INFLUENCE OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS ON MARITAL STABILITY AMONG SELECTED COUPLES

INFLUENCE OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS ON MARITAL STABILITY AMONG SELECTED COUPLES

ABSTRACT

The study examined the influence of socio-economic status on marital stability among couples in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State. Some relevant and related literature was reviewed in this study.

The descriptive survey research design was employed in this study for the assessment of the respondents’ opinion with the application of the questionnaire and the sampling technique. The questionnaire was used to collect data from the respondents, while the sampling technique was used to select the sample size of the study.

In this study, 150 (one hundred and fifty) couples were involved. They were selected through the stratified sampling technique. Also, four (4) null hypotheses were formulated and tested in this study, using the One-way Anova and independent t-test statistical tools at 0.05 test, the following results emerged:

(1)         Hypothesis one found that there is a significant influence of socio-economic status of couples on marital stability.

(2)         Hypothesis two indicated that there is a significant difference between the attitude of couples from high socio-economic status and those from low socio-economic status.

(3)         Hypothesis three showed that there is a significant difference between the attitude of children from high socio-economic status and those from low socio-economic status homes.

(4)         Finally, hypothesis four revealed that there is no significant difference between the academic performance of children who come from poor socio-economic backgrounds and those from wealthy families.

CHAPTER ONE 

INTRODUCTION

1.0 Background to the Study

Marriage is the legally, sexually, socially sanctioned union of two intimate adults. Traditionally, the marital relationship includes economic independence, common residence, sexual fidelity and shared responsibility for children. Although, the institution of marriage remains popular, it sometimes seems to be under assault from shifting social trends. This assault has promoted some experts, for example, Chartin (1981) and Gleen and Wearer (1988) to ask whether the institution of marriage is in trouble.

It in any case, appears that marriage will whither the storm. But it is worth looking at some of the social trends that are shaking one traditional and modern model of marriages.

According to Jones (1994) a great variety of motivational factors propel people into marriage. The most among them is the desire to participate in a socially sanctioned, mutually rewarding, intimate relationship. Among the key factors is the social pressure exorted on people to marry and the socio-economic independence which make marriage to work well. Getting marriage is still the norm in our society. Our parents, relatives and friends expect their loved ones to marry eventually, and they often make this abundantly clear with their comments and inquires. (Anorne 1994).

As Onyeji (1999) puts it, the popular view in the Nigerian culture is that people marry because they have fallen in love. Although, partially accurate, this view, is terribly oversimplified. A multitude of motivational factors are involved in the decision to marry and stay married. They key factors in marital stability are: increased acceptance of cohabitation, good family background, adequate communication, absence of inlaws’ interruption, having the same religion, maintaining the same account, fidelity or sincerity, integrity, lack of suspicion and above all, high socio-economic status.

Neither financial stability nor wealth can ensure marital stability or satisfaction (Komarorsky 1997).

INFLUENCE OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS ON MARITAL STABILITY AMONG SELECTED COUPLES