ABSTRACT

The study investigated the factors influencing marital stability among early married couples in Nsukka Education Zone of Enugu State. Four research questions and four null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The study discussed the concepts of marriage, early marriage, marital stability, parental training and family counseling were reviewed. Theory of role model, the structural theory model and social learning theory were also revealed. The design for the research study was survey research design. The instrument for data collection was duly validated by three experts all in college of Education from Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Urnudike. The population of the study consists of 5,160 married couples in Nsukka Education Zone of Enugu State. Questionnaire was the major instrument for data collection. Data collected were analyzed using mean scores and standard deviation while Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficiency Statistics and T-test statistics was employed in testing the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significant. Based on the analysis, the following major findings were made: A relationship exists between early marriage and marital stability. Family counseling influences marital stability among married couples to high extent. Gender has descriptive influence on marriage stability based on family counseling. Based on the findings, recommendations were made which includes the following: Government should enact law on early marriage. Seminars and workshops concerning early marriage should be regularly conducted in various places by Non Governmental Organizations.