INFLUENCE OF AGE AT MARRIAGE AND EDUCATIONAL LEVEL ON ANXIETY LEVEL OF WOMEN

INFLUENCE OF AGE AT MARRIAGE AND EDUCATIONAL LEVEL ON ANXIETY LEVEL OF WOMEN

CHAPITRE ONE

INTRODUCTION

Marriage is a social compact between two people of opposite genders. Not only are the people involved biologically mature, but they are also traditionally recognized by their immediate surroundings as being qualified for holy matrimony (OKoro, 1981). This could be due to the fact that marriage is reserved for those who have reached a specific age group and have demonstrated a high level of maturity. Marriage is a social compact that demands both sides’ endurance and patience.

In certain locations, the above-mentioned marriage notion has been overlooked, exposing teenagers to early marriage. Child or adolescent marriage is synonymous with early marriage. A youngster is not mature enough for significant responsibility until he reaches the age of 18. On that basis, early marriage is clearly defined as a union of either or two people of the opposite sex as husband and wife who have not reached physiological and psychological maturity (Eleonu, 1984).

Onwuka (1975) defines education as “all of man’s activities that enable him to realize himself and live fully as a human being” or “a process of influencing the young and inexperienced so that they may become worthy human beings and citizens.” Essentially, education is a process of harmonizing the individual within a specific environment so that he can develop his physical, mental, emotional, and volitional capacities for the happiness and wellbeing of everyone. Education, according to the definition, is a method to marital pleasure.

The desire to learn motivates girls to continue in school, postpone motherhood, and marry later; these are critical measures that can significantly improve their chances of becoming well-informed, productive citizens.

Early marriage has deprived millions of women of the opportunity to further their education and realize their full potential in all areas of human endeavor. Many of them have little or no aptitude in any field of human endeavor. Many of them, with little or no vocational experience, are forced to work in low-wage jobs in order to support their family’s income. Worse, the children of such moms marry young and have low levels of education, just like their mothers. Furthermore, many of these newlywed women and their children appear wasted, emaciated, and older than their age as a result of the trauma they encountered while coping with marital problems owing to a lack of education. Many of their children are malnourished and easily afflicted.

Marriage is not intended for adolescents or youngsters as a union of a man and a woman. It is an institution that will survive for as long as the world does; it should not be rushed. Obiageli (1989) believes it necessitates a thorough examination and re-evaluation. Marriage, on the other hand, is God’s first human institution, with direct duty for replenishing the planet. It entails the shared obligation of mature opposite genders who are expected to love and care for each other. However, due to the prevalence of adolescent marriage, some families and marriages are currently facing and experiencing the most difficult period; tension, anxiety, quarrels, fears, arguing, uneasiness, and confusion have become the order of the day, resulting in high blood pressure and premature death. This marriage situation can be linked to a low level of education, orphanage issues, a large number of female offspring, an unwanted or accidental pregnancy, and a desire to enjoy the honor connected with matrimony, as well as the cultural legacy provided to married individuals.

However, becoming a mother at a young age carries a substantially higher risk of maternal death than usual, and children of young mothers have higher rates of morbidity and mortality. Early childbearing remains a barrier to women’s educational, economic, and social advancement in all parts of the world. Overall, early marriage and early motherhood can significantly limit educational and job options for young women and are likely to have a long-term negative impact on the quality of life for young women and their children. Against all odds, a good marriage requires mental and physical maturity. Anatomically, bones continue to grow and cease between the ages of 18 and 20. According to international treaties, the legal age of consent to marry is 18 years. Mental and physical maturity are insufficient before this age. As a result, a young person who marries before this age is unlikely to have a good marriage.

Despite the ambition of most youths in many cultures these days to achieve significant progress in their chosen industries and lead self-sufficient lives, marriage and an established home with a living partner and children take precedence. However, due to the challenges associated with early marriage and a low level of education, these goals have most often become a mirage. Perhaps, since the dawn of time, the belief has been that a woman is intended just for marriage and child rearing, therefore ignoring education. Thus, most cultures have arrived to the conclusion that the earlier a girl assumes this position for the sake of her existence, the better.

Early marriage and a low level of education lead to a girl having sex at a young age, which can have a negative impact on her physiological and emotional health. As a result, it has become an imperative requirement to pass legislation to protect the lives and health of our young girls in order to ensure that something preventable is avoided. However, for the mother’s and child’s health and well-being, it would be preferable to postpone marriage and pursue school until the woman is emotionally and physically mature enough. This, in turn, would reduce maternal and newborn death rates, slow population increase, and thus contribute to overall family quality improvement.

Statement of the Issue

Women’s status varies due to their physiological and psychological peculiarities, as well as their cultural and familial obligations. Their mental health is more vulnerable, which can lead to gender-specific diseases such as pauperial psychosis and menopausal difficulties caused by hormonal imbalances. The researcher questions if some variables associated to women have any link in their mental health based on their fluctuating mental health. Personality, age at marriage, degree of education, area, socioeconomic standing, and other factors are all inherent in the world of women.

The Goal of the Research

The current study’s goal is to see if there is a link between early marriage and a woman’s educational level and her anxiety levels.

The researcher specifically examined whether there is a link between:

Women’s marital age and level of worry

Women’s educational attainment and anxiety levels

Term Definitions

Early Marriage: A marriage in which the female is under the legal age of consent to marriage, which has been defined as 18 years.

Educational Level: The breadth and depth of an individual’s education. Low educational level refers to having little or no educational training as defined by SSCE, whilst high educational level refers to having gained sufficient educational training as defined by B.Sc. or HND and above.

Anxiety is defined as a feeling of dread, anxiety, or fear that is frequently accompanied by elevated heart rate, perspiration, muscle tension, and rapid breathing, as measured by the State Trait Anxiety Inventory.

Women: Human race adult females or wives. Those employed in the current study were drawn from early and late marriages.