Abstract
<title>Abstract</title> <p>Marriage is a fundamental socio-cultural institution designed to safeguard child and adolescent development within a stable family ecology (Kefalas & Furstenberg, 2011). However, global demographic trends indicate an unprecedented rise in marital dissolution. This quantitative study investigates the consequences of parental divorce on adolescent academic performance and psychosocial well-being in Mettu Town, Ilubabore zone, Oromia regional state, southwestern Ethiopia. To address the core research questions, this study employed a non-experimental, causal-comparative research design. Utilizing a systematic and stratified random sampling framework, data were collected from two primary cohorts: adolescent students from divorced families and those from intact families. Sample size determination via Cohen’s Power Table yielded an initial pool, which resulted in a final analyzed sample of 129 adolescents after systematically pruning seven participants who exceeded missing data thresholds. Measures of academic performance, psychological health, and social well-being scales were adapted to capture localized developmental contexts. Quantitative data were analyzed via multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) using SPSS (Version 23). The statistical models revealed highly significant multivariate differences between the two adolescent groups, demonstrating that parental divorce exerts a pronounced negative effect on both academic functioning and psychosocial outcomes. These findings emphasize the critical need for targeted school-based counseling interventions and family support policies within the regional educational ecosystem to mitigate the developmental risks associated with family disruptions.</p>