ATTACHMENT TO MOTHER AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SYMPTOMS AS CORRELATES OF MARITAL SATISFACTION

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess whether attachment to mother and psychological symptoms are correlates of marital satisfaction and to determine if there will be an interaction between different levels of attachment to mother and psychological symptoms in determining the level of marital satisfaction. 294 participants were drawn from the population frame of Staff of University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus. They comprise of 131 married men and 164 married women. The age range of the participants were between 23years and 63years. The mean and the standard deviation of their age were 44.5 and 8.77 respectively. Multi stage sampling technique was adopted to select the sample units and participants. The instruments used to collect data are Attachment to Mother Scale (AMS-26), sub scale of Symptom Distress Checklist (SCL-90) and Index of Marital Satisfaction (IMS). The study adopted a combination of correlation design and cross-sectional survey design. The data were analysed using Pearson product moment correlation coefficient (r), and Moderated Multiple regression. The result showed that attachment to mother and psychological symptoms correlated significantly with marital satisfaction, while correlation coefficient between hostility and marital satisfaction among the studied sample was not significant. Also, the interaction between anxiety and anxiety attachment; neuroticism and anxiety attachment were significantly positive. While anxiety and close attachment; neuroticism and close attachment; neuroticism and depend attachment; depression and anxiety attachment; depression and close attachment were significantly negative. Some of the findings were concordance with existing research and have implication for therapists in understanding the role of attachment to mother and psychological symptoms in marital harmony. The main limitations of the study were highlighted and suggestions were given for further studies. The study concluded that different levels of attachment to mother and psychological symptoms interact to influence marital satisfaction.   Key Words: Attachment, Psychological Symptoms, Marriage, Satisfaction, Mother