EFFICACY OF SILENCE AND NEGOTIATION SKILLS TRAINING ON MARITAL CONFLICTS AMONG LITERATE MARRIED ADULTS IN ILORIN, NIGERIA

DENIKE Abiodun Abibat Ph.D

Abstract

Silence and negotiation skills are considered essential in human interaction in controlling emotions and in resolving marital conflicts. The study is quasi-experimental research design of pre-test, post-test and control group approach, using a 3 x 2 factorial matrix. A total of 120 literate married adults were selected through purposive sampling techniques. Instrument entitled “Marital Relationship Questionnaire” was used for pre-test and post-test. It was validated by experts and subjected to test re-tests reliability technique with value of 0.87. Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) and Scheffe Multiple Test were used to analyse the collected data. The findings revealed that significant differences were found in SST and NST in handling marital conflicts among the participants exposed to treatments than those in the control group F (2,117) =7.85; p<0.05; SST and NST were found to be effective and there was no significant difference in handling marital conflicts among participants exposed to treatment on the basis of age and gender. The study concluded treatments were effective in handling marital conflicts among married adults. The study recommended counsellors to incorporate the two skills in counselling distressed married adults in handling their marital conflicts.