Marital Expectations, Marital Infidelity and Neuroticism as Predictors of Marital Conflict
Marital conflict, conceptualized in this study as the ongoing lack of peace and satisfaction in a marital union which threatens marital stability, has become quite prevalent in modern communities. The frequent incidences of spousal battery, spousal sexual abuse, domestic violence, long term separation and in some cases outright divorce are worrisome indicators of the endemic challenge marital conflict poses in most Igbo communities. In this study, marital expectations, marital infidelity (self and spouse), and neuroticism were examined as predictors. Randomized cluster sampling was used to select 525 male and female spouses from the State. The study utilized the cross-sectional survey design and stepwise multiple regression for data analyses. Findings showed that though marital infidelity by spouse was below average and spouse’s marital expectations were being fulfilled; marital expectations followed by marital infidelity–spouse proved to be significant predictors of marital conflict. Marital conflict reduced as marital expectations got fulfilled and increased as the level of marital infidelity by spouse increased. Spouses also reported an increased level of neuroticism, with males being more neurotic than females. Neuroticism was found to be the least significant predictor of marital conflict compared to marital expectations and marital infidelity – spouse. Recommendations to spouses and marriage counsellors regards especially the need to manage the neurotic tendencies of male spouses, couple counselling should explore would-be partners expectations and help them learn other coping mechanisms in marriage instead of marital infidelity.