INFLUENCE OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE ON CONFLICT RESOLUTION AMONG COUPLES IN KARU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF NASARAW A STATE

Abstract

This study investigated the influence of emotional intelligence on marital conflict resolution of couples in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, adopting the survey design. The simple random and stratified sampling techniques were used to draw a sample of 100 young spouses (50 males and 50 females). The instruments for the conduct of the research were adapted E-OSC Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (EIQ) and a researcher-made instrument, Conflict Resolution Questionnaire (CRQ); validated by experts in the field of Guidance and Counselling. The instruments were close ended type of questionnaires with reliability coefficients of 0.79 for EIQ and 0.83 for CRQ, using Cronbach Alpha reliability method. The study was guided by five research questions and five corresponding hypotheses. The t-test statistical tool was used to analyze the data at 0.05 level of significance. The results reveal that all the components of emotional intelligence significantly influenced marital conflict resolutions as follows: self-awareness on conflict resolution (t=57.247; P = 0.00 < 0.05); self-regulation on conflict resolution(57.346; P = 0.00 < 0.05), self-motivation on conflict resolution (55.238; P =0.00 < 0.05), empathy on conflict resolution(53.178; P = 0.00 < 0.05), and social skills on conflict resolution(53.178; P = 0.00 < 0.05). These results confirm that emotional intelligence significantly influenced conflict resolution and marital adjustment among the participants. It is therefore recommended that counsellors should help couples to be emotionally intelligent in order to resolve marital conflicts amicably to foster marital stability and satisfaction.