Emotional intelligence, happiness, hope and marital satisfaction among married people in Makurdi Metropolis, Nigeria

Abstract

This study employed cross-sectional survey design to investigate emotional intelligence, happiness, hope and marital satisfaction among married people in Makurdi metropolis. One hundred and twenty (120) respondents consisting of 65(54.2%) males and 44(36.7%) females, with 11(9.2%) not indicating their gender were selected through Purposive sampling method. Their ages ranged from 23 - 70 years with the mean age of 35.05(SD=10.25). Emotional Intelligence Scale, Subjective-happiness Scale, Adult Trait-hope Scale and the Marital Satisfaction Scale were used to collect data from the participants. Statistical analysis involved the use of Simple Linear and Standard Multiple regression. Findings indicated that, emotional intelligence did not have a significant influence on marital satisfaction among married people. Happiness had a significant influence on marital satisfaction among married people. Similary, hope had a significant influence on marital satisfaction among married people. Finally, there was a significant joint influence of emotional intelligence, happiness and hope on marital satisfaction among married people. It was therefore recommended that, future researches should look at the reciprocal relationship between emotional intelligence and marital satisfaction as mediated by happiness and hope in longitudinal studies using larger sample sizes. Finally, married people should encourage happiness and hope in their marriages so that they will experience the desired satisfaction in the couples’ world.

Keywords: Emotional intelligence, Happiness, Hope, Marital satisfaction, Makurdi Metropolis