ABSTRACT

 This study was designed to investigate the influence of Mate Selection Preferences on Marital Stability of Abia Married Persons. The study was guided by three research questions and five hypotheses. The population consisted of all the married persons in Abia State aged 40-- 44 for married males and 35- 39 for married females who have been married for 1-- 10 years. Ten local government areas, five urban and five rural out of the seventeen Local Government Areas in Abia State were selected for the study. A sample of 2,990 married persons, made up of 1,500 females and 1,490 males were randomly chosen for the study. The multi-stage random sampling technique was chosen on the basis of 300 from each of the local government areas for the study. The 300 married persons, from each local government area comprised of 150 married females and 150 married males. They were simple randomly chosen. The instrument used for the study was the Mate Selection and dyadic marital adjustment scale. The instrument was validated and its reliability ascertained. A reliability co-efficient of 0.85 was obtained. In analyzing the data, multiple regression analysis, regression analysis, chi-square test and t-test were used to test the null hypotheses while descriptive statistics of arithmetic mean and percentages were used to analyze the research questions. The hypotheses were tested at 0.05 levels of significance. Results based on the analysed data revealed among others that most 28.5% and 24.4% of the total married persons in Ahia State selected their mates on the basis of ideal mate and compatibility mate selection preferences respectively. Arranged mate selection preference enhanced marital stability more than the other mate selection preferences. There was a significant association (P< 0.05) between mate selection preferences and place or location of marriage. Marriages by compatibility , ideal mate and complementary needs were associated with marriages in the rural areas while most marriages in the urban areas were associated and influenced by value, arranged, homogamy and propinquity mate selections. There was significant influence among gender, mate selection preferences and martial stability. More married women chose their life partners in preference to compatibility as against men but men showed more marital stability. Among those within the ideal mate preference, more men identified with ideal mate preference than women but in the area of marital stability, men still reported having more stable marriage than women. It was established that there was also a significant influence among mate selection preferences, duration of marriage and marital stability. Mate selection preferences and duration of marriage have influence on marital stability. Marital stability was significantly higher (P< 0.05) for marriages contracted through compatibility, ideal mate, and value mate selection preferences for marriages of 6 -l0 years duration while in arranged marriage, marital stability is higher in marriages of I- 5 years duration. Of all the mate selection preferences, arranged and homogamy were able to predict marital stability with each contributing 8.9% and 6.9% respectively. Finally, all the mate selection preferences made a joint contribution of 15.8% to marital stability. Findings from the study have implications for further development of the curriculum of Home Economics programmes, intending couples and those involved in marriage moulding institution . Based on these; the following recommendations amongst others were made: Mate selection preferences, length or duration, place or residence of marriages should be integrated in the search for factors for stable marriages. There is need for Home Economists, Home makers, experts in the marriage moulding institution and professionals to generate a model that will lead to marriage stability. Intending couples who have negative and poor views of themselves with regard to getting married as a result of marital crises should approach Home makers, Home Economists and experts in marriage moulding institution for counseling for a proper guidance, counseling and evaluation of mate selection preferences to adopt for a happy and stable marriage. Home Economics professional Association should organize marriage seminars, workshops and conferences to highlight and teach intending couples effective skills of mate selection preferences that would enable them run a peaceful, stable and happy marriages.