Socio-Economic And Psychological Factors Mediating Marital Commitment Among Married Couples. A Case Study Of Taifa Circuit Of The Methodist Church Ghana.

ABSTRACT

This thesis looks at the socio-economic and psychological factors mediating marital

commitment among married couples in the Taifa Circuit of the Methodist Church Ghana,

in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. Attention was paid to the nature of the socioeconomic

and psychological factors that influence marital commitment in the Ghanaian

context. Many marriages have suffered difficult situations such as deep regrets by

spouses, depression, divorce etc all due to low level of marital commitment.

The methodology for this thesis is quantitative in nature. A survey design was used for

the study. Here the Rev Ministers of the various branches of Methodist Churches in the

Taifa Circuit were interviewed verbally to know their findings concerning the topic under

study. This is because they interact with married couples in the church during

programmes such as family life, marriage counselling, pre-marital counselling, couples

meetings and resolution of marital issues. The research instrument used was

questionnaires namely International Personality Item Poll and, Personal Relation and

Marital Happiness Scale. Five hypotheses were tested and supported by the use of the chi

square. The study investigated the link between personality, marital happiness and

commitment. The link between socio-demographic factors and marital commitment was

also assessed. The results revealed that, in the aggregate more married females show

higher marital commitment level than their male counterparts. It also revealed that a

lower commitment level in marriage was not attributed to respondent’ education. The

analysis showed that those with agreeable personality trait have a higher marital

commitment than those with extraversion personality trait.