Causes of Marital satisfaction and the criteria of choosing partners for marriage as Perceived by the People of Navrongo in The Upper East Region of Ghana

Abstract

The study examined the causes of marital satisfaction and the criteria of choosing marriage partners as perceived by the people of Navrongo in the Upper East Region of Ghana. Data were gathered through the use of Marital Satisfaction Inventory (MSI). The sample size was 384 participants comprising 192 males and 192 females who responded to the Marital Satisfaction Inventory. The stratified and quota sampling procedures were used to select the respondents for the study. The study showed that some couples in Navrongo were not satisfied with their marriages as indicated by respondents to the MSI. Seven scales were used as indicators for marital satisfaction. These included, relationship, affection, love and appreciation, character, temperament, in-law issues, marital roles, and general evaluation. Couples would have been satisfied if the mean scores of the various scales were high enough to fall within the specified satisfied range. The study showed that many married couples chose their partners through courtship than those who were married through betrothal. In Navrongo, more females are betrothed than males and males prefer courtship to betrothal. On the other hand, many men chose their partners through courtship than their female counterpart. Marital satisfaction and the criteria of choosing a partner for marriage by respondents also showed that 86.17% of those who married through betrothal were not satisfied with their marriages whereas 90% of respondents who married through courtship were also not satisfied with their marriages. Only about 13.8% and 10% for respondents of betrothal and courtship were satisfied with their marriages respectively.