THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIO-CULTURAL VARIABLES AND MARITAL STABILITY AMONG COUPLES
ABSTRACT
The study examined the influence of socio-cultural variables and marital stability among couples in Lagos Metropolis in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State
The descriptive research survey was applied in the assessment of the respondents’ opinions in this study. The stratified sampling technique was employed in selecting the samples for this study. A total of 160 (one hundred and sixty) respondents were selected for this study to represent the entire population of the study. For null hypotheses were formulated and tested using the one-way ANOVA and the t-test statistical tools at 0.05 level of significance. At the end of the analyses; these results were obtained:
(1) There is a significant influence of socio-cultural variables and  marital stability among couples
(2) It was revealed in this hypothesis that there is no significant influence of religion and couples’ marital stability.
(3) Hypothesis one found that there is a significant relationship between the socio-economic status of couples and marital stability.
(4) It was finally revealed that there is a significant influence of communication and couples’ marital stability. In conclusion, it was revealed from the analyses, that there is a significant influence of socio-cultural variables and couples’ marital stability in the community. In the foregoing, the following recommendations were forwarded by the researcher.
- It is the opinion of this researcher that couples should avoid the consultation of the third party in their conflict. Rather, they should try to settle themselves whenever there is any marital disagreement.
- Couples should try to have one faith. It is not ideal that husband and wife should have different religious backgrounds or beliefs.
- For couples to maintain marital happiness and togetherness, love must be watch-word in the family. Without love, affection and element of trust, couples will not go far in their marriages.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1Â BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
Culture is generally described and accepted as people’s way of life, which among other things includes their marital lives. The inspiration of every matured man or woman is to have a stable and happy marital life, be compatible in love, values, academic, economic and of course be socially alright. This in line with the postulation of Onyema (1994), that marriage is a social institution for the union of body and soul.
However, stability in marriage may at times be influenced by certain socio-cultural variables. The influence of the variables may be negative resulting to insecurity and unhappiness in marriage or may be positive resulting to a stable and happy union. These variables range from cultural diversity (in case of inter-ethnic marriage), to educational, social, economic and even religious background.
