Marital Stress as a Correlate of Mental Wellness among Married Adults in Polygamous Families in Ilorin Metropolis, Kwara State

Abstract

A polygamous family has become a vital ground for stress to some married adults due to strained and nervy experiences that are usually emanating from a myriad of challenges which has over the year, attracted the interest of many educational researchers. This study examined marital stress as a correlate of mental wellness among married adults in polygamous families in Ilorin metropolis of Kwara State. Two research questions were raised while one research hypothesis was formulated. The study employed descriptive design of a correlational type. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used to select 240 participants from the population of the study. The study also employed a self-designed instrument tagged “Marital Stress and Mental Wellness Questionnaire” (MSMWQ). The instrument was face validated among 5 seasoned lecturers in the field of Educational Management and Counselling of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, and has test-retest reliability coefficient of 0.84. The results of the study revealed that married adults in polygamous marriage in Ilorin metropolis experienced a moderate level of marital stress which involved; unrealistic expectations from partner on household perfection (perfectionism); incessant conflicts with partner on household chores divisions; confrontational or over critical conversation and excessive social media use to avoid partner, and that married adults in polygamous families in Ilorin metropolis experienced a moderate level of mental wellness in their marital lives and such experiences include; ability to concentrate or remain focused on tasks, ability to solve personal problems in life among other findings. There wasa relationship between marital stress and mental wellness among married adults in polygamous families in Ilorin metropolis. Based on the findings of study, it was recommended among other things that; the married adults in polygamous families should be sensitized on the need to avoid unrealistic expectations from partner on certain domestic chores and incessant conflicts with each other, and Marriage counsellors should assist married couples in polygamous marriage to develop appropriate coping mechanisms on marital stress.