INGLE PARENTS’ PSYCHO-SOCIAL CHALLENGES AND COUNSELLING NEEDS IN MINNAMUNICIPAL OF NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study determined single parents’ psycho-social challenges and counselling needs in Minna Municipal of
Niger State. Four objectives and four research questions guided the study. The study adopted survey research
design. A researchers-developed and validated instrument tagged “Single Parents Psycho-Social Challenges and
Counselling Needs Questionnaire” (SPPSCNQ) was administered to 100 single parents (divorcees, widows and
the never-married). Purposive sampling techniques were used to select the respondents in Minna Municipal. The
instrument was face and content validated by 10 experts, three counselling psychologists, three school
counsellors and four social workers. Reliability was obtained via split-half method with 0.95 index value.
Research questions one, two and four were answered on the basis of Chi- square analysis, while research
question three was answered on the basis of Page’s L-trend test. The results revealed that widows felt more of
the psycho-social challenges (social isolation; difficulties with family responsibilities; financial difficulties;
psychological stress; coping with children’s education and counselling needs) than the divorcees and the nevermarried single parents in Minna Municipal. The analysis also showed evidence that most single parents
manifested that they do consultations with their relatives and confidants at higher levels rather than visit
professional counsellors. The study therefore recommended that seminar and workshops were advocated for
major stakeholders on the need to begin to pay more attention to mobilise greater support for the single mothers
of all categories and lastly government should reach out to traditional rulers and communities to educate them
on the need to provide recognition and support for single parents