Abstract
Theoretical work on marital conflicts suggests that perception plays a crucial role in influencing spouses’ attitude towards marital conflict. However, relatively little research exists on psychological factors influencing spousal perception of marital conflicts. This study investigated spousal perception of marital conflict among Ghanaian dual career couples through the perceptual lens of personal values. Using dual career couples as the target population, 88 respondents answered questionnaire that consisted of the 21 Portrait Value Questionnaire designed to measure four value orientations, and the Spousal Perception of Marital Conflict Scale. Two hypotheses were formulated to test the relationships between the value orientations and spousal perception of marital conflict. Data was analyzed using hierarchical and standard multiple regression methods. Contrary to expectations, none of the hypothesis was supported. However, the study revealed that values such as openness to change, conservation and self-enhancement positively influenced spousal perception of marital conflict. These have implications for marital interactions and the development of interventions for couples dealing with marital conflicts.
Highlights
Marriage has been described as the most important and fundamental human relationship because it provides the primary structure through which families are established and the rearing of the generation is accomplished (Esere, Yusuf & Omotosho, 2011)
Openness to change accounted for 1% of the variance while conservation accounted for 1% of the variance in perception of marital conflict
In spite of the many interventions available to couples to deal with marital conflicts, many marriages continue to suffer the plagues associated with it creating the need to study other processes involved in the conflict interaction
Summary
Marriage has been described as the most important and fundamental human relationship because it provides the primary structure through which families are established and the rearing of the generation is accomplished (Esere, Yusuf & Omotosho, 2011). It has been identified it as a social necessity and an essential phenomenon in human life irrespective of tribe, society and religious affiliations because it serves as a moral safeguard for the legitimate expression of sexual needs of people by regulating their sexual behaviors in such a way as to prevent them from becoming slaves to it (Esere et al, 2011). Among the many causes of marital distress and marital disruptions that the literature on marriage has identified is the issue of marital conflict
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