FAMILY BOUNDARY AS CORRELATES OF MARITAL QUALITY AND MARITAL SATISFACTION AMONG MARRIED WORKERS IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN EBONYI STATE

                                                             ABSTRACT

This study investigated family boundary as correlates of marital quality and marital satisfaction among married workers in tertiary institutions. Four research questions and four null hypotheses guided the study. The design adopted was a correlational survey design. The population of the study consisted of 4021 married workers from all tertiary institutions in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. The sample of the study was 400 married men and women drawn simple random sampling and multistage sampling techniques. The instrument used for collecting data for the study was family boundary questionnaire” (FBQ), martial quality questionnaire (MQQ) and marital satisfaction questionnaire. The instrument was validated by two experts in the field of Guidance Counselling and one in psychology. A trail test of the instrument was conducted and the reliability of the instrument was computed using Cronbach Alpha method. Direct delivery and retrieval method was used in administering the questionnaire. The research questions and hypotheses were analyzed using Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficient and simple linear regression respectively. The findings of the study revealed among others that: there is positive relationship between family boundary and marital quality. That family boundary predicts marital quality and marital satisfaction of married workers. In the same way, marital quality and gender can predict marital satisfaction. There was significant relationship between marital quality on gender and satisfaction married workers. Based on the findings, some implications were drawn which include the fact that there is need for married workers to be encouraged by the school counsellor to understand the importance of family boundaries and obey them for growth and easy goal realization of family. The fact that marital satisfaction depends on family boundaries, there is need for the school counsellor in every tertiary institutions both private and public to inform married workers appropriately based on the need of observing family boundaries for healthy living of every home. Recommendations were made which include that: Precaution should be taken when it comes to family boundaries since its deferment causes break of family peace and order.