THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS COMMITMENT AND MARITAL SATISFACTION: A MIXED METHOD STUDY AMONG MARRIED INDIVIDUALS IN NAIROBI CITY COUNTY
Kamomoe Peter Kamau - Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology (Marriage and Family Option), Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Kenya
Fr. Hubert Pinto - Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Kenya
Fr. Sahaya Selvam - Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Kenya
ABSTRACT
The study explored the association between the Christian religious commitment and marital satisfaction. The results concurred with other research findings that show that commitment to Christianity enables married individuals to improve marital relationships despite the challenges and difficulties that arise in such dynamic interpersonal relationships. A mixed method of both qualitative and quantitative research design was used. A sample of about 278 married Christian individuals was picked in a convenient and purposeful sampling method from a population of 1000 Christians at the Holy Family metropolitan Church within Nairobi County. 234 respondents out of the 278 participants gave back the questionnaires. Through descriptive statistics and statistical inferences, the study examined the correlation between marital satisfaction and Christian religious commitment, employing Allport and Ross intrinsic religious orientation and KANSAS marital satisfaction scales. Further information was gathered through some open ended questions in order to capture some in-depth experiences and perceptions. Qualitative results indicated that Christian commitment largely contribute to marital satisfaction while the quantitative outcome recorded a positive correlation, (coefficient level of 0.210). The regression analysis indicates a strong linear relationship where R2= 0.702. Since the p value is lower than 0.05 the null hypothesis was rejected and the alternate hypothesis supported in the sense that is there is a positive correlation between Christian religious commitment and marital satisfaction. These findings are being utilized in the improvement of marital satisfaction and family life among married individuals in the Church and beyond through psycho-education and therapeutic interventions. The study recommends that the married couples become more committed to their Christian teachings and values as a way of enhancing their marital satisfaction.
