DETERMINANTS OF MARITAL INSTABILITY AMONG MARRIED COUPLES IN EZINIHITTE MBAISE IN IMO STATE

Abstract

The marital institution is witnessing instability globally. This study investigated determinants of marital instability among married couples in Ezinihitte in Imo State, Nigeria. The population of this study consists of all literate married couples in the Imo State. A total of 337 respondents were selected using the simple random sampling technique. The instrument titled "Determinants of Marital Stability Questionnaire" (DMSQ) was used in collecting the relevant data, with Pearson reliability (r) of 0.78. Mean scores and standard deviation were used to analyze the main research question; the t-test statistics were used to test five null hypotheses generated for the study. The findings showed that in order of ranking, lack of intimacy, difficulty in conversation, parental financial pressure, toxic atmosphere addictive bondage, and immoral entanglement are the determinants of marital stability. It further showed that there were no significant differences among the respondents in their perception of determinants influencing marital stability based on gender. Thus, it was recommended that Married couples should see themselves as one body in terms of intimacy, and learn to talk to each other by focusing on their feelings, wants, and desires not on the faults. This will promote marital harmony among couples.