EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AS A CORRELATE OF MARITAL STABILITY AMONG MARRIED ADULTS IN KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study investigated emotional intelligence as a correlate of marital stability among married adults in Kwara State, Nigeria. The research design adopted for this study is a descriptive survey of correlational type. The population comprised all married adults in Kwara State estimated at 779,996. A multi-stage sampling proceduretechnique was used to select 400 married adults from the three senatorial districts of Kwara State. Emotional Intelligence Scale (EIS) and Marital Stability Scale (MSS) were the instruments used to gather data for the study. Three null hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance.The data obtained were analysed using Pearsons Product Moment Correlation and Three Way Analysis of Variance. The results showed that there was a significant relationship between emotional intelligence and marital stability of married adults in Kwara State;there was no significant difference in the emotional intelligence of married adults in Kwara State on the basis of gender, age and length of years in marriage.There was no significant difference in the marital stability of married adults in Kwara State on the basis of gender, age and length of years in marriage.It was recommended that married adults need to study emotional qualities of themselves and those of their spouses. Armed with the knowledge, they should be mindful of how they treat their spouses so that emotion will not flare up unnecessarily which not augur well with the stability of their marriage. They should be emotionally mature and sensitive to emotions of their spouses.