Public Perception on the Prevalence of Marital Infidelity Among Spouses in Port Harcourt Metropolis

Public Perception on the Prevalence of Marital Infidelity Among Spouses in Port Harcourt Metropolis

CHAPTER ONE

OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

Objectives of the Study

The main objective of the study was to ascertain the causes of marital infidelity among women in Enugu North L. G. A. of Enugu State.

The specific objectives of the study were as follows:

1. To find out the patterns of marital infidelity among married women in Enugu North L. G. A, of Enugu State.
2. To identify the attitude of people towards marital infidelity among married women in Enugu North L. G. A of Enugu State.
3. To ascertain the factors responsible for marital infidelity among married women in Enugu North L. G. A, of Enugu State.
4. To investigate the challenges resulting from infidelity among married women in Enugu North L. G. A of Enugu State.
5. To proffer plausible solutions/strategies that will help curtail the prevalence of marital infidelity among women in Enugu North L. G. A, of Enugu State.

 CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

Review of Relevant Literature

The review of literature for this study was done under the following sub-headings:

1. Overview of marital infidelity
2. Causes of marital infidelity in Nigeria.
3. Consequences of marital infidelity in Nigeria.
4. Strategies used by society to curb the incidence of marital infidelity.

An Overview of Marital Infidelity.

Marital infidelity is defined as sexual behavior outside marriage. Lee (2013) perceives extramarital affair as the violation of rules and relationship norms by one partner, resulting to jealousy and rivalry action which can be sexual or emotional. Glass (2012) furthermore describes extramarital affair as any emotional or sexual intimacy that violates trust. Samel (2012) describes marital infidelity as a state of being unfaithful to a covenant, to an agreement, or to a bond such as marriage. Swenson (2009) explains that infidelity occurs whenever couples engage in sexual relationship with another that violates that sanctity of marriage.

It is pertinent to say that extramarital affair is as old as creation (Fernado, 2008). Bonewell (2012) found out that 41% of spouse who cheat submit to the affair. Extramarital affair is perceived to be a global phenomenon. Hunter (2013) ranked Washington DC first in extramarital affairs in two years for the second time in 2012 with 34,157 people signing up as top faithful Americans. With this data, the Washington DC residents see ‘adultery as a way of life’. In Nigeria, Osewa (2013) reported that second wife syndrome is obsolete but extramarital affair with ‘Aristo’, ‘sugar daddy’, ‘daddy and mama syndrome’ is in vogue. This results in fathering and mothering children from multiple partners.  Butcher & Trotter (2012) posits that extramarital behaviors have been one of the social problems resulting from hazardous lifestyle though it has many forms; it deals with all sexual relations outside marriage in every life endeavor.

Swenson (2012) opined that infidelity indicates that there is no effective communication within the marriage. Many types of affair have been documented in literature. Turner (2013) confirmed that the type of affair one is into is defined by the need it meets. The most often practiced is sex affair which is basically for sexual pleasure and does not end in love affairs. The second type is love affairs. This obviously threatens the peace and stability of marriage. Turner (2013) further explains that love affair is an intimate relationship between a married person and someone who is not his or her spouse. Also, cyber affair is an intimate or sexual communication between a married person and someone who is not his or her spouse on the computer and through the internet. It is becoming increasingly prevalent (HenlineLamine, & Howard, 2007).

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CHAPTER THREE

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Research Design

The research design used in this study is the cross sectional survey.

Area of the Study

This study was conducted in Enugu North Local Government Area of Enugu State. The local government area is made up of seven wards which include:

1. Iva-Valley ward
2. R.A Ward
3. New Haven Ward
4. Asata Township Ward
5. Ogbete Ward
6. Ogui New Layout Ward
7. Independence Layout Ward

It is one of the federally recognized local government areas in Enugu state. Its heads quarter is in the city of Enugu. It is nearby to Enugu and Uwani and has an elevation 0f 165 meters and also an area of 106km². The Local Government Area is an Agrarian community where majority of its inhabitants are dependent on both subsistence and commercial agriculture. Their agricultural produce include: yam, cassava, green vegetables, orange, mangoes, avocado, corn, cucumber etc.

CHAPTER FOUR

PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA

Introduction

Out of the 400 questionnaires distributed to the respondents, 340(85%) questionnaires were properly filled, while the researcher could not recover 60 (15%) copies due to loss and improper completion of the questionnaires. The researcher had to draw conclusion on the presentation and analysis based on 340 respondents.

CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

Summary of Research Findings

The findings in this study are summarized as follows;

1. Marital infidelity is now common among women in Enugu North Local Government Area.
2. Sexual affair is the most common pattern of infidelity married women engaged in.
3. Marital infidelity among women is caused by economic challenges, as well as separation of spouses by reason of the man’s work.
4. Religious beliefs and teachings are against marital infidelity; hence, people criticize such act.
5. The children of the women who engage in marital infidelity are mostly affected because of their negligence towards them.

Conclusion

Based on the above findings, the researcher therefore concludes that married women who engage in infidelity do so because of sexual benefits (satisfying their sexual urge) as well as for economic support. Marital infidelity is not religiously and culturally tolerated in the local government area. Thus, anyone who engages in marital infidelity brings shame and disgrace to herself, spouse, children and the entire family, in addition to other consequences associated with marital infidelity.

Recommendations

Based on the findings of the study, the following recommendations are made:

1. Professional counselors through counseling Association of Nigeria should organize enlightenment programs through the mass media on various factors responsible for extramarital affairs so that married couples and youngsters could learn and adjust extensively to sexual obligations and challenges that are attached to marital infidelity.
2. The government in collaboration with National Agency for the control of AIDS (NACA) should announce regularly through radio, television and newspaper the increasing rate of venereal diseases due to marital infidelity in Enugu North L. G. A.
3. Local community leaders, NGOs, women group should educate the community members on the negative implication of gender discrimination in Enugu North L. G. A. This would help men and women shun away from the retrogressing primitive cultural practices that demean women, promote infidelity among men and treat women as the weaker sex.
4. Employment opportunities should be created by government agencies or NGOs for married women to eradicate poverty in the home.

Limitations of the Study

In the course of undertaking this study, the researcher experienced some limitations:

Firstly, because of the size of the population the researcher couldn’t reach out to everyone to get substantive information.

Secondly, on the part of the respondents, many of them were afraid of exposing their marital matters and status because they were not fully convinced that their confidentiality would be maintained. This hindered the collection of sincere opinions from the respondents. Thirdly, some of the respondents could not read nor write, this made the researcher spend more time than expected in the sharing of the questionnaire which hindered the progress of the research. Some of them even refused to collect the questionnaire and this created more work for the researcher to look for more respondents in order to complete the sample size. Despite the challenges the exercise was reasonably successful

Suggestions for Further Research

The researcher suggests that further research should be carried out in this area:

Awareness of health risks associated with extra martial behaviors among married people.

REFERENCES

• Abdul, A.H., & Yusuf, A. (2013).Strategies for resolution of marital crises towards achievement of marital stability in Nigeria. A paper presented at the 14th Annual National Conference of Home Economics Research Association of Nigeria (HERAN) at University of Nigeria.
• Adebayo, A. J. (2012). Why married Women Engage in Extramarital affair: Retrieved from RSS 2.0.
• Agbe, N. (1998). The Efficacy of Counselling For Marital Adjustment. The Counsellor, 16(1), 14
• Aghoghovia, F. (2011) Extramarital affair: Who should be blamed?  Retrieved from : www.lifecomrade.com.
• Akubue, F.N., & Okolo, A.S. (2008).Sociology of Education. Nsukka, Nigeria: Great A.P. Express publishers Ltd.
• Anyawu, J., & Ofordile, C. (2012). Marriage & Family: Issues, Problems and Counseling Strategies. Enugu: Snaap press Ltd.
• Allen, E. S., Atkins, D., Baucom, D. H., Snyder, D., Gordon, K. C., & Glass, S. P. (2005).Intrapersonal, Interpersonal, And Contextual Factors In Engaging In And Responding To Extramarital Involvement. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 12, 101-130.
• Allen, E.S., &Baucom, D.H. (2004).Adult attachment and Patterns of Extradyadic Involvement. Family Process, 43, 467-488.
• Amato, P. R., & Preveti, D. (2003) People’s Reason for Divorcing: Gender, Social class, the life Course and Adjustment. Journal of Family Issues. 24: 602-626
• Ambekar, A. (2009) Causes of Extramarital Affair. Retrieved from: www.infojug.com.
• Atkins, D. C., K. A. Eldridg, D. H. Bauco, and A. Christense. 2005. Infidelity and Behavioral Couple Therapy: Optimism in the Face of Betrayal. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 73
• Barr, K. (2013). The Impact of Extramarital Affair on Family Members.  . Retrieved from: www.lifestrong.com.
• Bird, M.H., Butler, M.H., & Fife, S.T. (2007).The process of couple healing following infidelity: A qualitative study. Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy, 6(4), 1-25.

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