| dc.description.abstract | Marital satisfaction is an indicator of health and quality in a marriage relationship.
However, marital satisfaction does not just occur, but hinges on good communication.
Communication enhances cohesion among married couples and promotes marital
satisfaction. Interestingly, addiction and misuse of technology in mobile devices
anticipated to enhance communication among married couples and contribute to
marital satisfaction has been associated with adverse effects on marriages. This study
seeks to examine the influence of the use of mobile devices on marital satisfaction
among couples in MCK, Nkubu Synod, Meru County, Kenya. Nkubu Synod covers
Meru, Embu, Tharaka Nithi and Kirinyaga counties, and is positioned on the Eastern
and Southern sides of Mt. Kenya. The Synod covers a total of 21 administrative units,
commonly referred to as circuits. The study was guided by four objectives; namely; to
investigate the influence of social media use on marital satisfaction in married couples
in MCK, Nkubu Synod; to explore the influence of mobile game use on marital
satisfaction in married couples in MCK, Nkubu Synod; to analyse the effects of
mobile phone calls on marital satisfaction in married couples in MCK, Nkubu Synod;
and to determine the influence of marriage character traits on the level of marital
satisfaction among married people in MCK, Nkubu Synod. The study was anchored
on two theories: the family systems theory and cognitive behaviour theory (CBT) that
guided data analysis. The study adopted a Mixed-Methods research approach, where
qualitative and quantitative data was collected. The study targeted 4003 married
couples in Nkubu Synod as per Nkubu Synod 2019 Annual Committee Resolution
and Reports. This population translated to 8006 married persons. Stratified and simple
random sampling techniques were used to select 367 respondents for the study.
Questionnaires, interviews, and focus group discussions were utilized in collecting
data. Pre-testing of instruments enhanced determination of their validity and
reliability. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to modify,
code, input, and analyse quantitative data, while the thematic technique was used to
analyze the qualitative data. The study used multiple regression analysis to show the
relationships that existed between the independent and dependent variables. The study
established that when combined, social media use, mobile gaming and mobile phone
calls formed a model that was found statistically significant in determining couples'
marital satisfaction in MCK, Nkubu Synod, Meru County. However, in an integrated
model, social media was weightier as compared to the other two uses of mobile
devices. As regards the moderating effect of marriage characteristics such as the level
of education, the number of years in marriage, and the income, the study found out
that the level of education and the income both had statistically insignificant
moderation effect on the relationship between mobile device use and the marital
satisfaction of couples in MCK, Nkubu Synod, Meru County. However, the number
of years in marriage was the statistically significant moderator on the relationship
between media device use and couples' marital satisfaction. The study recommends
that the church leadership develops comprehensive guidance and counselling church
training curriculum to equip the couples with knowledge on drivers of marriage
dissatisfaction and train them on effective use of social media, mobile games and
mobile phone calls. The study findings may aid in the development of appropriate
psychological therapies and promote appropriate models for marital satisfaction. | en_US |
