PERCEIVED SOCIAL SUPPORT AND MARITAL SATISFACTION AMONG PROTESTANT CLERGY AND THEIR SPOUSES IN DAGORETTI SOUTH SUBCOUNTY IN NAIROBI, KENYA

Abstract

ABSTRACT This dissertation examined the relationships between perceived social support and marital satisfaction among the Protestant clergy and their spouses in Dagoretti South Sub-County, Nairobi County, Kenya. A strong social network is an important factor in maintaining a healthy mental state and a happy marriage. There is a lack of research on the perceived social support and marital satisfaction among protestant clergy and their spouses, despite the fact that studies show social support exists. The objectives of this research were; to assess the levels of marital satisfaction of protestant clergy and their spouses in Dagoretti South Sub-County Nairobi County, Kenya, to examine appraisal support for protestant clergy and their spouses on marital satisfaction in Dagoretti South Sub-County Nairobi County, Kenya, to examine informational support of protestant clergy and their spouses on marital satisfaction in Dagoretti South Sub-County Nairobi County, Kenya, to analyze emotional support for protestant clergy and their spouses on marital satisfaction in Dagoretti South Sub-County Nairobi, County Kenya, to determine the instrumental support of protestant clergy and their spouses on marital satisfaction in Dagoretti South SubCounty Nairobi County, Kenya, and to identify the strategies that can enhance marital satisfaction among protestant clergy and their spouses in Dagoretti South Sub-County Nairobi County, Kenya. The overall methodologies orientation that was adopted was mixed methods approach using explanatory sequential research design. Dagoretti South SubCounty, Nairobi County, was the location of the research, and it included 861 protestant clergy and their spouses. The study used a sample size of 273 protestant clergy and their spouses, chosen using a simple random sampling technique for quantitative, and 12 participants who were purposefully selected for qualitative, low and high performance on levels of marital satisfaction. Quantitative data were collected using two standardized questionnaires namely ENRICH Marital Satisfaction Scale (EMSS) with reliability coefficient of 0.834, and Scales of Perceived Social Support with reliability coefficient of 0.954), respectively. To better understand how protestant clergy and their partners are handling difficulties in their marriage, the researcher conducted in-depth one-on-one interviews with them, using a set of predetermined questions to lead the conversation. Descriptive analysis, correlation analysis, and thematic analysis were used to examine the data. The researcher protected the participants' anonymity and confidentiality during the research process and afterward. The study’s main findings revealed a weak, negative significant relationship between the construct of informational support, appraisal support, emotional support, instrumental support and marital satisfaction. The results of this research is helpful for married members of the protestant clergy. The results help important ministry stakeholders to better understand how to support clergy and their families. The study's findings will also help the community better understand the clergy and their spouses, allowing them to provide better support for the clergy's marital needs. In addition, married Protestant clergy also have more information with which to make wise choices about their relationships. The researcher’s main recommendation was the Protestant clergy and spouses to form peer-to-peer support groups to help them cope with the stresses of marriage.