Problem Solving Ability as a Predictor of Marital Satisfaction among Married Individuals in South East, Nigeria

The general purpose of this study was to determine whether problem solving ability predict marital satisfaction among married individuals in South East Nigeria. A correlation survey research design was adopted for the study. The area of the study was South East Nigeria with focus on Anambra, Enugu and Imo States. The population was made up of 10, 533 married individuals. The sample consisted of 900 married individuals drawn using multi-stage sampling procedure. The following instruments were used in the study, Problem Solving Ability Questionnaire (PSAQ) and Marital Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ) and where subjected to face validation by three experts. The internal reliabilities were determined using Cronbach Alpha with reliability coefficient of 0.818 and 0.662 respectively. Regression analysis was used to answer research questions 1 –3. Hypotheses 1 were tested using simple linear regression and multi regression analysis, were use to test hypotheses 2and 3. The result of the study indicated that there exists a weak relationship between marital satisfaction and problem solving ability. There was no relationship between problem solving ability and marital satisfaction. The level of Education and the gender of the respondents did not influence courtship and problem solving ability to significantly (p>0.05) predict the amount of variation in marital satisfaction of married individuals in South East Nigeria. Based on the findings of the study, implications were highlighted and recommendation made, prominent among which is that the counsellors should organize seminars and workshop on problem solving ability and marital satisfaction for the youths and married individuals. Limitations as well as suggestions were also highlighted.