Gender Role Ideology And Marital Satisfaction. The Mediating Effect Of Marital Role. A Study Among Married Individuals In Ghana.

ABSTRACT

The cross-sectional survey examined the relationship gender role ideology (traditional and modern) and marital satisfaction among married couples in Ghana. The study also examined the mediating effect of marital role (instrumental and relational) in the relationship between gender role ideology and marital satisfaction. The effect of Religiosity on the level of marital satisfaction was also examined. Two hundred and fifty two (252) married individuals fully completed and submitted questionnaires on the variables of the study. The Pearson product moment correlation and hierarchical multiple regression were the statistical tools used to analyze the data. Results indicated that gender role ideology had a direct positive relationship with marital satisfaction such that traditional gender role ideology explained more variance in marital satisfaction than modern gender role ideology. In addition, religiosity was found to positively predict marital satisfaction and this was found to be high for modern couples than traditional couples. Also, the mediation analyses revealed that both instrumental and relational marital roles fully mediate the relationship between gender role ideology and marital satisfaction. The mediation effect was however found to be stronger for instrumental roles than the relational roles. Results were discussed in the frameworks of life course theory, social exchange theory and other research findings.