EMOTIONAL EXPRESSIVENESS, LOCUS OF CONTROL AND AGE AS PREDICTORS OF MARITAL ADJUSTMENT IN NSUKKA LGA.

EMOTIONAL EXPRESSIVENESS, LOCUS OF CONTROL AND AGE AS PREDICTORS OF MARITAL ADJUSTMENT IN NSUKKA LGA.

ABSTRACT

The study investigated emotional expressiveness, locus of control and age as predictors of marital adjustment. Two hundred (200) married participants in Nsukka LGA, who were randomly drawn from Nsukka LGA Headquarter. Their age ranged between 25years to 59years and above. These participants were accidentally sampled. Three instruments were used: Emotional expressiveness Scale designed by Gross (2001), Locus of Control Scale designed by Rotters (1966) and Marital Adjustment Scale designed by Spanier (1979).  Three hypotheses were stated and tested. The results of the multiple regression analysis show that all the null hypotheses were rejected implying that emotional expressiveness, locus of control and age all predicted marital adjustment emotional expressiveness (r = .24, P < .001), locus of control (r = .20, P < .05) and age (r = .10, P < .05).  It was however concluded that for effective adjustment to be made, emotions in marriage must be appropriately expressed and communicated. There is also a need for the couples to understand the direction of forces influencing their marriage for prompt action and adjustment. Finally, marriage at the early age of one’s life should be reconsidered as debilitating. Implications and limitations were discussed and suggestions were made.