INFLUENCE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL VARIABLES ON MARITAL STABILITY AMONG COUPLES IN LAGOS EAST SENATORIAL DISTRICT OF LAGOS STATE

Abstract

The study determined to analyse the influence of psychological variables on marital stability among couples in Lagos East Senatorial District of Lagos State. The design of the study was descriptive employing ex-post facto research design. The population for this study comprised of couples in Lagos East Senatorial Districts in Lagos State. The selected districts were Ibeju Lekki, Ikorodu and Epe. Samples were 300 couples from the three (3) selected areas in Lagos East Senatorial District, Lagos, Nigeria. Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation and range) were calculated for all the psychological variables. Hierarchical multiple regression models were used to examine the relationships between the four main psychological variables and marital stability. The findings revealed that there was significant influence of emotional states of mind (depression (β = -.141, p < 0.05), anxiety (β = -.199, p < 0.05) and affection (β = .577, p < 0.05)) on marital stability (Fchange (291) = 107233.5, p < 0.05) among couples in Lagos East Senatorial Districts. There was significant influence of personality traits (extraversion (β = .602, p < 0.05), openness (β = .743, p < 0.05) and conscientiousness (β = -.799, p < 0.05)) on marital stability (Fchange (290) = 114237.2, p < 0.05) among couples in Lagos East Senatorial Districts. It was recommended that marital guidance and counselling programmes should be organized among couples to assist them to cope with psychological variables to foster marital stability. Registries in Local government councils should mount awareness campaign to concertize married persons against the psychological variables that reduce marital stability. Government and its agencies such as Ministry of Women Affairs should live up to the social responsibility expectations by providing family-to-family marriage education programme through mass media. Marriage counselling, seminars, symposia, workshops and conferences should be organized for couples on marital life.