Marital Dysfunction as a Vector of Sexual Abuse
CHAPTER ONE
Objective of the Study
The purpose of this study is to investigate marital dysfunction and its relationship with sexual abuse and to proffer counseling strategies for managing them. The specific objectives for this study are:-
- To determine if marital dysfunction contributes to sexual abuse.
- To determine if marital dysfunction influence teenage pregnancy.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
The Developmental Course of Marital Dysfunction
As a result of these two transitions, investigators have made considerable progress in defining the domain of variables that may help them better understand marriage and establish methods and procedures for clarifying the interplay of these variables. Significant steps have also been taken to translate the research into clinical interventions. Despite these advances, however, many studies of marriage are limited because they are cross sectional in nature and are designed primarily to differentiate maritally distressed and no distressed couples (see Bradbury & Karney, 1993; Robinson & Jacobson, 1987). Hence these studies reveal little about what causes marital distress and about how to prevent and treat it. In the third transition, which is now beginning to unfold, several researchers are addressing this problem by collecting data from young couples at several points in their marriage. Although some attention was given to longitudinal change in marriage in the earlier research traditions (e.g., Markman, 1979; see also Kelly & Conley, 1987; Rusbult, 1983), only recently has it become possible to detect a notable shift in the field. Figure 1.1 shows the dramatic rise in the number of published longitudinal studies of marriage. A total of 115 such studies had been published by 1995, with nearly 70% of them appearing since 1985. These longitudinal data collections, although building on the accomplishments of the two prior transitions in this area, have the potential to explain how marriages succeed and fail rather than simply describe the differences between couples who are already distressed and those who are not. This research is likely to have far-reaching consequences because it will facilitate the development of marital therapies and educational prevention programs that are based on longitudinal data pertaining to the causes of marital dysfunction.
Despite considerable progress in defining and understanding marital discord, there is still no widespread agreement on the key issue of whether marital discord is best viewed as a “disorder,” defined by several distinct criteria and having categorical properties (e.g. Heyman, et al.,2001), or whether it should be viewed as a dimension, defined primarily in terms of varying degrees of marital satisfaction. Nonetheless, available research identifies likely indicators of marital discord and suggests a number of generalizations about key aspects of etiology and consequences as well as treatment. Clinical Characteristics. Martially discordant couples presenting for treatment are often caught up in a cycle of mutual vilification, polarization, and feelings of being trapped (Jacobson & Christensen, 1996), suggesting that they highlight rather than downplay their differences, and view these differences as indications of stable, global, and blameworthy deficits or failings in the partner (Fincham & Bradbury, 1993).
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research design
The researcher used descriptive research survey design in building up this project work the choice of this research design was considered appropriate because of its advantages of identifying attributes of a large population from a group of individuals. The design was suitable for the study as the study sought marital dysfunction as a vector of sexual abuse.
Sources of data collection
Data were collected from two main sources namely:
(i)Primary source and
(ii)Secondary source
Primary source:
These are materials of statistical investigation which were collected by the research for a particular purpose. They can be obtained through a survey, observation questionnaire or as experiment; the researcher has adopted the questionnaire method for this study.
Secondary source:
These are data from textbook Journal handset etc. they arise as byproducts of the same other purposes. Example administration, various other unpublished works and write ups were also used.
Population of the study
Population of a study is a group of persons or aggregate items, things the researcher is interested in getting information the marital dysfunction as a vector of sexual abuse. 200 selected residents in Uyo, Akwa state was selected randomly by the researcher as the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION ANALYSIS INTERPRETATION OF DATA
Introduction
Efforts will be made at this stage to present, analyze and interpret the data collected during the field survey. This presentation will be based on the responses from the completed questionnaires. The result of this exercise will be summarized in tabular forms for easy references and analysis. It will also show answers to questions relating to the research questions for this research study. The researcher employed simple percentage in the analysis.
DATA ANALYSIS
The data collected from the respondents were analyzed in tabular form with simple percentage for easy understanding.
A total of 133(one hundred and thirty three) questionnaires were distributed and 133 questionnaires were returned.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain marital dysfunction as a vector of sexual abuse. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of marital dysfunction as a vector of sexual abuse
Summary
This study was on marital dysfunction as a vector of sexual abuse. Two objectives were raised which included: To determine if marital dysfunction contributes to sexual abuse and to determine if marital dysfunction influence teenage pregnancy. In line with these objectives, two research hypotheses were formulated and two null hypotheses were posited. The total population for the study is 200 residents of Uyo, Akwa Ibom state. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made married men, married women, youths and students were used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies
Conclusion
Marital conflicts have direct or indirect impact on an individual’s personality mostly the impact is psychological in nature, in the present study it is exhibited that majority of the respondents have psychological impact like they always lose their temper, feel anxious, emotionally disturbed, always surrounded by the sense of conflict and feel insecure they also have feeling of frustration and loneliness thus developing lack of confidence and inferiority complex. Apart from the spouses in conflict the children in the family too suffer and it have lot of impact on their growth and personality. The psychological trauma they come across disturbs their well being and development. On the basis of in-depth discussion with the respondents it is realized that the children are unable to get adjusted with the family environment and always ask about the cause of conflict. The children are emotionally disturbed by this as in the fit of anger even they are scolded without and reason. The respondents too are aware of the fact that such conflicts have an adverse effect on children as they too are victimized. The most surprising revelation of this study is the school attendance of the children of the respondents, here its expressed that their children are regularly attending their school class and are quite regular, this might be due to lack of love and affection in the family and disturbed families, the children are more comfortable in their schools
Recommendation
Should be counselling between the couples when there is misunderstanding among. Especial to know the role of a man and woman in the family
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