Marital satisfaction among couples: What has pre-marital counselling got to do with it?

Marital satisfaction among couples: What has pre-marital counselling got to do with it?

Bedu-Addo, P.K.A. (Ph.D)

University of Education, Winneba

&

Asare, M.

University of Education, Winneba

Abstract

Using an exploratory mixed methods design, the study investigated the influence of premarital counselling on spouses’ marital satisfaction among a sample of 322 couples who received counselling before marriage (pre-counselled spouses ), and those who did not receive any counselling before marriage (non-pre counselled spouses) in the Kumasi Metropolis, using  self-developed structured questionnaire (α = 0.9 ) and an open –ended interview guide. Two research questions and two hypotheses were formulated to guide the study.  Linear multiple regression, independent sample t-test and Pearson product moment correlation were used to analyze the quantitative data, while a deductive thematic analyses was used for the qualitative data. The study revealed that the nature of premarital counselling and topics discussed during premarital counselling are contributors to marital satisfaction. Additionally premarital counselled spouses have the highest mean value of marital satisfaction than those who did no undergo marital counselling.  Hence the study recommends that counselling units be created by churches, fully furnished with resources and manned by knowledgeable persons in Guidance and Counselling.

Keywords:     Marital satisfaction, marital dissatisfaction, premarital counselling, family satisfaction.