PREMARITAL COUNSELING AND MARRIAGE STABILITY AMONG COUPLES IN KAHAWA WEST WARD NAIROBI-KENYA

Abstract

ABSTRACT The rising number of marriage breakups has become a universal disastrous phenomenon in recent times. There is an increase of reported cases of domestic violence some resulting to serious injuries and deaths. Domestic violence is like a symptom of marriage instability that can be addressed by Premarital Counseling. There are various factors that destabilize marriage in the recent time, therefore the study purposed to investigate relationship between premarital counseling and marriage stability among couples in Kahawa west ward Nairobi- Kenya. Four objectives guided the study to examine forms of premarital counseling given to couples, to determine levels of marriage stability among couples, to examine the perception of Premarital counseling among couples and to establish strategies that enhance marriage stability among couples. Family development theory (FDT) and Gottman theory supported the study. The study used convergent parallel design. The target population was 738 registered marriages from 6 denominational churches and one service provider from each church. A sample size of 259 marriages and 6 purposive sampled service providers totaling to 265 was employed to provide data. The study used purposive sampling to select churches and service providers. Simple random sampling was used to select couples. By use of NVIVO common information was grouped together and produced a theme. Quantitative data was analyzed by descriptive statistics using Pearson Correlation through SPSS Version 21. Findings from respondents indicated that Religious PMC was most preferred by couples. It was found that there was high level of marriage stability. Findings showed traces of variables that can cause instability such as rejection, dominance, dissolution, discontent and despair. Findings showed positive perception for PMC by couples. Finding showed strategies that can enhance stability in marriage such as mutual communication, General action, Ongoing Counseling and genetic counseling were established. Finding showed a positive significant relationship between premarital counseling and marriage stability. The study recommended Churches to advocate for PMC programs to sensitize future partners. Ongoing counseling to be part of marriage policies, married couples to be good role models to promote positive perception on PMC and Exhaustive Implementation of strategies by counsellors. Further research was recommended on effectiveness of in-depth PMC programs and Religious counseling as most preferred PMC program.