Impact of early marriage on the psychological wellbeing of adolescent girls in the East Mamprusi Municipality

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the psychological well-being of young adolescent girls in early marriage within the East Mamprusi Municipality, Ghana, with implications for counseling practices. The objectives of this study was to explore the factors contributing to early marriage. The aimis to assess the impact of early marriage on adolescent girls psychological well-being, and suggest the effectiveness of existing support systems and strategies for improving counseling services for adolescent girls in early marriages in the East Mamprusi Municipality. A mixed-methods approach was employed by combining quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews. The sample size consists of 100 adolescent girls, including 5 counselors. Stratified random sampling and purposive sampling was used to ensure a representative sample. Questionnaires were administered to the students to collect quantitative data, while interviews were conducted with counselors to gather qualitative insights. Key findings revealed that poverty was identified as the primary factor contributing to early marriage, with 48% of respondents citing it as a major driver; the psychological wellbeing of early-married girls shows high levels of stress and anxiety, with respondents reporting a mean score of 4.1 for psychological distress; and counseling services are seen as beneficial, but 80% of respondents felt that existing support systems are insufficient to address the unique challenges faced by early-married adolescent girls. The study founds that early marriages have significant negative psychological impacts, hindering their emotional well-being, educational attainment, and future aspirations of the adolescent girls. The study recommended strengthening counseling services, improving access to education, and promoting legal frameworks to prevent early marriages. It also suggested that community involvement and collaborative efforts between schools, counselors, and local organizations was essential in addressing the underlying causes of early marriages. The implications of the findings suggest that interventions, including education, mental health support, and legal reform, are crucial to mitigate the negative effects of early marriages and promote the well-being and future prospects of young girls in the East Mamprusi Municality. Further research is recommended to explore the long-term impacts of counseling interventions and to expand the scope to other regions facing similar challenges.