Counselling Intervention: A Tool for Digital Technology Use and Marital Satisfaction Among Couples in Benue State University Teaching Hospital.

The study investigated counselling intervention: a tool for digital technology use and marital satisfaction among couples in Benue State University Teaching Hospital. The Survey research design was used for the study. The population of the study was 2900 staff of the Benue State University Teaching Hospital Makurdi. A sample size of 80 respondents was taken from the population using the purposive sampling technique. A self-developed instrument titled Digital Technology use and Marital Satisfaction (DTMS) was used for the study. Mean and Standard Deviation were used to answer the research questions and The T-Test statistical tool was used to test the hypotheses. The study revealed that: digital technology contribute to maintaining and enhancing communication between couples who are separated by a great distance, but it also brings about distractions and interruptions undermining the benefits of spending time with one’s spouse resulting to lack of satisfaction among couples. It was recommended among others that Spouses watch the amount of time they spend using digital technology devices because it can negatively affect their marital life, personal interaction and that face to face discussion with their spouse should be of paramount instead of constantly been on their phones and personal Computer, ensuring that trust is prioritized among couples which can be gained through close interpersonal relationship and communication.

Counselling intervention, Digital Technology, Marital satisfaction.

1. Asa U, Nkan V. Factors associated with marital instability among rural farming households in Akwa Ibom State Nigeria. European Scientific Journal. 2017;13(15). doi:10.19044/esj.2017.v13n15p290. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Chesley N. Blurring boundaries? Linking technology use, spillover, individual distress, and family satisfaction. Journal of Marriage and Family. 2005;67:1237-1248. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Christensen TH. ‘Connected presence’ in distributed family life. New Media & Society. 2009;11(3):433-451. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Coyne SM, Stockdale L, Busby D, Iverson B, Grant DM. A descriptive study on media use in individuals involved in romantic relationships. Journal of Family Relations. 2011;60:150-162. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Crandell TL, Crandell CH, Vander Zanden JW. Human development. 9th ed. New York: McGraw Hill; 2009. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. DeFrain J, Asay SM. Strong families around the world: An introduction to the family strengths perspective. Marriage and Family Review. 2007;41(1-2):1-10. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Dickinson R, Murcott A, Eldridge J, Leader S. Breakfast, time, and “breakfast time”: Television, food, and the household organization of consumption. Television & New Media. 2001;2(3):235-256. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Graham JM. Self-expansion and flow in couples’ momentary experiences: An experience sampling study. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 2008;95(3):679-694. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Glorieux I, Minnen J, Van TT. Spouse “together time”: Quality time within the household. Social Indicators Research. 2011. doi:10.1007/S11205-010-9648-X. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Hughes R, Hans JD. Computers, the internet, and families: A review of the role new technology plays in family life. Journal of Family Issues. 2001;22(6):776-790. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Johnson H. The contribution of couple leisure involvement, leisure time, and leisure satisfaction to marital satisfaction. Marriage & Family Review. 2006;40(1):69-91. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Lanigan JD. A sociotechnological model for family research and intervention: How information and communication technologies affect family life. Marriage & Family Review. 2009;45(6-8):587-609. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Lee R, Draper M, Lee S. Social connectedness, dysfunctional interpersonal behaviors, and psychological distress: Testing a mediator model. Journal of Counselling Psychology. 2001;48:310-318. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Neelma H, Tanveer H, Sobia A. The role of social media communication in couples in long-distance relationship: An analysis of the perception of married women in Lahore. 2024. Available from: www.migrationletters.com. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Olson DH, DeFrain J. Marriage and the family: Diversity and strengths. Mountain View, CA: Mayfield Publishing Company; 1994. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Orthner DK, Mancini JA. Benefits of leisure for family bonding. In: Driver BL, Brown PJ, Peterson GL, editors. Benefits of leisure. State College, PA: Venture Publishing; 1991. p. 289-301. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Reissman C, Aron A, Bergen MR. Shared activities and marital satisfaction: Causal direction and self-expression versus boredom. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships. 1993;10:243-254. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Sharaievska I, Kim J, Stodolska M. Leisure and marital satisfaction in intercultural marriages. Journal of Leisure Research. 2013;45(4):445-465. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. Sutcliffe AG, Binder JF, Dunbar RI. Activity in social media and intimacy in social relationships. Computers in Human Behavior. 2018;85:227-235. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Sutcliffe A, Dunbar R, El-Jarn H. Investigating the use of social media in intimate social relationships. Behaviour & Information Technology. 2022:1-13. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Watt D, White JM. Computers and family life: A family development perspective. Journal of Comparative Family Studies. 1999;30(1):1-. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

22. Udobong EO. Factors associated with marital instability in farming households in Nsit-Ibom Local Government Area, Uyo, Nigeria. International Journal of Innovation and Policy Studies. 2016;9(3):116-126. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

23. Zabriskie RB. Family recreation: How can we make a difference? Parks and Recreation. 2001;36(10):30-42. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

24. Zabriskie RB, McCormick BP. Parent and child perspectives of family leisure involvement and satisfaction with family life. Journal of Leisure Research. 2003;35(2):163. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]