MARITAL INSTABILITY AMONG WORKING CLASS COUPLES IN ENUGU STATE NIGERIA: A STUDY OF UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA, 2015-2022

Abstract

Marriage according to the Christian teachings is the union of a male and female who have willingly accepted to live together as husband and wife, till death do them part. And working-class couples refer to situations where such couples are both salaried workers. For some years now, the researchers haveattended many marriage ceremonies, and it is disheartening to state that through observations, out of these marriages, only one third of these working couples are still leaving together as husband and wife. The major objectives of the study are to examine how economic stability among married couples in University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) cause marital instability and why there are recurrent cases of marital instability among working class couples in UNN. The study adopted resource and marital communication theory that was applied in accordance with the study. Both qualitative and quantitative method of data collection and analysis were adopted in the course of the study. The study examined the different dimensions of marital instability among working class, and came to the conclusion that there has been prevalent rate of divorce among working class couples in Nsukka Local Government Area in recent time. And based on the findings derived from the field survey and literature reviewed, it showed that economic stability is not a major factor that leads to marital instability as many respondents were of the view that though economic stability helps a great deal in ensuring cordial marital stability among couples, but the study showed that this is not the major factor militating against marital stability but poor and adequate communication between working class couples in Nsukka locality. To this end, the study concluded that couples need to maintain cordial and healthy communication to enhance their relationship and ensure the stability of their marriage, especially among the working class, therefore recommended that religious bodies and cooperate organizations should organize seminars, workshops, talk and conference on the need for marital stability among working class couples in University of Nigeria, Nsukka.