IMPACT OF WORK-FAMILY CONFLICT ON DRUG ABUSE AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN NIGERIA

Ejike H. Mgbenkemdi

Department of Psychology, Faculty of the Social Sciences

Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT)

E-mail: iamejike@yahoo.co.uk  

Abstract: Parents in Nigeria who combine work and family responsibilities like others in other parts of the world experience work-family conflict. Work -family conflict occurs when efforts to fulfill work role demands interfere with one’s ability to fulfill family role demands. As work family conflict reflects the overall goodness -of fit between work and family life, it has been conceptualized as an important source of stress that may influence an individual’s well-being. However, combination of work and family responsibilities does not only influence the well-being of these parents but that of their children as well. This influence on children’s well -being is likely to be felt more when the children of these parents are adolescents. This line of thought is anchored on the fact that adolescence being a period of transition between childhood and adulthood is characterized by storm and stress especially in industrialized society. To this end, conflict resulting .from parents efforts to combine work and family roles may not give them enough time and energy to care and support these adolescents through this turbulent period. These lacks of appropriate care and support might make these adolescents vulnerable to behaviour problems like drug abuse. Therefore, this paper would bring to fore the impact of ‘work family conflict on drug abuse among adolescents and lend support to the ongoing work-family studies. .