RELIGIOUS, CULTURAL ORIENTATIONS AND MARITAL ADJUSTMENT OF MARRIED PERSONS IN BAYELSA AND DELTA STATES

BY

EDAGOBO, Justin Oghenovo

Department of Guidance and Counselling

Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated religious, cultural orientations and marital adjustment of married persons in Delta and Bayelsa States. The purpose is to establish if there is relationship between religious, cultural orientations and marital adjustment among married persons in Delta and Bayelsa States. Two research questions were raised and were hypothesized to guide this study. The study adopted the correlational survey design with the population of seven thousand, two hundred and thirty-two (7,232). This entails three thousand, seven hundred and sixteen (3,716) from Warri and three thousand, five hundred and sixteen (3,516) from Yenagoa Metropolis. The multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select one thousand two hundred (1,200) respondents. The research instrument is 30 items, 4-point modified likert scale questionnaire titled “Religious, Cultural Orientations and Marital Adjustment Scale” (RCOMAS). The reliability of the instrument was established using Cronbach Alpha Statistics and it yielded a reliability index (α) of 0.95 for religious orientation, 0.93 for cultural orientation and 0.84 for marital adjustment. The data obtained was analysed using the Coefficient of Determination and Regression statistics at 0.05 level of significance. Results revealed that there is significant relationship between religious, cultural orientations and marital adjustment of married persons in Bayelsa and Delta States. Based on the findings, it is recommended that married persons should pay attention to religious and cultural tenets that enhance better marital adjustment and put them to use. Finally, couples with and without instability issues are advised to seek family counselling services.

Keywords: Marital Adjustment, Marriage, Religious Orientations, Cultural Orientations