The Relationship between Attachment Styles and Marital Quality: Case of Participants of the “Married-Love” Program in Strathmore University Business School, Nairobi, Kenya
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Date
2023-08
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
School of Applied Human Sciences, Daystar University
Abstract
Human beings have a deep desire for loving relationships and getting married. However, local, and global statistics are showing the ever-increasing rates of gender-based violence, divorce, and separation-a sign of formation of insecure attachments. With the rise in insecure attachments, marital quality is compromised. This study aimed at finding out the relationship between attachment styles and marital quality among participants of the Married-Love program in Strathmore University Business School, Lang’ata sub-county, Nairobi County, Kenya. The objectives were to identify the different attachment styles; to determine the prevalence of attachment styles among the course participants and to establish the relationship between attachment styles and marital quality. This study was informed by Attachment theory and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). The study adopted a correlation survey-based research design. The target population was married couples who had attended the Married Love course offered by the Program for Family Development (PFD) at SUBS for the last five years. The sample size of 172 individuals was drawn out using purposive sampling. Data was collected using an online researcher-generated socio-demographics questionnaire, Quality of Marriage Index (QMI) and Experiences in Close Relationships scale-short version (ECR-S). Quantitative data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27. Pearson binary correlation between marital quality and attachment behavior scores was carried out. Regression analysis and chi-square tests were also run. The study revealed that the majority of the respondents had high quality relationships and secure attachment levels, with higher levels of anxiety than avoidance; an inverse relationship exists between insecure attachment styles and marital quality. The study findings emphasize the need for mental health institutions and centers of learning to create programs that offer psychosocial support to help couples and parents reduce their levels of anxiety by embracing positive attachment behaviors that trigger positive emotional experiences. The beneficiaries of this study include mental health professionals, institutions and family enrichment centers like PFD.
Description
Masters Thesis
Keywords
Attachment Styles, Marital Quality, Married-Love, Strathmore University, Nairobi, Kenya
Citation
Njane, V,. (2023, Thesis). The Relationship Between Attachment Styles And Marital Quality: Case Of Participants Of The “Married-Love” Program In Strathmore University Business School, Nairobi, Kenya. School of Applied Human Sciences, Daystar University