Relationship between Family Life Cycle and Marital Satisfaction among Individuals Married in the Catholic Church in Guadalupe Parish, Archdiocese of Nairobi, Keny
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Date
2022-10-11
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Tangaza University College
Abstract
The Family Life Cycle comprises those emotional and intellectual stages through which
members of a family pass, from childhood to the years of retirement. Marital satisfaction is the
enjoyment and contentment that couples feel from the love and support they give each other,
despite the disappointments and difficulties of life. The study assessed the Relationship between
the Family Life Cycle and Marital Satisfaction among Individuals Married in the Catholic Church
in Guadalupe Parish, Archdiocese of Nairobi, Kenya. The study was guided by Bowen’s Family
Systems Theory, as its theoretical framework. It used Quantitative Research Methods, while Multi stage Sample Techniques were employed to select 351 participants from Guadalupe Parish.
Rollins and Feldman Scales of Marital Satisfaction were applied for the stages of the Family Life
Cycle, and Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Test, to collect data. The collected data was
analyzed, using the statistical package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Inferential statistics were
employed to analyze and present mean scores, frequencies and percentages. The findings showed
that 36.5% of couples were at stage V and couples in the early stages I, II, III and IV of FLC were
very satisfied with their lives. Descriptive statistics, by mean and standard deviation, showed that,
on average, the couples had a low level of marital satisfaction (M=99.23, SD=32.923). Findings
on the relationship between socio demographic factors and couples’ marital satisfaction
established a significant relationship between gender, M = 20.69, 95% CI [14.117, 27.253], t
(337.963) = 11.323, p <0.05, years of marriage, F (6, 114.664) = 2.734, p <0.05 and employment
status, F (4, 346) = 3.121, p <0.05, and couples’ marital satisfaction. Independent Sample test
show that husbands were more likely to experience higher levels of marital satisfaction,
(M=109.61, SD=28.22) as compared to their wives, (M=88.92, SD=34.08). Findings on the
relationship between family life cycle and marital satisfaction showed a significant negative
correlation between the two, r (351) = -.340, p<0.05. An inverted V shaped represented couples’
marital satisfaction. The findings of the study indicated that the challenges of the stages of family
life cycle affect couples’ marital satisfaction. The study recommends that couples create time for
each other, no matter what circumstances they are dealing with and work together on all issues
that concern their family. Finding time for each other and working in unity amid all the challenges,
will help couples get through the difficulties and avoid unnecessary misunderstanding thus
improve their marital satisfaction. The findings of the study contribute to the literature on Family
Life Cycle and Marital Satisfaction and pave the way for future research
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Keywords
Relationship between Family Life Cycle and Marital Satisfaction among Individuals Married in the Catholic Church in Guadalupe Parish, Archdiocese of Nairobi, Keny