MARITAL COMMUNICATION STYLES AND EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AS PREDICTORS OF MARITAL SATISFACTION AMONG MARRIED PEOPLE

Abstract

The study investigated marital communication styles and emotional intelligence as predictors of marital satisfaction among married people. A total of 386 participants drawn from married Staff of Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board (ESUBEB). The participants were made up of 186 (48%) males and 200 (52%) females with age range between 34 years and 52 years; M = 43.26 and SD= 4.77. Mixed sampling technique (Purposive, convenient) was used to select the participants. Communication Pattern Questionnaire – Short Form; Wong and Law Emotional Intelligent Scale and Index of Marital Satisfaction were used as instrument for the study. Correlation design was adopted while Hierarchical Multiple Regression statistics result revealed that Mutual constructive communication (? = .60, t = 17.31, p<.01); Self demand-Partner withdraw communication (? = -.31, t = 10.59, at p<.01) and Partner demand-Self Withdraw communication (? = -.07, t = -2.66, at p<.05) predicted marital satisfaction. The contribution of marital communication style in explaining the variance in marital satisfaction was 77% (?R² = .77). Also, Self Emotion Appraisal (? = .36, t = 5.49 p<.01); Regulation of Emotion, (? = .23, t = 5.06, p<.01); Use of Emotion, (? = .31, t = 4.67, p<.01) and Others Emotion Appraisal (? = .13, t = 2.19, p<.05) positively predicted marital satisfaction. The contribution of emotional intelligence in explaining the variance in marital satisfaction was 01% (?R² = .01).Finding of the study may help both unmarried and married couples to understand that the way they communicate and emotionally relate with each other can have lasting impacts on the overall marital relationship.

Key Words: Marital, Communication Styles, Emotional Intelligence, Satisfaction