GENDER AND APPLICATION OF MARITAL STABILITY VARIABLES AMONG COUPLES IN IKA NORTH EAST SENATORIAL DISTRICT OF DELTA STATE

Abstract

The study examined gender and application of marital stability variables among couples in Ika North East Senatorial District of Delta State. An ex-post fact research design was used for the study. The study was conducted in Ika North East Senatorial District. The population of the study was 22,721 marriage couples. The sample size of 529 married couples representing ten percent (10%) of the entire population was selected. A researcher developed instrument entitled “Gender and Application of Marital Stability Variables among Couples Questionnaire (GAMSVCQ)” was used for data collection. The instrument was subjected to face validity with a reliability coefficient of 0.87 obtained using Split-half method. Out of the 529 copies of the instrument administered, only 513 copies were completely filled and retrieved. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions while independent t-test were used to test the hypotheses formulated at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study showed that there is no significant difference in the application of love to ensure marital stability between male and female couples in Ika North East Senatorial. The findings also showed that there is significant difference in the application of  respect  to ensure  marital stability between male and female couples and that   there is significant difference in the application of  communication  to ensure  marital stability between male and female couples.  Based on the findings, it was concluded that gender influence application of marital stability variables among couples in Ika North East Senatorial District of Delta State. It was recommended among others that marriage counsellors should regularly organize trainings to both couples on the rudiments of love; this would help to make them appreciate importance of love in ensuring marital stability.