associated with environments that promote effective communication among its people. Effective Communication helps strengthen the parent-child relationship and increases mutual understanding. In line with this assertion, how Parents communicate with their children could either make them or mar them. In the light of this assertion, it becomes obvious that parents who did not speak to their child about matters of interest at a young age should not expect the child to easily express his/her questions and ideas about issues of interest when that child is of age.

The relationship between parents and their children’s wellbeing is an exceptionally significant element in the personality formation and particularly the socialization of the child from the stage of infancy to childhood and the eventual adolescence (Meng, 1998). Children generally go through a series of unstable stages with the strongest agility and the biggest catastrophe that is characterized by a sense of independence, criticalness, and expectedness along with physiological maturity. However, any breakdown or lapses in the role and rights of each party (parent and child) is inimical to the survival of the existing relationship between them. In the general context of the parent-children relationship, effective communication can be described as the ability of family members (parents and children) to exchange and interact on their needs, feelings, and desires with one another and to give attention to the dynamically changing needs of the children especially in a positive way (Barnes & Olson, 1985).

The effectiveness of the communication between parents and their children contributes to the survival of the parent-child relationship, which invariably predicts children’s well-being (Broberg, 2012). Several pollsters that have investigated the impact of parent-child relationships on children’s wellbeing, growth, and psychological health established that the lack of effective and supportive communication link between parent and children can lead young individuals into several social, emotional, and health-related unhelpful developmental trajectories (Clayton, 2014). Effective communication in the relationship between parents and their children is a communication point of view that is generally defined by the nature of the family concerning intimacy and trusting associations. The major goal of effective communication is to understand the interactions of parent-children relationships and the pattern of behaviors of the nuclear family members in different situations. However, open and honest communication brings about an atmosphere that enables parents and their children to make clear their differences as well as love and approbation for one another.

Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Impact of Effective Communication in the Relationship between Parents and their Children's well-being in Nigeria.

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1.3 Statement of Problems

Educational scholars, including Kutelu and Olowe (2013), Ndirika and Njoku (2012), and Ingwu (2010), have all identified factors that hinder effective parent involvement in their children’s education in Nigeria. However, in the Nigerian context, a broad review of the literature indicates that few studies have actually been done in this area. Although the school factors affecting students’ performance are complex, the search for the likely contributing factors has to go beyond the immediate environment of the school, in order to include the home.

Parents’ contribution improves performances mainly in the area of helping with homework, which is an activity that includes finding out facts and solving real life problems that may not all is answerable in the classroom setting. Real life problems that may not all be solvable in the classroom setting are taken home for experimentation with the help of parents, siblings, peers, and colleagues. This has the value of allowing learners to see the relationship between their school work and real life situations.

To minimize this problem, Deslandes (2009) suggested that workshops could be offered to assist and guide family members’ involvement in homework activities. Parents’ inadequate knowledge and skills suggest that family involvement with homework is a continuum, meaning that they can help to varying degrees and with varying effectiveness.

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1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to scrutinize the Impact of Effective Communication in the Relationship between Parents and their Children's well-being in Nigeria. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To examine the factors instigating effective communication in the relationship between parents and their children's well-being in Nigeria
2. To determine the relevance of effective communication between parents and their children's well-being in Nigeria
3. To identify the different patterns of Parent-child communication adopted by their parents
4. To determine the influence of parent-child communication patterns towards academic achievement.

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1.5 Research Questions

The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:

• Are there any factors instigating effective communication in the relationship between parents and their children's well-being in Nigeria?
• What is the relevance of effective communication between parents and their children's well-being in Nigeria?
• What are the different patterns of Parent-child communication adopted by their parents?
• What is the influence of parent-child communication patterns towards academic achievement?

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1.6 Research Hypothesis

In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.

• H0: There are no significant factors instigating effective communication in the relationship between parents and their children's well-being in Nigeria
• H1: There are significant factors instigating effective communication in the relationship between parents and their children's well-being in Nigeria

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1.7 Significance of Study

The study will be of immense benefit to parents, teachers, guidance counsellors, educational planners, adolescents and psychologists. The findings of this study may be useful when published, in educating parents on the need for effective communication with their children. This could help the in-school adolescents to develop the much needed high self-esteem for a better academic achievement.

It will also enable teachers to design learning instructions that will accommodate children from the different family types. It will also help parents to identify the best communication pattern that will promote the all round development of their adolescents.

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1.8 Scope of Study

The study focuses on the Impact of Effective Commendation in the Relationship between Parents and their Children's well-being in Nigeria.

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1.9 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

1. Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
3. Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
4. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

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1.10 Definition of Terms

Parental Involvement: This was used in the study as the extent to which parents show interests in all spheres of school and home activities that deal with the educational accomplishments and performance of their children.

Influence: This is the “action” or “power” that is exercised by one variable over another (Adaralegbe, 2009). The influence of one variable on another variable may be negative or positive.

PTA: The Parent Teacher Association (PTA) is among many educational and professional organizations that are involved in the business of public education. It attempts to bring parents and teachers under one umbrella in the best interests of the children.

Performance: Organizations have certain goals and objectives on which activities are focused. These goals can be social, economic, cultural, and academic In determining the performance of a school in this study, therefore, the school must have attained a “desired” standard level of academic performance based on what is practiced in Nigeria.