Marital conflict among couples: The case of Durbete town, Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

This study explored the prevalence, causes, consequences and coping strategies of marital conflict in Durbete town. The study employed a mixed approach with cross-sectional descriptive survey research design. A total of 390 people participated: 386 (193 men and 193 women) couples as survey respondents and four interviewees. Survey respondents were selected through stratified and proportional random sampling technique. Four interviewees were purposely selected from elders, lawyers, and women and children’s affairs office. Data were collected using, questionnaire, interview, and, document. One sample t-test, weighted mean and rank order were used as quantitative data analysis techniques. Qualitative data were analyzed, thematically using quotation, paraphrasing and narration. The findings revealed that marital conflict is highly prevalent and showed an increasing trend from year to year. The major causes of marital conflict were of psychological, gender related, sexual, socio cultural, economic. The five major consequences of marital conflict identified were stress, feeling of depression and grief, worry about what others say beyond the disturbance with their own spouses, and feeling of despair and hopelessness. The frequently applied conflict coping strategies were competing, collaborating, compromising, avoiding, accommodation, and third party interference. Finally, it is concluded that marital conflict is one major social issue in the study area that needed involvement of experts in social work, counseling and law to minimize the prevalence of marital conflicts.