SPOUSAL COMMUNICATION AS CORRELATE OF MARITAL ADJUSTMENT AMONG WORKING CLASS COUPLES IN TARABA AND ADAMAWA STATES, NIGERIA.

ABSTRACTThis study investigated how spousal communication relates to marital adjustment among working-class couples in Taraba and Adamawa States, Nigeria. The research was guided by two research questions and two corresponding hypotheses. A correlational research design was employed. The target population consisted of 98,346 working-class couples across the two states, from which a sample of 398 couples was drawn through a multi-stage sampling technique involving six Local Government Areas. Data were collected using two instruments: the Spousal Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) and the Marital Adjustment among Couples Questionnaire (MACQ). To establish reliability, a pilot test was carried out with 40 couples in Nasarawa State. The instruments yielded Cronbach Alpha coefficients of 0.94 for the SCQ and 0.85 for the MACQ, indicating strong reliability. Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) was used to answer the research questions, while linear regression was applied to test the hypotheses at the 0.05 significance level. The results indicated significant positive associations between spousal communication and both intimacy and home management. These findings highlight the vital role of effective communication in enhancing marital adjustment. Consequently, the study recommended that couples adopt open and empathetic communication, particularly regarding finances, conflict resolution, and other essential marital domains. It also advised marriage counsellors and family-life educators to integrate communication skills training into marital enrichment programmes.KEYWORDS: Spousal Communication, Finance, Conflict Resolution, Marital Adjustment, Working Class Couples, Couples......