COMMUNICATION AS MARITAL CONFLICT RESOLUTION STRATEGY ON MARITAL STABILITY AMONG MARRIED PEOPLE IN SOUTH-EAST GEOPOLITICAL ZONE OF NIGERIA

U Onyekuru BRUNO

COMMUNICATION AS MARITAL CONFLICT RESOLUTION STRATEGY ON MARITAL STABILITY AMONG MARRIED PEOPLE IN SOUTH-EAST GEOPOLITICAL ZONE OF NIGERIA

U Onyekuru BRUNO

Abstract

This is a correlational study which investigated the influence of communication as marital conflict resolution strategy on marital stability among married people in the South-East Geopolitical Zone of Nigeria. A sample of 1028 respondents comprising 542 married people and 486 marriage counsellors participated in the study. The sample was drawn from the population of married people and marriage counsellors from the three states of the South East Geopolitical Zone of Nigeria using proportionate stratified sampling technique. The instruments for data collection are Communication in Marriage for Marital Stability Questionnaire and Communication Effectiveness for Marital Conflict Resolution Questionnaire designed to elicit relevant information from the married people and marriage counsellors from the three states selected for the study. They were validated by experts in the relevant fields. Data generated from the instruments were analyzed using percentage and simple regression analysis to answer the research questions and test the null hypothesis. The results of the study revealed that communication in marriage as a marital conflict resolution strategy among married people in South-East Geopolitical Zone had a high positive and significant influence on marriage stability among married people in the South-East Geopolitical Zone of Nigeria. Marriage counsellors also confirmed that communication in marriage as marital conflict resolution strategy among married people in South-East Geopolitical Zone was effective. On the basis of these findings, it was recommended that married people should avoid secrecy, but rather keep communication channel open at all times in order not to give room to speculation and suspicion and the attendant counter-reaction for peace to reign at home and in the society

Keywords

Marital Conflict;Marital Stability;Resolution Strategy

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