EFFECT OF MARITAL COUNSELLING ON WOMEN’S ATTITUDE TOWARDS MARITAL STABILITY

ABSTRACT

This study examines the relationship between marital counselling on women to marital success and stability. The method of data collection was the questionnaires administered to married women (academic and non-academic) staff of the Faculty of Education, University of Calabar, Cross Rivers State of Nigeria. A total number of one hundred and thirty three (133) questionnaires were distributed to respondents and they were collected back from them and duly completed. The analysis of finding will be based on the answers obtain from the questionnaire.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           CHAPTER ONE

                                          INTRODUCTION

• Background of the study

Marital counselling on women involves series of pre-marital counselling sessions aim at helping women to learn skills useful for resolving marital conflicts and issues. Evidence has shown that it is beneficial for better understanding of marital roles (Ambakederemo & Ganagana, 2006). Marital stability is the relationship in which couples live together in marriage, enjoying the closest possible loving and fulfilling relationship without any intention of breakup (Adesanya, 2002). A peaceful relationship is achieved when married couples understand their individual roles and work together towards it. Adesanya (2002) identified certain factors that ensure marital stability such as economic wellbeing, responsiveness, among others. However, the strongest factor of marital stability is considered to be economic satisfaction (Adesanya, 2002).  According to Owuamanam (1997), inadequate provision of essential needs for wives and children within the family is capable of creating tension, conflict and poor marital adjustment. Similarly, Owuamanan and Osakinle (2005) observed that marital instability in homes could lead to separation and divorce. In their own study, Ambakederemo and Ganagana (2006) found that marital instability is caused by sex-related issues, love and trust, socio-cultural factors, anti-social vices and lastly economic factors. Although couples must work together to create stability in their marriage, the role played by women in this regard cannot be overemphasized. Women all over the world are known for their caring nature and ability to broker peace in order to maintain a stable home. It is even so in the African culture in general and Nigeria in particular where they are brought up to revere their husbands and endure all forms of injustices in order to gain the respect of society as responsible women. To this end, many women are seen in crusade grounds and some go to the extent of using charms so as to have a stable home. For example, Amao-Kehinde (2002) in his study found that out of 547 cases of marital conflict investigated, 206 of them were resolved and 314 disintegrated their marriages due to conflicts and infertility. Some methods employed by couples in resolving marital conflicts include the traditional round-table settlement by both family members of married couples and intervention by close friends. In most cases, these methods are faulty, one-sided and could make matters worse.

Conversely, stability in marriage is very important in bringing about commitment on women in particular in caring for their children’s upbringing and discipline. Therefore for women to be happy in their marriage, it is necessary to correct some of their irrational behaviours towards marital stability. In this wise, marital stability counselling technique was utilized as a way of eliminating wrong/negative attitude towards marital stability.

• STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The problem of this research is that women have been observed to experience marital instability resulting from a number of factors notably economic, personality, psychological and socio-ultural (Dimkpa, 2007). Attitude developed by married women could be negative or positive depending on their individual circumstances. Most homes nowadays experience instability one way or the other. Marital instability is a serious problem which interferes with women’s output to work, emotionally, educationally and socially. It could retard progress at work if women are not helped to imbibe the right attitude to marital stability. Most married women are predisposed to acting in a negative way based on certain conditions in marriage such as infidelity on the part of a spouse, environmental conditions, just to mention a few.

Thus, the extent to which a person is able to communicate her concerns brings about changes in her attitude. Since marital conflicts might result from attitudinal problems of a spouse, this study investigated the effects of marital counselling on women’s attitude towards marital stability in

Cross Rivers State of Nigeria.

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The major objective of this study was to examine the main and interactive effects of marital counselling on women’s attitude towards marital stability by exposing them to a marital counseling program aimed at helping them maintain marital stability. The researcher intend to outline the following sub-objective in the course of the study;

1. To examine the impact of marital counselling on women’s attitude towards marital stability in Cross River State
2. To ascertain if the level of women that are educated affect their attitude toward marital stability?

• To assess if marital counselling make women to lose their sense of responsibility as a wife or support marital success?

1. To examine the relationship between marital counselling and marital success?
   • RESEARCH QUESTION
2. Does marital counselling play any significant role in reducing the rate of divorce among married couples in Nigeria?
3. Is involvement in premarital counseling linked to greater satisfaction of a marriage?
4. Does the level of women that are educated affect their attitude toward marital stability?
5. Does marital counselling make women to lose their sense of responsibility as a wife or support marital success?
6. Is a positive experience of premarital counseling linked to a greater likelihood that couples will engage in marital or couples counseling during times of marital discord?
   • RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

H₀: pre-marital counselling does not guarantee smooth marriage or marital stability

H₁:  pre-marital counselling does guarantee smooth marriage or marital stability

H₀: there is no significant relationship between marital counselling and marital success or stability.

H₂: there is a significant relationship between marital counselling and marital success or stability.

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

It is believed that at the completion of this study, the findings will be of immense benefit to intend couples especially women. The findings of this study will be useful to both married men and women as well as intending couples. As married men will be exposed to the effect of different level of education of women and how when compared to their level of counselling received leading to marital success or failure. They will therefore be able to take decisions on the marital adjustment they will make as related to their spouses’ educational level for a stable marriage. Married women on their part will find the result of this study useful in that they will be exposed to the relationship between their level of education and the marital success. The needs of their spouses will be brought to force and they in turn will be able to take decision as to how they can help their spouses fulfill these needs and bring about marital success. Parents will also find the result of this study useful since they participate actively in the upbringing and the decision relating to the educational attainment of their children, they will through the findings of this study be able to give adequate guidance to their children as related to educational attainment and marital success. Guidance counsellors will finds the result of this finding useful, for the counselling of individuals who have problems of marital adjustment as related to education. This will eventually help them in the improvement of the quality of marriage in the society. The findings of this research will provide a base for further research in the area of marital adjustment and above all, it will contribute to the acquisition of knowledge in general.

• SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The study concentrates on educating women only. This is to avoid as much as possible the unreliability and invalidity of information likely to be obtained from oral interview which is the feasible means of obtaining information from the illiterate women. The scope of the study is limited to married women (academic and non-academic) staff of the Faculty of Education, University of Calabar, Cross Rivers State of Nigeria. In the cause of the study, the researcher encounters some limitations which limited the scope of the study;

Staff Reluctance: In most cases the staffs of the Faculty of Education, University of Calabar, often feels reluctance over providing required information required by the researcher. This result in finding information where the structured questionnaires could not point out.

Researcher’s Commitment: The researcher, being of full time student spent most of her time on other academic activities such as test, class work, assignment, examination etc which takes average focus from this study.

Inadequate Materials: Scarcity of material is also another hindrance. The researcher finds it difficult to long hands in several required material which could contribute immensely to the success of this research work.

• HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALABAR

The University of Calabar – also known as UNICAL – is a university situated in Calabar, Cross River State, south-south Nigeria. It is one of Nigeria’s second generation federal universities. The University of Calabar was a campus of the University of Nigeria until 1975. The architecture was designed by John Elliott. It was established by decree to fulfill this traditional mandate, its motto “Knowledge for Service”.

University of Calabar grew out of the Calabar campus of University of Nigeria (UNN), Nigeria which began functioning during the 1973 academic session with 154 students and a small cadre of academic, administration and professional staff.

In April 1975, the Federal Military Government of Nigeria announced that as part of the National Development Plan, seven new Universities were to be established at various locations in the country. The University of Calabar was one of the seven Universities set up under this programme.

Located in Calabar Municipal, an ancient city with a long tradition of culture and contact with western civilization, the already developed area of the University occupies a 17-hectare site on the eastern side of the town, between the Great Qua River and the Calabar River.

1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Marriage: This is the legal relationship between a husband and a wife.

Marital: This has to do with connected marriage or with the relationship between a husband and a wife.

Counselling: Counselling is a type of talking therapy that allows a person to talk about their problems and feelings in a confidential and dependable environment.

Counsellor: a counsellor is trained to listen with empathy (by putting themselves in your shoes). They can help you deal with any negative thoughts and feelings you have.

Success: The fact that you have achieved something that you want and have been trying to.

Relationship: This is the way in which two people, groups or countries behave towards each other or deal with each other.

• ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY

This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), statement of problem, objectives of the study, research question, significance or the study, research methodology, definition of terms and historical background of the study. Chapter two highlight the theoretical framework on which the study is based, thus the review of related literature. Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study. Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding.  Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study.

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