INFLUENCE OF GENDER ON PARENTAL INTERFERENCE ON MARITAL BONDING AMONG MARRIED TEACHERS IN KWARA STATE
Keywords:
Parental Interference, Marital Bonding, Gender, Married Teachers.Abstract
Parental interference in marital bonding has become a significant concern, as it may reduce one or both partners’ self-efficacy, limit their ability to independently resolve marital issues, and weaken marital relationships, particularly within many Nigerian socio-cultural settings. This study investigated the influence of gender on parental interference on marital bonding among married teachers in Kwara State, Nigeria, with emphasis on the extent to which interference constitutes a problem in marital relationships. A descriptive survey design was adopted, using multistage and criterion sampling techniques across three Local Government Areas. The population comprised 8,876 junior secondary school teachers, while a sample of 350 married teachers was selected using the Krejcie and Morgan (1970) sample size determination table. Data were collected using an adapted Marital Interference and Boundaries Scale (MIBS), with reliability coefficient of 0.76. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics at the 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that parental interference on marital bonding is a prevalent problem, with 76.6% of respondents experiencing moderate interference, 16.6% high interference, and 6.9% low interference. This suggests that parental involvement, though sometimes beneficial, often disrupts marital autonomy and creates tension between spouses. The study also found no significant gender difference in parental interference on marital bonding. The study concluded that parental interference is a common and persistent issue that can undermine marital stability if not properly managed. It was recommended that couples establish clear boundaries with parents, counseling and community-based interventions be implemented to reduce excessive parental involvement in marital relationships.References
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