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The Influence Of Socio-economic Status On Marital Stability
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CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.0Background 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).
Komarorsky
went on to postulate that without money, families live in constant
dread of financial drains such as illness layoffs, or broken appliances.
Husbands tend to view themselves as poor providers, and their
self-esteem may crumble as a result. This problem is sometimes
aggravated by disappointed wives, who criticize their husbands for their
inability to provide for the family.
According to Amaonye (1998),
spontaneity in communication may be impaired by an understandable
reluctance to talk about financial concerns. Thus, it is clear that
poverty produces significant stress for married couples. Given this
reality, it is important that prospective partners be realistic about
their ability to finance a viable future.
Moreover, when financial resources are plentiful, money can be a source of marital strain (Adeleke, 1991).
According
to Adeleke (1991), quarrels about how to spend money are common and
potentially damaging at all income levels. Pattman and Llyod (1998), for
instance, found that perceived financial stress, regardless of a
family’s actual income was associated with decreased marital
satisfaction.
Furthermore, another study carried out by Martins and
Martins (1996), examined how happily couples handled their money in
comparison to couples that eventually divorced. In comparison to the
divorced couples, the happy couples engaged in more joint decision
making on finances. Thus, the best way to avoid trouble and some battles
over money is probably to engage in extensive planning of expenditure
together (Buss, 1986).
Again, Ochemba (1999) opines that money is
very important for the stability of many families. According to him,
without money, there may not be marital bliss and love which are the
core ingredients couples need to stay together as one indivisible
entity. In a research carried out by Ochefu (1992), it was found that in
the high socio-economic status families, there tend to be happiness,
love and affection than in the low or poor socio-economic homes. Eraser
(1983) asserts that in the high socio-economic status homes, parents
stay together in love, children are provided with their needs and there
tend to be high level of mutual understanding. Whereas, in the poor
homes, parents constantly fight each other because the husband could not
provide for the family or the children’s school fee’s cannot be paid as
at when due.
Also, Anyanwu (1980) is of the opinion that in a family
where there is poverty and lack, there tends to be unfaithfulness,
disrespect, fighting, quarrelling and these can lead couples to break up
their marriages or they may live like cat and mouse in the same house.
The problem of socio-economic status of couples and its effects on their
marital stability is what prompted this researcher to embark on this
work.
Issues of mutual concerns have to be talked about freely and
without any inhibition. Efforts should be made to talk over difficulties
and work out acceptable-solutions. Expressions of feelings and
readiness to tell the marriage partner what you expect him or her to do
are necessary before behaviours can be modified to suit a given
situation (Ayodele, 1990).
CHAPTER ONE -- [Total Page(s) 4]
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ABSRACT - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]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 ... Continue reading---
