Causes of Marital Dissatisfaction and Divorce as Perceived by the People of Navrongo in the Upper East Region of Ghana

Abstract

The study examined the causes of marital dissatisfaction and divorce as perceived by the people of Navrongo in the Upper East Region of Ghana. Data were gathered through the use of Marital Satisfaction Inventory and an in-depth interview. The sample size was 400 participants where 384 couples comprising 192 males and 192 females responded to the Marital Satisfaction Inventory (MSI). Out of the 400 sample size, 16 people were interviewed. The stratified and quota sampling procedures were used to select the respondents to respond to the Marital Satisfaction Inventory while the Snowball sampling procedure was used to select respondents for the interview. The study showed that some couples in Navrongo were not satisfied with their marriages as indicated by those who responded to the MSI. Seven scales were used as indicators for marital satisfaction. These included, relationship, affection, love and appreciation, character, temperament, in-law issues, marital roles, and general evaluation. Couples would have been satisfied if the mean scores of the various scales were high enough to fall within the specified satisfied ranges. Data gathered from the interviewees in Navrongo revealed that spousal abuse caused couples to break their marriages. Whereas more males were involved in physical abuse, more females were accused of verbal abuse. Both husbands and wives were involved in extramarital affairs. Mothers-in-law were more troublesome in marriages than fathers-in-law. Counselling is therefore recommended for couples especially those who have marital challenges.

Keywords: Uxoricide, Magic potion, Annulment, Ordinance