Solutions for Marital Instability among Married Adults in Ilorin Metropolis, Kwara State, Nigeria

This study examined solutions for marital instability among married adults in Ilorin Metropolis, Kwara State, Nigeria. Respondents were stratified by gender, age, and educational qualification, and two hundred married adults, 149 males and 51 females were selected using a simple random sampling technique. Data were collected using the self-developed “Solutions for Marital Instability among Married Adults Questionnaire” (SMIMAQ). The study employed t-tests and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to test three null hypotheses, with Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) used to identify specific group differences where ANOVA results were significant. All hypotheses were tested at a 0.05 alpha level of significance. Findings revealed that conflict resolution was ranked as the most important solution, while gratitude was ranked lowest. Furthermore, there were no significant differences in perceptions of solutions based on gender, age, or educational qualification, indicating broad consensus among respondents. Based on these results, it is recommended that professional counselors organize seminars and educational programs to guide married adults in adopting effective strategies to manage marital challenges, improve communication, and foster relationship stability, thereby preventing the negative consequences of marital instability, including potential deterioration of partners’ health and well-being.

Keywords:  Marital instability, Married adults, Conflict resolution, Relationship counseling,