A Descriptive Study on Marital Quality and Perceptions on Keeping the Family Intact Despite Marital Discord

Abstract

The purpose of the research is to examine the quality of relationships of married individuals and their perceptions on keeping the family intact despite marital discord. Specifically, it aimed to determine the level of satisfaction and commitment of the participants in their marriage, their sources of problems in marital life, their attitude towards living together despite the absence of love or presence of enduring conflicts in their relationship, as well as the perceived advantages and disadvantages of this kind of situation. Questionnaires were distributed among 105 individuals (32 males & 73 females) from Bacoor, Cavite. The respondents where chosen based on their accessibility and availability to the researcher. Seven individuals from high-conflict marriages were interviewed. The participants’ ages range from 24 to 60. Fifty-two percent were able to reach tertiary level of education. Sixty-two percent have a monthly income below 10,000 pesos. The findings show that most of the respondents (71.4%) are satisfied with their marriage. They generally possess strong commitment to marriage and experience less conflicts. The usual causes for marital discord were vices (56.2%), loss of trust (52.4%), infidelity (48.6%), disaffection (48.6%), abuse (48.6%), and failure of expectations (27.6%). Having children is considered as the most important factor that binds couples (47.6%) and as the primary consideration for the decision to continue or persist in high- conflict marriage (91.4%). Love is perceived as the second most important factor that binds couple followed by commitment. The study also found that 52% prefer to terminate a high-conflict marriage. There is a positive correlation between satisfaction and commitment (r=.57), satisfaction and health of the relationship (r=.6O), and health of the relationship and commitment (r=.75). It suggests that as one aspect of marital quality increases, other aspects also tend to increase.