RESILIENCE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING: PATHWAYS TO SUSTAINABLE FAMILY LIFE AMONG COUPLES IN KWARA STATE, NIGERIA.

Abstract

This study examined resilience and psychological well-being as correlates of family sustainability among couples in Kwara State, Nigeria. Anchored in Family Systems Theory, Resilience Theory, and Ryff’s model of psychological well-being, the research aimed to investigate the individual and joint contributions of resilience and psychological well-being to sustainable family life, while also examining demographic differences in family sustainability based on gender, educational attainment, and marital duration. A correlational survey design was employed, involving 300 married participants selected through a multistage sampling process. Standardized instruments, including the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), Ryff’s Psychological Well-being Scale, and a researcher-adapted Family Sustainability Scale, were administered, and data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation, multiple regression, t-test, and ANOVA at the 0.05 significance level. Findings revealed significant positive correlations between resilience and family sustainability (r = .62, p < .01) and between psychological well-being and family sustainability (r = .58, p < .01). Regression analysis showed that resilience (β = .48, p < .001) and psychological well-being (β = .36, p < .001) jointly predicted family sustainability, accounting for 52% of the variance. Demographic analyses further indicated significant differences based on educational attainment and marital duration, with couples holding postgraduate education and longer marital experience reporting higher sustainability. No significant gender difference was observed. The study concludes that resilience and psychological well-being are critical psychological resources that enhance family stability and cohesion. It recommends targeted counselling interventions, mental health promotion, and policy measures aimed at strengthening couples’ adaptive capacities for sustainable family life in Nigeria.

Keywords: Resilience, psychological well-being, family sustainability, couples, counselling