CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Marriage is a legal, religious, cultural and social principle that has been considered and addressed by scholars in several areas such as counseling, sociology, psychology, religion and theology to mention but a few. Marriage is instituted by God at first and later on reorganized by man as a social setup that includes an agreement, including acknowledgment of the rights and responsibilities of parenthood, usual residence for husband, wife, kids, and mutual economic responsibilities. The system of marriage shown to be advantageous when satisfying the security, love and belongingness needs. Marital satisfaction is the state at which couples are delighted and pleased with their marital relationships. Based on postulation of some scholars (Anghel, 2016 & Habib, 2014), marital satisfaction is based on some factors such, availability of children in marital relationship, counseling, persistence, determination, sexual contentment, humility achievement of individual and collective goals to name a few.
Despite that marriage was established as an institution for couple to enjoy as they satisfy one another, it is really regrettable that lots of marriages in our churches have either collapsed or prepared to break down as a result of marital dissatisfaction. This marital dissatisfaction is a scenario of not enjoyable with spouse's dispositions to marriage pledge or oath. Dissatisfying marriages have led to extra marital affairs, conflict, separation and divorce. After that, the emotions of couples are affected adversely when the scenarios emerge and aftermath. Absence of emotional intelligence which is the capability to bring positive results from intrapersonal, interpersonal relationships and poor emotional control in marital relationships Fincham and Beach (2010) has brought about a great deal of issues such as occasional and regular verbal assaults and physical assaults amongst couples.
Emotional intelligence which involves social responsibility, interpersonal relationships and stress tolerance skills can be useful to identify marital satisfaction. As marriage is a social issue that includes performance of specific responsibilities for the couples, relating in such a way to bring favorable interpersonal relationship between marriage companions in tolerating each other's character (Fincham and Beach (2010) It is certain that marital satisfaction can surface in a relationship if high emotional intelligence is shown. Additionally, it is presumed that couples with strong emotional attributes such as compassion, understanding of partner emotions, emotional inspiration and persuasive interaction can ignite marital satisfaction. Some literature had suggested that emotional intelligence is connected with interpersonal relationships and human sustenance (Adul Rauf, Yarmidi, Yaaziz & Zubar, 2013); and teaching, research, learning, and high quality of relationship (Biria, and Zafari, 2014). Likewise, emotional intelligence has been connected with marital satisfaction of couples in Asia America and Europe however few have been mentioned in Nigeria particularly amongst couples in Abuja.
Many couples are not enjoying their marriages as a result of low emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence demonstrated, also, in some marriages in Abuja and in Nigeria as a whole. Many couples shown immaturity in dealing with marital relationships and mentally insensitive to their partners bring about poor interpersonal relationships. Not surprising that, several couples are not well adjusted and unstable in their marriages.
Marital quality is often made use of in an understanding that consist marital success the like joy and satisfaction. Nonetheless, it is good to think about marital success as something that can impact marital quality however is not part of it, since change is a part of the relationship between marital partners rather than a sentiment experienced by both partners. Such indications of success as clash, dispute, communication, and collaborating on different projects can relate in a different way to the marital partners feelings in different marriages, and even in a different way to the spouse's feelings in the same marriage. The writings and materials on marital success is relatively connected to that literature same on marital happiness and success; the both literatures cannot be clearly separated, since a number of marital quality scales mix aspects of success with spouses' evaluations of their marriages (Spanier, 1976). Therefore, this study examined the emotional intelligence and marital success by using some selected couples in Abuja, Nigeria as a case study.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Married people in Abuja metropolis show different levels of emotional intelligence. Some display a good level of emotional intelligence while some exhibit a poor level of emotional intelligence. Correspondingly, it is conceivable that failure of couples to control their emotions can bring about marital instability. Therefore, this study examined the emotional intelligence and marital success by using some selected couples in Abuja, Nigeria as a case study.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The main objective of this study is to examine the relationship between emotional intelligence and marital success by using some selected couples in FCT Abuja, as a case study. The specific objectives include:
i) To examine the effect of emotional intelligence on marital quality among selected couples in Abuja.
ii) To ascertain the relationship between emotional intelligence and marital adjustment among selected couples in Abuja.
iii) To understand the relationship between emotional intelligence and marital satisfaction among selected couples in Abuja.
1.4 Research Questions
The following research questions will be answered in this study:
i) What is the effect of emotional intelligence on marital quality among selected couples in Abuja?
ii) Is there any relationship between emotional intelligence and marital adjustment among selected couples in Abuja?
iii) What is the relationship between emotional intelligence and marital satisfaction among selected couples in Abuja?
1.5 Research Hypotheses
The following research hypotheses will guide this study:
i) There is a significant correlation between emotional intelligence and marital quality among selected couples in Abuja.
ii) There is no significant relationship between emotional intelligence and marital adjustment among selected couples in Abuja.
iii) There is a significant relationship between emotional intelligence and marital satisfaction among selected couples in Abuja.
1.6 Significance of the Study
Findings from this study will be beneficial to the married couples, Guidance Counsellors, singles intending to get married, parents, government, and future researchers. More importantly the findings, of the study will help increase married peoples’ belief in their abilities to solve daily and communicational problems. Also, belief in their abilities can improve the quality of marriage relationship thereby leading to more successes experience of marriage relationship among the married people. The findings of the study will further encourage married people to put their emotional intelligence to use in addressing persisting issues together when disagreements and problems occur.
Furthermore, findings of this study will benefit the Guidance Counsellors, psychologists and therapists. Through the findings of this study, they will likely be equipped with the knowledge of the relationship between the variables; emotional intelligence and marital success. The knowledge of the relationship between these variables will help the guidance counsellors in understanding how these factors interplay in fostering existence of mutual understanding between married couples. Thereby enabling the guidance counsellors to be in position to give emphasis on openness and trust among the married people, and the need to initiate an effective communication to enhance friendliness.
1.7 Scope of the Study
The researcher sought to examine the examine the relationship between emotional intelligence and marital success by using some selected couples in FCT Abuja, as a case study. Therefore, the respondents for this study will be strictly some selected couples in FCT, Abuja, Nigeria.
1.8 Definition of Terms
The underlisted words were used in the course of carrying out this study:
Emotional Intelligence: the ability to manage both your own emotions and understand the emotions of people around you.
Marital Quality: this involves variables like marital happiness, marital satisfaction, marital stability, marital success, marital adjustment, friendship, and several other terminologies that describe relationship quality.
Marital Satisfaction: it involves attitude an individual has toward his or her marital relationship. Marital satisfaction is an important area for researchers and married couples alike.
Marital Success: marital success is described as a marriage that does not end in separation or divorce but tolerate each other's excesses in marriage in order to keep the marriage going.
