PERSONALITY TRAITS AS PREDICTORS OF MARITAL SATISFACTION AMONG MARRIED PERSONS IN AWKA METROPOLIS, ANAMBRA STATE

Abstract

This study examined Personality Traits as Predictors of Marital Satisfaction among Married Persons in Awka Metropolis, Anambra State. A total of three hundred (300) participants were sampled for the study. The participants consisted of married persons residing in Awka Metropolis and were selected using a convenience sampling technique. Their ages ranged from 20 to 60 years, with a mean age of 37.5 and a standard deviation of 0.214. Two instruments were used for the study, namely the Index of Marital Satisfaction (IMS) developed by Hudson (1982) and the Ten-Item Personality Inventory (TIPI) developed by Gosling et al. (2003). The study adopted a survey research design with a cross-sectional approach, and multiple linear regression analysis was used to test the hypotheses. Five hypotheses were postulated. The first hypothesis, which stated that openness would significantly predict marital satisfaction, was rejected (B = −0.006, p > .05). The second hypothesis, which stated that conscientiousness would significantly predict marital satisfaction, was accepted (B = −0.025, p < .05). The third hypothesis, which stated that extraversion would significantly predict marital satisfaction, was rejected (B = 0.012, p > .05). The fourth hypothesis, which stated that agreeableness would significantly predict marital satisfaction, was rejected (B = −0.016, p > .05). The fifth hypothesis, which stated that neuroticism would significantly predict marital satisfaction, was also rejected (B = −0.017, p > .05). Based on the findings of this study, the researchers recommend that clinical psychologists, marriage counsellors, and therapists should emphasize how personality traits—particularly conscientiousness—influence behavioural dynamics in marital satisfaction among married persons. The study contributes to a better understanding of the relationship between personality traits and marital satisfaction. This understanding may assist couples, counsellors, clinical psychologists, psychotherapists, and other mental health professionals in addressing marital dynamics to achieve optimal marital satisfaction outcomes.