ABSTRACT
This study investigated the extent to which personality variables and mate selection preferences correlate with marital stability in Imo State. Five research questions and five null hypotheses guided the study. The study adopted a correlation research design. The sample for the study consisted of 1,496 (956 males and 540 female) married persons drawn through multi-stage sample technique from a target population of 149,606 (95,621 males and 53,985 female) married persons with age range between 40-44 for married men and 35-39 for married women who had been married for one to ten years (1-10years). Three instruments namely: Personality Variables Questionnaire (PVQ), Mate Selection Preferences Questionnaire (MSPQ) and Dyadic Marital Adjustment Questionnaire (DMAQ) were developed by researcher and validated by three experts: one from Psychology, one from Guidance and Counselling and one expert from Measurement and Evaluation; all from the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. The internal consistency of the instruments were determined through use of Cronbach Alpha method and reliability indices of 0.82, 0.80 and 0.76 were obtained for PVQ, MSPQ and DMAQ respectively. The data obtained through the administration of the instruments were analysed using Pearson product moment correlation coefficient to answer research questions. Linear regression was used to test null hypotheses 1, 2, 4 and 5, while multiple regressions were used to test null hypotheses 3 at 0.05 level of significance. Scheffe’s test was also done for a step-wise comparison of the means for hypotheses 3. The study revealed the following findings: Personality variables and mate selection preferences jointly and significantly correlate with marital stability. Personality variables had higher percentage contribution of .534 (which is 53.4%) than mate selection preferences which had .434 (43.4%) in marital stability; Male and female personality variables predicted only 5.0% and 5.4% of the marital stability respectively. Therefore, there was no significant difference in the correlation between male and female personality variable in marital stability. There was no significant difference in the correlation between male and female mate selection preferences in marital stability in Imo State. Male and female mate selection preferences predicted only 4.6% and 4.5% of the variance observed in marital stability respectively. It was thus recommended that intending couples should be mindful of differing personality traits and mate selection preference styles that can lead to marital satisfaction in their relationship and the consequent effects of the psycho-social effects on them and the children they would give birth to from the marriage.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title
Page i
Declaration ii
Dedication iii
Certification iv
Acknowledgements v
Table
of Contents vi
List
of Tables viii
Abstract ix
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
1.1
Background to the Study 1
1.2
Statement of the Problem 10
1.3
Purpose of the Study 12
1.4
Significance of the Study 12
1.5 Research Questions 15
1.6
Hypotheses 15
1.7
Scope of the Study 16
CHAPTER
2: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 17
2.1 Conceptual Framework 17
2.1.1 Concept of marriage 17
2.1.2 Concept of marital stability 30
2.1.3 Concept of mate selection 30
2.1.4 Concept of personality 33
2.2 Theoretical Framework 42
2.2.1 Trait theory of personality (Gordon Allport,
1936) 42
2.2.2 Propinquity theory (Leon, Schacter
& Kurt, 1950) 43
2.2.3 Exchange theory of Blau (1964) 44
2.3 Review of Empirical Studies 45
2.4 Summary of Literature Review 55
CHAPTER
3: METHODOLOGY 57
3.1 Design of the Study 57
3.2 Area of the Study 57
3.3 Population of the Study 60
3.4 Sample and Sampling Technique 61
3.5 Instrument for Data Collection 61
3.6 Validation of the
Instrument 64
3.7 Reliability of the Instrument 65
3.8 Method of Data Collection 67
3.9 Method of Data Analysis 67
CHAPTER
4: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 67
4.1 Results 67
4.2 Major
Findings of the Study 79
4.3 Discussion
of Findings of the Study 79
CHAPTER
5: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Summary 86
5.2 Conclusion 88
5.3 Educational
Implications of the Study 89
5.4 Recommendations 90
5.5 Limitations
of the Study 92
5.6 Suggestions
for Further Study 93
REFERENCES 93
APPENDICES 113
LIST OF TABLES
4.1:
Correlation matrix on extent
personality variables correlate
with marital stability 69
4.2:
Linear regression analysis of extent
personality variables
correlate with marital stability 70
4.3:
Correlation matrix on extent mate
selection preferences
correlate with marital stability 71
4.4:
Linear regression analysis of extent
mate selection preferences
correlate with marital stability 71
4.5:
Correlation matrix of personality
variables, mate selection
preferences and marital stability 72
4.6: Multiple
regression analysis of personality variables, mate
selection
preferences and marital stability 73
4.7: Scheffe test on relative contribution
of personality variables
and
mate selection preferences in marital stability 74
4.8: Correlation
matrix of the difference in the correlation between
male and female
personality variables in marital stability 75
4.9: Regression analysis of the difference
in the correlation between
male and female
personality variable in marital stability 76
4.10: Correlation matrix of the difference in the
correlation between
male
and female mate selection preferences in marital stability 77
4.11:
Regression analysis of the difference
in the correlation
between male and female mate selection preferences in
marital stability 78
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
Globally,
marriage is seen as a sacred institution between man and woman. It is a holy
mystery in which one man and one woman become one flesh. Marriage is a formal
event where two people (one man, one woman) are joined legally, culturally or
religiously as one. Marriage is a gift of God, a creation ordinance and a means
of His grace. Marriages are recognized by diverse religions and cultures as
working properly between two partners, man and woman for the sacred institution
creation. Obviously, marriage institution has been in existence right from the
days of Adam and Eve in the garden, Eden which up till now the institution has
continued to bridge ethnicity gap and act as national and international
integration which help to foster unity.
Undoubtedly,
marriage institution has come to take prominent position in nation building.
This is because when two partners (man and woman) come together to become
husband and wife they no longer see themselves as children but rather as adults
who are capable of advising themselves and others in the society (Ayodele,
2011). Marriage is one of the secular and religious institutions found in every
society. It is an institution that allows individuals into family life and
organised to help regulate the sexual life of people in the society at large.
Ojukwu and Kadurumba (2014) opined that marriage is not merely a private
relationship but a public affair. Ojukwu (2013) sees marriage in Igbo land as
the union between the opposite sexes and does not include same sex marriage as
it is commonly practiced in some developed countries of the world.
In
addition, Kocak (2009) view marriage as representing the only relationship
where society positively sanction most forms of sexual expression, provides
sexual outlets and legitimizes reproduction. It is the pivot through which the
society functions.
There
are different types of marriage as there exist different societies and
cultures. It extends from monogamy to polygamy vice versa. Mondal (2016)
outlined the following as types of marriage; Monogamy, Polygamy, Polygyny,
Polyandry. Monogamy is the type of marriage that operates on the rule of one
man, one wife. Polygamy on the other hand refers to a form of marriage, where
there is more than one spouse. Polygamy is of two types namely; polygyny and
polyandry. Polygyny refers to when a man marries more than one woman who may or
may not be related by blood (non-sororal polygyny and sororal polygyny). While
polyandry is the type of marriage that allows a woman to marry more than one
husband that may or may not be related by blood (non-fraternal polyandry and
fraternal polyandry) for example in most communities in Delta and Edo states.
In the traditional Igbo society, marriage is considered a sacred union which
must be entered into in the view of upholding its tenets and standards. The
United Nations Population Network (POPIN) (2018) summarized the specific
functions and roles of marriage to include establishing emotional, economic and
social bonds between spouses, providing a framework for procreation and sexual
relations between spouses; protecting
family members; giving a name and status to family members especially to
children and providing basic care, socialization and education of children.
Stability
in marriage connotes a situation where there is peace and harmony in marriage.
Adesanya, (2012) posits that marital stability refers to the relationship in
which couples live together in marriage, enjoying the closet possible loving
and fulfilling relationship without any intention of separation or divorce. It
can be viewed as the likelihood that the marriage will stay intact, without
dissolution or divorce. Ojukwu (2013) defined marital stability as husband and
wife remaining legally married in a shared household over time. Mitchell &
Plouche, (2016) explained marital stability as remaining legally married
without divorce, physical separation or legal separation. They hold that
marital stability is related to but distinct from marital adjustment, marital
quality, marital satisfaction and marital success. It implies the peaceful
staying or living together of couples with each couple playing his/her legal
family role without external intervention from either of the extended family
members and friends. Stability in marriage is obtained only when the two
couples decide to handle their matters within themselves and avoid opening
their differences to those outside the family.
Ojukwu
(2016) explained that marital stability is an important topic from theoretical
and practical point of view. He opines that individuals who enjoy happy and
stable marriage live longer and healthier lives than either divorced
individuals or those who have unhappy and unstable marriage. He linked marital
stability to marital happiness, adjustment, quality and satisfaction. According
to Ojukwu (2016) marital stability is fostered and enhanced by such factors as
effective communication between spouses, emotional bonding, intimacy,
commitment, affection, spouse’s employment, job satisfaction, sexual
satisfaction, socio-economic factors, parental background and religious
orientation.
In
spite of the numerous advantages of marital stability to the couples, families
and society at large, many people are still not disposed to marriage. Awake
(2011), reports that thousands of marriage are on their bricks of collapse.
According to the Awake, 40% of marriages in many lands are today ending in
divorce. Similarly, daily reports in the newspapers, social media, radio and
televisions even observations indicate that many marriages are breaking down.
Homes are no longer stable as they ought to be as instability in the forms of
home violence, desertion and abandonment have taken their seats in many
families leading to total separation or divorce. Report from the Welfare Board,
Imo State (2019), showed that in 2007, 22% of married couples opted for
separation and divorce. The number increased in 2018 with about 6% where it was
in record that 28% separated and headed for divorce. Similarly, in the early
part of 2019, according to the report, 1% increase was recorded bringing the
number of separation and divorce cases in Imo State to 29%. This number is
outrageous and alarming and shows the level of instability in the society among
couples. It had also been observed that the person's internal and external
configuration or make-ups in no small measure play crucial role in the
condition of marriage among spouses. Eromaka, (2016) explains that one's
personality can mar or make his or her home. He holds that most cases of
instability as witnessed in most homes are associated to (personality and its
variables). It is of essence to note that significant variations in the
attitudes and physical qualities of spouse's can lead to marriage stability.
Personality
is an umbrella word that connotes every aspect of an individual. Personality is
an individual’s ability to express own internal and external make-up. This the
individual does without being influenced by anything rather naturally and this
differentiates him or her from the world making self-distinctive. On the other
hand, Corr, Philip, Matthew & Gerald 2009, defined personality as the
characteristics set of behaviours, cognitions, and emotional patterns that
evolve from biological and environmental factors. One’s personality can be
judged by the way he or she sits, talk, act/behave and so on. It is often
broken into statistically identified factors called the Big-Five which are
openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and
neuroticism (or emotional stability). These are the major traits that underlie
personality according to psychologists (McCrae & Costa, 2010). Accordingly,
the big five theory model of Pappas (2017) are; Openness to experience which is
shorthand for “openness to experience”. According to Pappas (2017), an
individual who is high in openness enjoy adventure. The person is more creative
and holds unconventional beliefs. Openness to experience reflects the degree of
intellectual curiosity, creativity and a preference for novelty and variety a
person has. Moreover, individuals with high openness are said to pursue
self-actualization specifically by seeking intense, euphoric expressions
(Friedman, Schustack, Howard, Miriam 2016). Conversely, those low in openness
are just the opposite. They avoid new experiences, not adventurous, sticks to
their habits, sometimes even perceived to be dogmatic and close-minded.
Conscientiousness
is a tendency to display self-discipline, act dutifully, and strive for
achievement against measures or outside expectations. It is related to the way
in which people control, regulate, and drive their impulses. The average limit
of conscientiousness rises among young adults and then declines among old
adults (Research Reports on Science, 2012). People that are low in
conscientiousness tend towards carelessness, indiscipline and not dependable.
Extraversion
on the other hand according to Pappas (2017), is the recognizable personality
trait of the big five. Extraverts are chatty, sociable and draw energy from
crowds. They tend to be assertive and cheerful in their social interactions.
The more of an extravert someone is, the more of a social butterfly they are. Extroversion
is a trait marked by pronounced engagement with the external world, often
perceived as full of energy possessing high group visibility, like to talk and
assert themselves. The opposite of extroversion is introversion. Introversion
is often confused with shyness. Introverts lack of social involvement should
not be interpreted as shyness, unfriendly or depression instead they are more
independent of their social world than extroverts and reserved in social
situations. Generally, people are a combination of extroversion and
introversion, with personality psychologists suggesting that these traits are
connected somehow to our central nervous system (Friedman, Schustack, Howard
& Miriam, 2016). Extroversion as a factor is worth considering as
personality variable that are not reserved, cheerful and social to a fault.
Others may prefer to marry and live with such partners that display or show
high level of reservation and those who often think before talking with no
intention of drawing attention. Marriage is therefore could be stable if mates
are compatible, tolerable and adaptable.
Agreeableness
trait reflects individual differences in general concern for social harmony.
They value getting along with others, considerate, kind, generous, trusting and
trustworthy, helpful and willing to compromise their interests with others having
an optimistic view of human nature (Rothmann & Coetzer 2013). Agreeableness
measures extent of a person's warmth and kindness. The more agreeable someone
is, the more likely they are to be trusting, helpful and compassionate.
Disagreeable people on the reversed side are cold, less likely to cooperate,
places self-interest above getting along with others and sometimes their
skepticism about others motives causes them to be suspicious and unfriendly.
Since no two individuals are exactly the same, couples at times may agree and
disagree in certain issues. To avoid instability in marriage arising from low
or high agreeableness / disagreeableness, would-be marriage mates should
properly assess each other’s personality traits and be sure that they can
tolerate each other before mating.
Neuroticism
is the tendency to experience negative emotions, such as anger, anxiety, or
depression (Jeronimus, Riese, Sanderman & Ormel 2014). It refers to
personality of how stable or unstable an individual controls events of life. These
problems in emotional regulations can diminish the ability of a person scoring
high on neuroticism to think clearly, make decisions, and cope effectively with
stress (Reynaud, Khoury-Malhame, Rossier, Blin & Khalfa, 2012).
Neuroticism, is sometimes called emotional instability or is reversed and
referred to as emotional stability. Neuroticism is a classic temperament trust
that has been studied in temperament research for decades before it was adapted
by the five-factor model, (Norris, Larsen & Cacioppo 2007). Individuals who
scores high in neuroticism are emotionally reactive and vulnerable to stress,
flippant in the way they express emotions, interpret ordinary situations as
threatening and minor frustration as hopelessly difficult. Their negative
emotional reactions mostly tend to persist for unusually long periods of time,
which means they are often in a bad mood.
The
uniqueness of each individual is dependent on the individuals possessed
personality variables. Those variables mark one differently from others, hence,
people ought to look out for
mates that possess compatible personalities to theirs in order to nurture
stability in marriage. Personality variables are those traits possessed by
individuals which would-be marriage mates should consider before accepting each
other’s hand in marriage. Such variables include temperaments, body structure,
educational background, socio-economic status, flexibility, autonomy, personal
leadership style and others. Personality trait is a remarkable icon in unstructured
nominations of what people want in mate. Young unmarried men and women count
for a mate who is humble, and generous, reliable, sociable, firm, honest,
intelligent and understanding. This accounts for why modalities are set by
individuals for their would-be life time partners. The success of marriage
according to Oparah and Oparah, (2013) depends on a large extent on the choice
of marriage mate a person makes. Mate selection processes therefore become a
cardinal issue of concern for would be marriage mates as well as a factor that
influences marital stability.
Research
shows that personality variable is associated closely to mate selection,
relationship, satisfaction and marital stability (Donnellan, Conger &
Bryant, 2014). Mate selection refers to the process of making a choice of whom
to mate with as a life time marriage partner. It is the process of establishing
one's desires in marriage such as the psychological, physiological, spiritual,
social, academic, economical and moral quantities that are to be inherent in a
would be husband and a would be wife and associating same to a particular
individual of the opposite sex. Mate selection process can be self-initiated or
may have an external connotation. Studies have identified two major forms of mate
selection viz, the free choice and the traditional or arrangement mate
selection style (Dinna, 2015). The free choice style of mate selection involves
the individual choosing a marriage mate by himself and for himself. It does not
involve a second or third parties and no one’s opinion counts as the would-be
wife or husband makes his or her selection based on personal assessments,
interest and conviction (Eromaka, 2016).
On
the other hand, the traditional or arranged mate selection is a marriage in
which the parents or significant other become involved in the choice of a mate.
It is an agreement marriage between families and not individuals who want to
get married. Due process must be followed in that the boy’s parents as opined
by Dinna, (2015) try to get information about the girl’s family background to
make sure the family belongs to the same or comparable economic category before
the initial session to be made by the family elders. There is no gainsaying
that mate selection processes differ according to cultures. In some civilized
countries and cities, people are permitted to select their mates freely based
on their personal research on which decision may be based on love or affection
for the purpose of bearing children, sexual intimacy etc. On the contrary,
speaking about the traditional communities, the issue of choice is solely on
family linkage, position or rank, financial issues, the respect and admiration.
They believe that free choice marriage interfere into the family bonds, impose
coercion and pressure on family (Medora, Larson, Hortacsu and Dave, 2012).
The
association between personality variables and mate selection has been observed
exclusively in almost young adults based studies. Neff and Karney (2015)
posited that discrepancies between self-report and spousal reports of personal
attributes are associated with relationship instability in the first years of
married life even when spouses are relatively described more positively than
their self-descriptions. Research findings recently have shown that personality
traits or characteristics of one’s make significantly predicted marital
stability or instability most notably when the partner was lower on
agreeableness, emotional stability and intellect-openness than desired (Botwin,
Buss & Shackelford, 2008).
However,
in recent years, free choice mate selection has tremendously replaced the
traditional style. There has been an increase in personal choice based on line
of affection and couples are free to choose who they want to pair up with as
marriage partners. This situation is not different in Imo State. Young adults
set for themselves modalities for selecting who occupies the vital part of
their soul/heart. This process is achieved through dating which allows the
young ones the opportunity to study and understand themselves, their likes and
dislikes, temperaments, aspirations, religious, social, economic and political
background, education and marital status among others. These variables are key
factors in mate selection. Meanwhile, a study of the level of instability in
marriage as witness in the society today has left researchers wondering what
factors are best to be considered before mating such as marital stability, mate
selection preferences and personality variables. Personality variables and mate
selection preference as correlates of marital stability is yet to be
established. This study is embarked upon to ascertain how personality variables
and mate selection preferences as determine marital stability among couples in
Imo state with a view of making suggestions and recommendations that will
enhance and encourage marital stability among married persons.
In considering extent to which
personality variables and mate selection preferences correlate with marital
stability,
gender is a factor that may be suspected to influence the correlation. Gender
is the social and psychological aspects of being female or male; it includes a
person’s understanding of the meaning to his own life of being a male or a
female (Halpern-Felsher, 2012). Attributes of masculinity and femininity are
also considered in talking about gender.
Qualities such as assertiveness, bravery, independence, strength,
rationality and dominance are attributed to the male gender while the qualities
of nurturing, warmth, gentility, emotionality, caring and sensitivity are
attributed to the female gender (Papalia, Olds, & Feldman, 2000). The
findings of the study may reveal which gender influences the correlation
between personality variables and mate selection preferences in marital
stability.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Selecting a mate is one of the most important
decisions people make during their lifetime, and it one condition that seems to
enhance marital stability. Marital stability is observed when a man and a woman
who are culturally and legally married, remain together till the test of time
at the comfort of each other without break-up of any form. It is the
expectation of every couple that their marriage will always be peaceful, united
and stable. Stable marriage helps to create an enabling environment for living;
enhances warm glow of love while looking forward for achieving both primary and
secondary objectives of marriage. But, it has been observed that most couples
in Imo state do not possess the right knowledge, attitude and understanding on
aspects of their relationship that could enhance marital stability such as
personality variables and mate selection preferences. Marriage stability seems
to be facing serious crisis and marital breakdown which is now among couple's has
resulted in high rate of unstable marriages.
Signs of unstable marriage abound among couples
in Imo State such as lack of peace, open confrontation, negative spousal communication,
portioning of blames between husbands and wives over minor issues, separation and
divorce others. This situation has become so worrisome to the well-meaning people
of Imo state including marriage counsellors, psychologists, parents and so on that
some scholars have gone into research in order to identify factors that could correlate
with marital stability in Imo State. Literature reports from outside the study area
tend to suggest that personality variables and mate selection preferences have the
potentials of correlating with marital stability. However, the extent personality
variables such as (openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness
and neuroticism) and mate selection preferences such as (ideal mate, value theory
and compatibility) could correlate with marital stability in Imo state, Nigeria
so that both married couples and would-be couples will become aware of factors that
could relate positively to make their marriage stable has not been reported.
Therefore, the problem of this put in a question form is: how do personality variables
and mate selection preferences correlate with marital stability in Imo State?
1.3 PURPOSE OFTHE STUDY
The main purpose of this study was to find
out the extent personality variables and mate selection preferences correlate
with marital stability in Imo State. This study specifically sought to:
1.
Determine the extent personality
variables correlate with marital stability.
2.
Ascertain the extent mate
selection preferences correlate with marital stability.
3.
Find out the extent of personality
variable and mate selection preferences correlate with marital stability.
4.
Determine the correlation
between male and female personality variable in marital stability based on
gender.
5.
Find out the correlation
between males and females mate selection preferences in marital stability.
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The findings of the study had both
theoretical and practical significance when published. Theoretically, the
findings of the study supported the trait theory of personality by Gordon
Allport (1936) which believed that individuals have certain characteristics
that partly determine their behaviour and that these traits are tends in
behaviour or attitude that tend to be present regardless of the situation. The
theory emphasized that personality variables are the major areas to look out
for in the process of mate selection. To have a stable, peaceful and united
matrimony, couples must have matching personality traits. The would-be couples
must study each other to ascertain the personality make ups they have got if
they can comfortably accommodate it.
The findings of this study if successfully
completed and published, may be a great asset to all education stakeholders.
Among the beneficiaries of the emanating findings of this study are: the
parents, married couples, singles (bachelors/spinsters), adolescent, marriage
institutions agent, custodians of culture, professional bodies, curriculum
experts, government, researchers and the society/readers at large. On the part
of the parents, it would help them to have a clearer understanding of the
difficulty of marital stability. They would be helped to see how the roles they
play in the lives of newlyweds mar or sustain stability in marriage, such
knowledge would help them to know their boundaries as parents and significant
others and avoid delving into marriage matters of their children.
Young married couples too would gain from
the findings of this study. Findings of the study would help them to be aware
of factors that are capable of making their union stable and guide against
that. It would also show or expose them to roles expected of each of them to
play in order to maintain stability in their marriage. The study would draw
inferences from the experience of old and new married couples including those
whose homes are intact and those from broken homes. Singles
(bachelors/spinsters) who are preparing for marriage will benefit greatly. It
would equip them on making informed decision as regard what variables to look
out for in the would-be-marriage mate during the process of mate selection.
The marriage institution agents such as
the welfare, marriage registry units, the judiciary, marriage counsellors and
psychologists also stand to gain from the findings of the study. This is
because, the findings of the study would provide them with information on
factors that enhance marriage stability as well as those factors that breed
marital instability, knowledge of these factors would equip them on the best
approach to adopt in counselling and uniting married persons. The study would
also be a veritable tool for the custodians of culture and society at large in
that they would become aware of their involvement in the promotion of marital
stability as well as their contributions towards disintegration. The study
would help them see the need to expunge such traditions like the selection of
life partner for their children rather than allowing them make their decisions
as to who they intend to spend the rest of their lives with.
The government and its agencies would also
benefit greatly from the findings and recommendations of this study. The study
would guide the government in making laws and policies that would help regulate
and reduce the incidents of divorce, separation and factors breeding
instability in marriage. The study will also serve as a veritable tool and
reference point to home economists and home makers, psychologist, counsellors,
curriculum planners and others. Results from the study can serve reference purposes
to them for different mate selection preferences, keep marriage intact,
blissful and enhanced the generation of a model for marriage stability, harmony
and adjustment. Findings from the study would enable the researcher to make
suggestions and recommendations that would enhance and encourage marital
stability among young and old married couples. The study would also expose the
society/readers the skills and factors that would-be married persons should
possess and consider to make their wedlock a success or make their homes
stable. To the future researchers, the study would be beneficial as it would
present to them good empirical studies and literature for which they will make
references to, as they would thoroughly review past researcher studies with views
of appraising or criticizing the methodologies used in the previous studies and
find out the gap which this present study did not fill and work towards filling
the gap in a near future.
In a nutshell, the study will be of
immense benefit to future researchers, all and sundry, males and females,
single and married, old and young, if the result found in this study will be
implemented.
1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The study was guided by the following
research questions:
1.
To what extent do
personality variables correlate with marital stability?
2.
To what extent do mate
selection preferences correlate with marital stability?
3.
What is the extent of to
which personality variables and mate selection preferences correlate with marital
stability?
4.
What is the difference in
the correlation between male and female personality variable in marital
stability?
5.
What is the difference in
the correlation between male and female mate selection preferences in marital
stability?
1.6
HYPOTHESES
The
following null hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of
significance:
1.
Personality variables do
not have significant correlation with marital stability.
2.
Mate selection
preferences do not have significant correlation with marital stability.
3.
Personality variable and
mate selection preferences do not significantly correlate with marital
stability.
4.
There is no significant
difference in the correlation between male and female personality variable in marital
stability.
5.
There is no significant
difference in the correlation between male and female mate selection
preferences in marital stability.
1.7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The
study was delimited to twenty out of the twenty-seven local government areas in
Imo state. Hundred couples from each of the twenty local government areas were
studied. The content scope includes personality variables and mate selection
preferences which were the independent variables and marital stability which
was the dependent variable. Components of personality variables included
openness to experience, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness, and
neuroticism. Components of mate selection preferences studied were ideal mate,
value theory and compatibility. Marital stability components examined were
management skills, spousal communication skills, social skills and sex related
skills. Gender served as a moderator variable. Meanwhile, the study focused
primarily on married persons between the ages of forty to forty-four (40-44)
years for men and thirty-five to thirty-nine (35-39) years for women married
for one to ten (1-10) years. Gender was the moderating variable.
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