THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIO-CULTURAL VARIABLES ON MARITAL STABILITY AMONG COUPLES IN LAGOS METROPOLIS
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THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIO-CULTURAL VARIABLES ON MARITAL STABILITY AMONG COUPLES IN LAGOS METROPOLIS
THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIO-CULTURAL VARIABLES ON MARITAL STABILITY AMONG COUPLES IN LAGOS METROPOLIS ABSTRACT
The study examined the influence of
socio-cultural variables on couples’ marital stability in Mainland Local
Government Area of Lagos State.
The descriptive research survey was
applied in the assessment of the respondents’ opinions in this study.
The stratified sampling technique was employed in selecting the samples
for this study. A total of 160 (one hundred and sixty) respondents were
selected for this study to represent the entire population of the study.
For null hypotheses were formulated and tested using the one-way ANOVA
and the t-test statistical tools at 0.05 level of significance. At the
end of the analyses; these results were obtained:
(1) There is a significant influence of socio-cultural variables on marital stability among couples.
(2) There is a significant
influence of ethnicity on couples’ who come from Southern Zone of
Nigeria and those from the Northern Zones.
(3) It was revealed in this hypothesis that there is no significant influence of religion on couples’ marital stability.
(4) It was finally revealed that
there is a significant influence of communication on couples’ marital
stability. In conclusion, it was revealed from the analyses, that there
is a significant influence of socio-cultural variables on couples’
marital stability in the community. In the foregoing, the following
recommendations were forwarded by the researcher.
(1) It is the opinion of this
researcher that couples should avoid the consultation of the third party
in their conflict. Rather, they should try to settle themselves
whenever there is any marital disagreement.
(2) Couples should try to have
one faith. It is not ideal that husband and wife should have different
religious backgrounds or beliefs.
(3) For couples to maintain
marital happiness and togetherness, love must be watch-word in the
family. Without love, affection and element of trust, couples will not
go far in their marriages.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page i
Certification ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgements iv
Abstract v
Table of contents vii
CHAPTER ONE 1
1.1 Introduction 1
1.2 Theories of Marriage 2
1.3 Statement of the Problem 9
1.4 Purpose of Study 11
1.5 Research Questions 11
1.6 Research Hypotheses 12
1.7 Significance of Study 13
1.8 Delimitation of the Study 14
1.9 Limitation 14
1.10 Conceptual Definition of Terms 15
CHAPTER TWO: Literature Review 16
2.1 Concept of Culture 16
2.2 Characteristics of Culture 20
2.3 Couple Relationships 24
2.4 Concept of Marriage 25
2.5 Forms of Marriage 27
2.6 Communication Patterns and Dissatisfaction 33
2.7 Cross-Cultural Variations in Marriage 37
2.8 Factors that Guarantee Marital Stability Among Couples 40
2.9 Summary of Review 48
CHAPTER THREE: Research Methodology 49
3.1 Introduction 49
3.2 Research Design 49
3.3 Population of the Study 50
1.4 Sample and Sampling Technique 50
3.5 Research Instrument 50
3.6 Procedure for Data Collection 51
3.7 Data Analysis Method 51
CHAPTER FOUR: Data Analysis, Hypothesis Testing and
Interpretation of Results 52
1.1 Introduction 52
1.2 Hypothesis Testing and Interpretation of Results 52
4.3 Summary of Findings 59
CHAPTER FIVE: Discussion of Findings, Summary of the Study, Conclusion, and Recommendations 61
5.1 Introduction 61
5.2 Discussion of Findings 61
5.3 Summary of the Study 67
5.4 Conclusions 68
5.5 Recommendations 69
References 72
Appendix 77
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 Introduction
Culture is generally, described and
accepted as people’s way of life, which among other things includes
their material lives. The inspiration of every matured man or woman is
to have a stable and happy marital life, be compatible in love, values,
academic, economic and of course be socially alright. This in line with
the postulation of Onyema (1994), that marriage is a social institution
for the union of body and soul.
However, stability in marriage may at
times be influenced by certain socio-cultural variables. The influence
of the variables may be negative resulting to insecurity and unhappiness
in marriage or may be positive resulting to a stable and happy union.
These variables range from cultural diversity (in case of interethnic
marriage), to educational, social, economic and even religious
background.
Even age difference is inclusive in
these variables. For instance, a lady once confessed that she can never
marry an illiterate no matter how rich no matter how rich he may be,
because, one day, he might ignorantly use his certificate as a toilet
tissue. The implication of this open confession is incompatibility and
social inequality in education which are factors that may influence
marital stability. The current instability in some marriages in our
society today tend to be the resultant influence of social, economic and
cultural changes in people’s pattern of living. These changes,
according to Amaonye, (1996), have occurred and has continued to occur
so rapidly that they are not yet absorbed into our ways of living.
Furthermore, compatibility in social
lives of couples a strong factor for marital stability and survival.
When the social lives of couples are at variance, it may likely portend
great threat to marital stability, because it takes time to come to
terms with why some social outings and involvement are necessary.
However, the realization of the salient influence of these socio
cultural variables on marriage may likely be positive moment towards
marriage stability in our society today.
1.2 Theories of Marriage
Osarenren (2005), postulated that
marriage is one of the roles expected by every society for its members
during adulthood. The implication of this postulation is that marriage
is not only regarded by the society as a normal pattern of social
behaviour, it is also a legal necessity. Marriage, therefore,
constitutes an essential means of human propagation and an avenue for
children’s upbringing for a better and disciplined society.
According to Almond (2000), it is
believed that in marriage, the assurance for security, love, and
companionship is provided. In upholding this view, Adman (1998)
theorized that nature did not construct human being to be alone. He
further emphasized that those who have never known the deep intimacy and
intense companionship of happy mutual love have missed the best thing
life has to give.
Marriage is an aspect of social life
affecting both immediate members (couples) and other members of the
community. A man and a woman are attracted to each other in marriage
because each hopes that the relationship will satisfy a variety of their
needs which include love, values, financial support, social protection
and long-life companionship. However, inevitable difficulties and
challenges do accompany marriage.
Indeed, many a gap seem to exist
between an individual’s relational ideal and eventual relational
reality. As much of the scholarship suggests, problematic communication
patterns can contribute to relational demise, (Hottman, 2004). Much of
the popular literature suggests men and women are different and that
these differences manifest themselves through the sexes’ different
communication and relationship needs. Some of the scholarly research
however, suggest that men and women are not very different in their
communication or relationship needs (Gray, 1997), although some
differences do exist, so do some similarities.
When considering couple communication
in close marital relationship, as variety of things are relevant and of
interest. First, what gender differences (if any) are recognizable in
couple communication patterns? Second, how do couple-type identification
and gender-role adherence play a part in how individuals communicate
with partners in marriage? Finally, how do aspects of gender-role
adherence and coupe-type identification relate to (dis) satisfactory
couples communication? It should be noted that most of the relevant
research has been done in western cultures, with most of it conducted in
the United States.
As Kathleen (1998) theorizes, love and
marriage go together like a horse and carriage began a song popular in
the 1950s. According to Kathleen, love and freedom of choice are
important in western society. individuals choose their own marriage
partners generally by falling in love. There are however, other ways of
contracting marriage when those considerations are not regarded as
important by a particular group or society which may emphasize economic
or political requirements instead. In no society is marriage simply a
contract between two individuals. It is a part of the arrangement that a
society makes to perpetuate and organize itself. It is about
protecting, organising and replacing its individual members and
socio-political alliances between families and between society.
Depending on the society, and the emphasis it places on personal
freedom, the individuals themselves will be more or less involved in
decisions about whom and when they will marry.
In western society, Allen (2000) claims
that a couple in love before marrying, the individuals themselves play a
major role in choosing their partner. Although we believe that
individuals have a great deal of choice as to whom they will marry, the
choice is in practice often limited by some variables line, age,
religion, social class, and educational or occupational status and most
especially, cultural background of individuals who want to go into
marriage union. In many other societies, marriage is regarded as far too
important to be left to the individuals concerned and made on the basis
of romantic considerations. If marriage is part of an alliance between
families or groups, the elders of the family play a major role in
arranging the marriage. This method also protects young and
inexperienced people from the responsibility of such a big decision.
Basically, the laws and customs of
wedding and marriages reflect the predominant values of the society
which establishes them. different societies and different individuals
regard some elements as more important than others. There is no absolute
or correct form of marriage (Admson, 1997).
1.2.1 Theories on Marital Stability
Without marital stability, the ideals
of material life cannot be realized. Anyanwu (2000) theory on marital
stability laid emphasis on the conflict between the couples quests for
city jobs and their traditional roles and the subsequent insecurity of
this to marriage.
According to the theory, adults leave
the security of their traditional homes and seek employment
opportunities in cities and towns. And beside getting the hoped for
economic satisfaction, many couples are often confronted with many
problems that may effect their marriage stability. Hence there is the
probability of being exposed to foreign patterns of living which are
totally different and in conflict with there own culture.
It is in line with this theory that
Amanoye (1996) theorised that the current instability in some marriages
tends to be the result of educational, social, economic changes which
have occurred and continued to occur so rapidly that they are not yet
fully absorbed into our way of living. In essence the continued
migration of people from the rural to urban centres, the entry of women
to industry, workforce and business, coupled with the changing economic
roles of husbands tend to constitute marriage instability.
At times if the foundation is poor, it
may also constitute a problem in later marital life. For instance, these
days youngsters and youths are often far away from their parents and
relatives who can put them through on how to adjust to future marital
life. Achuzie (1999) theorised that more than before, the youths cry out
for the services of guidance and counsellors to assist them in their
problems of living especially, in the struggle to maintain a stable
marriage.
Thus, the emphasis on the significance of advance preparation and equipment to foster future marital stability.
1.2.2 Theories of Socio-Cultural Variables on Marital Stability
Are there any factors that predict
marital success? A great deal of research has been devoted to this
question. This research has been plagued by one obvious problem. How do
you measure “marital success”? Some researchers have simply compared
divorced and intact couples in regard to premarital characteristics.
Other researchers have used elaborate questionnaires to measure couples
marital satisfaction. However, these instruments appear to measure
complacency and lack of conflict more than satisfaction. Although the
measures of marital stability or success are rather crude, some
predictors of marital success have been found. These relations are all
statistically weak, but they are intriguing nonetheless (Mann, 1998).
According to Almon (2001), the marital
adjustment of parents is correlated with the marital satisfaction of
their children. People whose parents were unhappily married are more
likely than others to have an unsatisfactory marriage. For a number of
reasons, marital instability appears to run in the families.
As Poconko et al (2003) put it, there
are many important variables that can make or marr marriages. According
to them, apart from family background, the variable to be considered to
help marriage of a couple is age. The ages of couples or bride and
bridegroom are also related to the likelihood of success. Couples who
marry young have higher divorce rates (London and Wilson, 1994).
Surprisingly, couples who marry late also have a higher propensity to
divorce. Because they are selected from a smaller pool of potential
mates, older newly weds are more likely to differ in age, religion,
social status, and education. Such differences make marriage more
challenging, regardless of age.
Other variables that can affect
marriage are length of courtship and socio-economic class. Longer
periods of courtship are associated with greater probability of marital
success (Grover and Russell, 2000). It is probably not the duration of
courtship itself that is critical. Rather, this correlation may occur
because people who are cautious about marriage have attitudes and values
that promote marital stability. The frequency of divorce is higher in
the working and lower class than in the upper and middle class. There
are probably many reasons, but a key one appears to be the greater
financial stress in lower socio-economic strata.
According to Schumm (1993), another
variable that can affect marital success is personality. Personality he
theorizes is generally, partners traits are not predictive of marital
stability. However, the presence of serious psychological and emotional
disorder in one or both partners is associated with marital problems
among couples. Other variables that can affect marital success include:
tolerance, marital altitudes, mutual trust, children, couple
communication, similarity between couples etc.
1.3 Statement of the Problem
Marital instability is one of the
painful experiences of life. The wish of every married man and woman is
to spend their life time together and joyfully till death part them.
However, this is not usually the case all the time because at a
particular period in their lives, frictions do arise which leads to a
near or total collapse of the marriage. And this is one of the
inevitable challenges that accompany marriages.
Socio-cultural factors such as
religious, age, socio-economic status, social class, educational
background, personality, traditional values etc influence the marital
stability of marriage among couples are very important variables in
marital stability but the relevance of these factors are not recognized
by many couples, no wonder there are breakages in many homes as a result
of no love, lack of understanding, lack of compatibility, disparity in
age, in education, religion and social classes.
Many for instance, have failed to
realize that when couples are of diverse culture (inter-ethnic
marriage), there is need to respect each other’s culture since this
translates to respecting the person you married and subsequent marital
stability. These days marriages fail due to lack of tolerance, lack of
mutual trust, lack of patience, non-child bearing, no effective
communication, lack of good marital altitudes, similarities between
couples, lack of maturity and poor socio-economic status.
Finally, when couples are not from same
socio-cultural background, and do not have the value system and norms,
they tend to vary in understanding of themselves and lack of
understanding no doubt, creates conflict, and instability in marital
union.
1.4 Purpose of the Study
The major purpose of this study is to
determine the influence of socio-cultural variables on marital stability
among couples in Lagos State.
Other objectives of this study include to:
2. Examine whether there is difference between religion and marital stability among couples.
3. Find out whether there is difference between ethnicity and marital success among couples.
4. To determine whether there is influence of communication on marital stability.
5. To investigate whether socio-economic status has an impact on couples’ marital success.
1.5 Research Questions
The following research questions will assist the conduct of this study:
1. Will there be a significant influence of socio-cultural variables on marital stability among couples?
2. Will there be a significant difference between ethnicity and marital stability?
3. Will religious backgrounds of couples influence their marital stability?
4. Is there any significant influence of socio-economic states of couples on their marital stability?
5. Will lack of communications affect the marital stability of couples?
1.6 Research Hypotheses
The following research hypotheses were formulated for testing in this study:
1. There is no significant influence of socio-cultural variable on couples’ marital stability.
2. There is no significant influence of ethnicity on couples’ marital stability.
3. There is no significant influence of religion on couples’ marital stability.
4. There is no significant influence of communication on couples’ marital stability.
1.7 Significance of the Study
Marriage should be contracted through a
careful planning and accidental marriage (that is marriages that are
not planned but are forced on couples to save the family or families
from embarrassment) should be avoided like a plague. Before a man weds
his wife, both of them should reach the age of maturity. They should
mature socially, economically, temperamentally, financially etc.
For a happy marriage, they should
maintain a feeling of love and affection. The wife must experience a
feeling of being wanted and a sense of belonging, care and security. The
husband too needs love and affection to ensure him of a stable
marriage. Marriage partners should avoid cognitive error that is, they
should not expect the other person to see it. Therefore, if the husband
wants the wife to behave in a certain way, he should inform her about
his wishes, the same is true of the wife to her husband.
Sexual compatibility tends to foster
marital stability, marital oneness to large extent depends on sex.
Infact, sex is a form of communication and probably, the most legitimate
in which two persons (husband and wife) express oneness of mind and
feeling. Therefore, partners in marriage should be socially compatible.
Child-bearing is a factor that foster marriage may not be her fault. The
main may be very low to effect pregnancy. To avoid unnecessary doubts,
both husband and wife should go for a medical checkup to rectify or
correct the problem of childessness.
For marriage to work out well, couples
should not entertain the interference of in-laws or the third party
syndrome. They should avoid washing their dirty lining in the public.
They should be of one religious sect, joint account, mind the same
thing, maintain peace in the home and allow love and affection to rule
their world.
1.8 Delimitation
The delimitation of this study is the
influence of socio-cultural variables on marital stability among couples
in the Lagos metropolis.
1.9 Limitation
The research will cover mainland local
government area of Lagos State since the research is making use of only
mainland local government area, the generalizability of the findings is
limited to the local government area.
However, this study cannot present all
the marital problems exhibited by all the couples in Lagos State
considering the scope the generalizability of the findings can only be
applicable to the other couples in similar conditions.
There could be other problems that
manifest among couples in Lagos State, but this study will be restricted
to the one’s highlighted in the hypotheses.
1.10 Conceptual Definition of Terms
For easy comprehension of this study, all conceptual terms were defined thus:
2. Culture: This is defined
as a term emerged whole of idea and things produced by men in their
historical experience by 1910 America Anthropologists were using
“Culture” to refer to districtive of traits characterizing particular
tribal societies.
3. Culture Heritage: This is a
process of bringing together people of different ideas and cultural
background to have common interest and perceive a common goal.
4. Marriage: Marriage husband
and wife or the legal joining together of two person’s of opposite sex
as husband and wife.
THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIO-CULTURAL VARIABLES ON MARITAL STABILITY AMONG COUPLES IN LAGOS METROPOLIS
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The study examined the influence of socio-cultural variables on couples’ marital stability in Mainland Local Government Area of Lagos State.
The descriptive research survey was applied in the assessment of the respondents’ opinions in this study. The stratified sampling technique was employed in selecting the samples for this study. A total of 160 (one hundred and sixty) respondents were selected for this study to represent the entire population of the study. For null hypotheses were formulated and tested using the one-way ANOVA and the t-test statistical tools at 0.05 level of significance. At the end of the analyses; these results were obtained:.. education project topics
THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIO-CULTURAL VARIABLES ON MARITAL STABILITY AMONG COUPLES IN LAGOS METROPOLIS