Financial Abuse and Marital Satisfaction of Clerical Personnel in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study investigated the relationship between financial abuse and marital satisfaction of clerical personnel in Ikot Ekpene Local Area, Akwa Ibom, Nigeria. Four objectives were raised from which four null hypotheses were postulated. The purpose of the study was to determine the relationship between financial vagueness, financial infidelity, financial micromanagement and financial coercion with marital satisfaction of clerical personnel in the area of study. The correlational research design was used for the study. A sample size of 60 clerical personnel out of an estimated population of 250 who served as ministers in Churches were selected using snowball technique. They were individually reached online using with a researcher-developed instrument tagged ‘Financial Abuse and Marital Satisfaction Scale (FAMSS). A reliability coefficient of 0.79 was obtained using the Cronbach's Alpha statistical tool to determine its reliability value. Data obtained were analysed and tested at .05 level of significance using simple linear regression statistical tool. Results of the study revealed significant relationship between each financial abuse variable and marital satisfaction. It was concluded that marital satisfaction of clerical personnel can be adversely affected by financial abuse. It was therefore recommended among others, that to help married couples achieve marital satisfaction, financial education through marital counselling should be seen as a necessity in the church.