CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Marriage is said to be one of the oldest institutions in the world and it is said to date back to early creation. It is the coming together of a man and a woman for the purpose of companionship and procreation (Obiunu, 2007). This coming together of man and woman can be organized in different forms either traditional or along religious lines of (Islamic or Christian Marriage) or that which takes place in the registry.

The above stated forms or types of marriage is expected to present the couple an avenue to let people or the families know that they have chosen to spend the rest of their lives together. This acknowledgement of one another before the parents, church or law is only the beginning of a long journey of lessons and relationship especially where the couple has not been living with each other. Marital satisfaction therefore refers to the extent to which a married couple enjoys the union so contracted between themselves: Marriages are entered into with the hope of achieving marital bliss and happiness.

Several factors however determine the extent to which
the couple is satisfied with each other as husband and wife. The absence of marital satisfaction more often than not lead
to divorce and in some cases, keeping or engaging in extra marital affairs with the hope of bridging the perceived gap. The married couples are expected to stay together, accommodate each other in sickness and in health, to have and to hold and to love and cherish and learn to live together m harmony irrespective of language and tribe, religious inclination, age and place of domicile.

The reviewed variables such as gender, age, occupation, length of marriage and level of education may to a great extent determine the level of satisfaction, which the couples enjoy from the union. There have been instances in the past where the husband is seen as the sole provider of food and shelter for the wife and children (family). Current experiences however show that women are likely to get some satisfaction from taking up responsibilities of contributing to the up keep of the family, hence they are now desirous of working and supporting the home (Ahaia, 2006).

Another major issue that is tied to the success of every marriage may be the age at which marriages are contracted. People are of the view that marriages that are entered into at a much early age between 12 and 16 are not likely to get satisfaction at a much older age because some of those things that are now known to them at this age could have helped them to make better informed choices (Ntukiden and Etudor, 2005).

Some people felt that such marriages may end up being a mistake and as such may not be enjoyed, talk more of getting the desired marital satisfaction. The advocate of this believe that marriages contracted at a much later age of say between 18 and 25 years are much better planned couple) better informed and more mature to take responsibilities of child care, feeding and provision of shelter.

Another point of note with regards to satisfaction or dissatisfaction in marriages is the dwelling place of the couple. Those who reside in the rural areas are said to engage in marriages at an early age. They may not have gone to school to acquire the type of education that is high enough to sustain a family in present day (Tabotndip, 2007). The rural dwellers usually feel timid and shy when men and women from the cities or urban areas come calling. They are seen by those from the cities as being under bondage and getting nothing out of life and marriage. They are seen as not getting any form of satisfaction especially as they are neither society ladies nor are the men of any relevance in the society (Imonivberha and Enaibe, 2007). The males and females in any marriage setting is said to have varying degrees of satisfaction from the marriage. ‘The man as in traditional African society have the “right” to marry as many women as possible therefore enjoying the “care” and “love” from different women. The women are however constrained by culture and tradition to stay put with one man who in some cases may not care or even realize that the feelings of the woman needs to be respected. The women are made to suffer untold hardship and deprivation from men who hardly stay at home, careless about the feelings of the women and in some cases the women are beaten for daring to challenge their husband’s authority.

Therefore, the level of education of a couple may be said to affect the level of satisfaction-derived from the union. An educated man is argued to be more likely to threat his wife/spouse like a Queen while an illiterate man or woman will most likely use the spouse as a tool for attaining whatever form of satisfaction he or she desires (Imonivberha and Enaibe 2007). Stories abound of how men in rural areas who are not educated allow their wives do the fishing, farming and other household chores while the man goes out either playing games or with friends drinking alcohol or plotting some illicit affairs.

A comparison of the various relationships discussed above is said to produce result that are astonishing as well as intriguing. Some religions appears to have relegated the women to a state of perpetual subjugation. She is neither expected to protest nor speak out but to obey his husband irrespective of the treatment meted out to her.

The Christian marriage to a great extent allows the wife to be a helpmate to the husband and marriage consummated along this belief tends to suggest that the woman is human and should be treated with love, respect and kindness.

The traditional religion may not be said to give similar level of freedom as she is subjected to the dictates of the man and she is one that is held responsible for any wrong in the family. The level of children adherence to societal norm and values could be ascribed to whether the woman has done her homework or whether she has neglected the role of caring or catering for the children.

Another issue in this study will be based on the occupation of the couple. Most traditional men do not want their wives to work in government or private establishment for fear that they might be taken away by their more influential men who work or practice lucrative professions like medicine, law and earn more. They are likely to feel more comfortable and perhaps enjoy more satisfaction.

The issues that emanate from the above statements is that a marriage that cannot enjoy the good things of life such as basic understanding due to age barrier , disparity in educational qualification, gender, occupation would most likely create a worrisome and problematic society.

Statement of the Problem

The satisfaction that a man and a woman gets from marriage will enable couples have a more peaceful home. However, the families in Warn metropolis have in the recent years been faced with economic hardship and deprivation.

The man in most cases may be working offshore and is usually not around to comfort his wife. In some other cases, the women as a result of the social ills get pregnant and are, forced to go into marriage unprepared, uncultured and in most cases not in the best frame of mind for marriage. The religious belief has not in any way helped the situation as morals have been dumped for money and people are willing to do anything for money.

The men are treated as kings while the women are seen as slaves to be used and dumped for other women who appear to catch the fancy of the man. Several problems are seen to affect marriage and marital satisfaction.

The problem of the study is to determine the level of satisfaction that married persons in Warn metropolis derive from their marriages. Specifically, the problem of the study is: Does marital satisfaction exist among married persons in Warn Metropolis relative to their Demographic variables?

Research Questions

The following questions are posed to guide the study.

1. What is the level of marital satisfaction in the Warn Metropolis?
2. What is the nature of relationship among gender, age, occupation, length of marriage, level of education and marital satisfaction?
3. What is the relationship between age of marital persons and their level of marital satisfaction in Warn metropolis?
4. What is the relationship between occupation of married persons and their marital satisfaction in Warn metropolis?
5. What is the relationship between duration of marriage of married persons and their marital satisfaction in Warn metropolis?
6. What is the relationship between married persons’ nature of accommodation and their marital satisfaction in Warn metropolis?

Research Hypotheses

The following Hypotheses are proposed to direct the study

1. There is no significant relationship in the nature of married persons with regards to gender, age, occupation, education.
2. There is no significant relationship between age of married persons and their marital satisfaction among couples in the Warn metropolis.
3. There is no significant relationship between occupation of married persons and their level of marital satisfaction
4. There is no significant relationship between duration of marriages of married persons and their marital satisfaction
5. There is no significant relationship between education of married persons’ and their level of marital satisfaction.

Purpose of the Study

The purpose of study is to investigate the level of marital satisfaction among married persons in Warri metropolis.

The study is also to determine the variable that influences marital satisfaction among married persons in the metropolis.

The purpose is therefore enumerated as below:

1. To determine the level of marital satisfaction among married couples in Warn metropolis.
2. To determine whether couples occupation has any relationship with marital satisfaction among married couples in Warn metropolis.
3. To determine whether the sex of couple has any relationship with marital satisfaction among married couples in Warn metropolis.
4. To determine whether there is a relationship between couple’s level of education and marital satisfaction among married couples in Warn metropolis.
5. To determine whether age has any influence on marital satisfaction among married couples in Warn metropolis.
6. To determine whether the duration of marriages has any relationship with marital satisfaction among married couples in Warn metropolis.

Significance of the Study

It is hoped that the findings of this study will bring to the fore the crucial place of marital satisfaction on family lives.

It is also hoped that on the long run the result of the study will be available to official in the ministry of women affairs and social development to aid in the planning of one of the social problems facing the citizens with a view to minimizing the effect of marital dissatisfaction on other aspect of our national lives.

It is also expected that administrators, guidance counsellors, psychologist and others in tertiary institution will find in this research, a new, updated and useful foray into data related to marital satisfaction. This is because it will add to the existing literature in our libraries and help Guidance Counsellors counsel people with marital problems.

Definition of Terms

A number of operational terms are used in this study. It is therefore necessary to define them, since they may have different meaning to different people.

Marriage: This is the union between a man and a woman as husband and wife.

Marital Satisfaction: Is the pleasure derived from being married.

Married Couple: Those living as husband and wife either together or in different homes.

Social Demographic Variables: Refers to the variables of gender, age, religion, occupation, duration of marriage, education, dwelling together and location.

Warn Metropolis: A. town in the Niger Delta region that is inhabited predominantly by the Ijaws, Urhobos and Itsekiris.

You either get what you want or your money back. T&C Apply

Talk to us right now: (+234)906-451-7926 (Call/WhatsApp)

---