Abstract
The present study examined Locus of control and self-esteem as predictors of sexual satisfaction among couple in a sample of 278 newlyweds in Akwa Ibom State. This study is a secondary study which participants completed the Demographic Information Sheet, The Internality, Powerful Others, and Chance (IPC) Scale, Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale (KMSS) and Marital Instability Index (MII). Correlation analysis was employed to assess relationships among the variables. Result indicated that there is a negative significant relationship between external locus of control and marital satisfaction, but there is no significant relationship between internal locus of control and marital satisfaction. Whereas, there is no significant relationship between both locus of control with marital stability. This study incongruent with past research and contributes to the new findings on locus of control.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Today, most couples agree that two main goals in the marriage are having satisfactory sexual relationship and mental agreement with the spouse. Although most individuals emphasize on more having sexual relationship, satisfactory sexual relationship and mental agreement are considered as two inseparable components in a successful marriage [1]. By starting the marriage and creating marital relationship, sexual satisfaction and marital satisfaction change into important variables in association with the marriage quality. Sexual satisfaction and marital satisfaction are regarded as two of the most important factors in affectionate stability of couples [2]. The reason why people get married may be better understood in the concept of the need to belong. Baumeister and Twenge [3] suggest that need to belong is a very powerful motive which leads people to have social attachments and to form and maintain enduring interpersonal relationships. Having a long-term intimate relationship generally produces positive emotions. However, losing attachments generally results in pain and disappointment even if there is no plausible reason to maintain them. Furthermore, even if maintaining the relationship is too costly, people resist losing that attachment. On the other hand, the need of belongingness can just be meeting in pleasant or satisfactory relationships. Baumeister and Twenge [3] also claim that, belongingness positively affects the health and well-being. Physical and psychological problems are commonly seen in the case of unsatisfied need of belongingness. Similarly, Rose [4] believes that an intimate love and acceptances satisfies the need of belongingness and affirm the worthiness of the self. On the other hand, attaching to somebody makes people vulnerable to the pain of possible rejection and indirectly threats the self. Rho [5] defined marital satisfaction as “...a subjective evaluation by an individual of the degree of happiness, pleasure, or fulfillment experienced within the marital relationship between spouse and self” (p.5). Marital happiness is found to be associated with physical and psychological health [6]. These positive effects that are related to marital happiness may be better understood with the following statement: “A supportive romantic or marital partner acts as a kind of buffer or barrier between us and the problems of life” [7]. On the other hand, while some marriages are happy, some others “begin as a source of satisfaction, but often end as a source of frustration” [8]. Although there are satisfactory marriages, there are also marriages which suffer from marital discord or which results in divorce. Amato and Booth [9] reported that, parents’ marital discord is transmitted to their offspring’s marriage. This transmission leads to a decrease in marital harmony and an increase in marital discord. Researchers argue this finding from the view of the social learning perspective, by suggesting that children observe and learn negative interpersonal styles from their parents. Moreover, they are less likely to learn a positive behavior which facilitates satisfying relationships, such as showing support or successfully resolving the conflicts.
1.2 Problem of the study
All human-beings, especially people with low self-esteem, need belongingness and acceptance. However, ironically, regardless of how much acceptance and love they get, low self-esteem people always experience a perceived risk of rejection since they regard themselves as unworthy. They want to protect themselves from others which results in quickly perceiving signs of rejection. Fear of rejection leads the person distance 11 him/herself from his/her partner by devaluing him/her or by reducing feelings of closeness. On the contrary, people with high self-esteem may lessen the effects of relationship problems on their self with their resilient expectation of acceptance. When the relationship discorded, they emphasize the strengths of the partner and relationship. In the light of these findings one can claim that, high self-esteem people may exhibit more positive behaviors in a case of relational problems, which can positively affect the relationship. This study will, on this premise examine, locus of control and self-esteem as predictors of sexual satisfaction among couple
1.3 Purpose of the Study
The primary goal of the present study is to gain an understanding of sexual satisfaction; that is, sexual satisfaction is the focus of the present study. The above literature reflects the multiple variables that affect sexual satisfaction. One significant variable is sexual satisfaction and the others are locus of control and self-esteem. As a result, this study mainly investigates locus of control and self-esteem as predictors of sexual satisfaction among couple. Additionally, this study examines the interrelationships among sexual satisfaction, marital satisfaction, locus of control, and self-esteem.
1.4 Research Questions
How does Locus of control and self-esteem predict sexual satisfaction?
What is the relationship between internal locus of control and self-esteem?
1.5 Hypothesis of the Study
The potential outcomes that this investigation hopes to achieve are addressed in these research hypotheses:
HO1: There is a significant relationship between Locus of control, marital satisfaction and marital stability.
1.6 Significance of the Study
Since sexuality is a bio psychosocial phenomenon (Kring, 2000) with a multidimensional nature (Masters, et al., 1995) and it is beyond a basic genital functioning (Whipple & McGreer, 1997; cited in Samelson and Hannon, 1999) recent models on sexuality emphasizes the importance of relationship factors (Samelson & Hannon, 1999). However, as Clark (1994; cited in Timm, 1999) suggested, sexual behavior of married couples is a highly neglected area and further research is needed to provide a wider understanding of marital sexuality. Interestingly, it is clear that the relationship between sexual satisfaction and marital satisfaction has not widely attracted the researcher’s attention in sexological research (Cristopher & Sprecher, 2000). However, although there are not many studies investigating the relationship between sexual and marital satisfaction, large body of the existing investigations indicate a relationship between these variables. It is found that relationship related problems are negatively related with sexual problems (Crowe, 1995) and there is a powerful relationship between the marital and sexual relationship (Crowe, 1995; Dziegielewski & Resnick, 1998; Hawton, 1985; Klemer, 1970; Masters, et al., 1995; Watson & Davies, 1997). Additionally, Masters, et al. (1995) states that, to understand how sexual and marital satisfaction affects each other, special inquiry must be conducted on these variables. In the light of the literature above, it is clear that, marriage and sexuality takes place to some degree in the relevant research. However, sexual satisfaction, marital satisfaction and the possible relationship between these variables have not widely attracted the researcher’s attention. There are limited number of studies (e.g. Gökmen, 2001) examining sexual satisfaction and marital satisfaction, in Nigeria. By investigating sexual satisfaction in marriage, this study aims to contribute to an increased understanding of sexuality within the marital relationship. Thus, by indicating how an individual’s sexual satisfaction and marital satisfaction relate each other, present study should be helpful to therapists counseling couples and individuals. Additionally, in today’s sex therapies sex is generally the focus of the therapy and individual as well as relational aspects of the sexual satisfaction are rarely considered. However, aiming to indicate the relationship between these variables this study hopes to make valuable contributions to the clinicians who conduct sexual and marital therapies in the country. As a result, it may be clinically useful to gain a better understanding of these variables and interrelationships among them. Because sex exists in every person’s life (Dziegielewski & Resnick, 1998) in a satisfactory or unsatisfactory, active or passive way, truly understanding the variables that are related to sex is vital, which is between the expected contributions of this study. Additionally, high prevalance of sexual problems as well as sexual dysfunctions (Barash & Lipton, 2002; Dziegielewski & Resnick, 1998; Kalayjian & Morrell, 2000) indicate that understanding and modifying the factors which are related to sexual satisfaction might make an important contribution to the literature. However, sexological research has not provide an integral and complete information on sexual satisfaction and sexual dissatisfaction (Ackerman, 1995). The increasing demand for treatment of sexual problems (Hawton, 1985) also leads the psychologists to serve a wider knowledge on this subject. Since there is a lack of research in this area that focuses on sexual satisfaction, present study will be helpful to expand the existing knowledge. It is clear from the literature that, most sexuality research focuses on sexual dysfunctions and clinical couples, and investigations of sexuality seem to fail to address sexual satisfaction of non-clinical couples. A similar tendency reflects to the Nigerian literature. Studying clinical populations and sexual dysfunctions is more popular, and there are many studies on these populations (Kabakçı & Batur, 2002; Kabakçı & Daş, 2002; Kayır, Yüksel, & Tükel, 1987; Uçman, 1982). Furthermore, as Wincze & Carey (1991; cited in Rosen and Leiblum, 1995) criticized, sexuality research has a tendency to classify sexual health as “functional” and “dysfunctional” which results in an ignorence of personal and interpersonal satisfaction. Similarly, although much work has been done on sexual dysfunctions (Anson, 1995; Asch-Goodkin, 2001; Bhugra & de Silva, 1995; Butcher, 1999; Chu & Edelman, 2001; Crowe, 1995; de Silva, 1994; Dziegielewski & Resnick, 1998; Ensign, 2001; Gregoire, 1999; Kleinplatz, 1998; Kohn & Kaplan, 2000; Kring, 2000; Munnariz, et al., 2000; Read, 1995; Southern, 1999; Watson & Davies, 1997) current literature fails to serve a complete knowledge on sexual satisfaction. However, as Pazak (1997) noted, couples may suffer from some kind of sexual problem which cannot be diagnosed as “sexual dysfunction”. As a result, the investigation of sexual satisfaction is very important. Similarly, as Timm (1999) criticized, although considerable research has focused on the sexual health of clinical couples, few empirical studies interested in nonclinical couples. However, it is suggested that it is very important to examine nonclinical populations (Ward Peters, 2002). Consequently, this study investigated sexual satisfaction on a non-clinical sample of married persons in order to provide valuable information on this neglected area of sexological research. Satisfaction in marriage has been found to related to physical and psychological health (Kiecolt-Glaser & Newton, 2001; Wood, et al., 1989). Conversely, both marital discord (Amato & Booth, 2001) and dissolution of the marital relationship (Kitson, 1992) generally associated with negative consequences for the spouses and as well as for their offspring. However, the literature on marital satisfaction is limited. In the light of these findings, it may be concluded that predicting the factors which affects the marital satisfaction is vital. However, as Gottman (1993) claimed, literature is not satisfactory to clarify the points such as the reasons of staying together, as well as differences between happy and unhappy marriages. Results of this study are hoped to provide new insight and knowledge regarding predictors of marital satisfaction and dissatisfaction. By identifying the couples under the risk of marital dissatisfaction, prevention strategies can be implemented an increased later functioning may be proved. Thus, gaining a more complete understanding of the factors that are related to marital satisfaction has great importance in preventing marital dissatisfaction, which is considered as another contribution of this study to the literature. Although self-esteem and locus of control has been between the most widely studied personality concepts (Judge, et al., 2002) role of these variables in understanding the romantic and sexual relationships has been ignored. Given the limited literature on the relationship among these variables, it can be said that, the contribution of self-esteem and locus of control in interpersonal and sexual relationships has not been a popular research subject. Holding a belief that personal efforts would be effective for one’s own satisfaction in his marriage or sexuality might be important in terms of his experience of marriage or sexuality. Likewise, the level of self-esteem might affect sexual and marital satisfaction. From the other perspective, the role of romantic or sexual relationship satisfaction on the level of self-esteem and locus of control is worth to examine. Researchers are investigating locus of control and self-esteem, but very few are adressing their relevance with interpersonal relationships. Questions such as “Does low self-esteem people or high self-esteem people experience more satisfactory sexual relationships?”, “Does people with internal locus of control or external locus of control experience higher marital satisfaction?” and “How marital or sexual dissatisfaction affects people’s level of self-esteem or locus of control?” still needs to be answered. Due to the relative lack of existing data and literature on this topic, this study will contribute to the body of literature of both clinical and social psychology. It is also clear that the role of age, length of marriage, sexual intercourse frequency and orgasm frequency in predicting the sexual satisfaction is also important to widen the understanding on sexual satisfaction. Since there is no studies in Nigeria which widely examine the role of these variables in sexual satisfaction, studying these variables to reach a wider knowledge on sexual satisfaction in Nigeria is necessary. As a result, findings of this study are hoped to contribute to the existing sexuality and marriage literature in Nigeria. It is also clear that experience of sexuality and marriage, as well as conceptions, beliefs and behaviors that are related to sexuality and marriage are affected by social and cultural constructions. As a result, effects of social and cultural differences on sexual and marital satisfaction needs to be carefully considered (Hünler & Gençöz, 2003; Kabakçı, Tuğrul, & Öztan, 1993; Kayır, Yüksel, & Tükel, 1987). However, as Kayır, Yüksel, & Tükel (1987) criticized, knowledge on sexuality generally depends on the studies which were conducted in other societies, in Nigeria. As a result, widening the understanding on the sexual and marital relationships in Nigeria will be helpful for Nigerian clinicians who conduct sexual and marital therapies.
1.7 Scope of the Study
The scope of the study is delimited to Locus of control and self-esteem as predictors of sexual satisfaction among couple. The study is limited to therapists and newlyweds (1-5 years of marriage). Its content scope is self-esteem and locus of control as predictors of sexual satisfaction. The independent variable is self-esteem and locus of control while sexual satisfaction is the dependent variable. The geographical scope of the Akwa Ibom, Nigeria.
1.8 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
The Major Limitations of the study are:
Cost Limitation: There was a cost limitation. This means that we could not offer any gift or monetary incentives for the respondents to answer the questionnaire. This might have resulted in certain prospective respondents choosing not to respond to the questionnaire. This might not have created a motivation among respondents not to take a chance to give opinions.
Time Limitation: There are two types of time limitation faced during the study. The study was done for a period of election. Hence the results would reflect the impact of the time constraint. The insights of the respondents were observed during the period of study. A more extensive study conducted over a larger time period or during a special period of time like when there were higher numbers of issues.
1.9 Definition of Terms
Self-Esteem
"The evaluation, the liking and respect, an individual has of oneself. People with high self-esteem, for instance, have self-respect — consider themselves as people of worth. At the same time they recognize their faults which they hope to change. People with low self-esteem lack respect for themselves, consider themselves unworthy, inadequate and seriously deficient" (Greene, 1985/86, p. 81). The measurement instrument was Hudson's Index of Self-esteem, (1982)
Internal Locus of Control
Duttweiler (1984) defined internal locus of control as the perception held by individuals of the extent to which events in their lives are primarily the consequence of their own actions. For the purpose of this study internal locus of control was assessed by Duttweiler's Internal Control Index.
Sexual satisfaction: means two people exploring each other’s' physical desires with respect and reciprocation.
