MARRIAGE MENTORING PROGRAM AND MARITAL STABILITY A CASE OF WATOTO CHURCH CENTRAL IN UGANDA

Abstract

This research intended to establish a relationship between marriage mentoring program and marital stability using Watoto Church Central in Uganda as a case study. The research aim was to examine the link between the independent variable (marriage mentoring program) and the dependent variable (marital stability). The following were the research questions’; What is the nature relationship between mentoring in communication and marital at Watoto Church Main branch? What is the nature relationship between mentoring in managing differences in marriage and marital stability at Watoto Church Main branch? What is the nature relationship between mentoring in conflict resolution and marital stability at Watoto Church Main branch? What is the nature relationship between mentoring in managing finances and marital stability at Watoto Church Main branch? How does mentoring in raising Godly children relate to marital stability at Watoto Church Main branch? The research adopted a case study design to gather the data. Purposive and simple random sampling was utilized to gather data from a sample of 75 respondents. Primary data was gathered by the utilization of a survey questionnaire and an interview guide and secondary data was gathered by reviewing of documents. To ensure the quality of the research process, all the items included in the study were based on earlier studies and thoroughly reviewed by the supervisor before the data collection. In addition, a number of tests were conducted on reliability and validity of the data. In the case of reliability, Cronbach Alpha coefficient for all the variables was computed. All the scales in the study had a coefficient of 0.869 which is above the cut off of 0.70. In the context of validity, factor analysis was utilized. The factor loadings for the items included in the study were above 0.5 threshold and above which statistically means that, there was reasonable level of validity of the items included in tapping into the variables of earlier studies to ensure that no guess work is involved in conceptualizing the variables and or tap in their accepted meanings and operationalization. SSPS version 20 was used to analyze the quantitative data. The results showed that there was positive relationship between mentoring in communication, and marital stability. The results showed that a strong link existed between mentoring managing differences in marriage and marital stability. The findings revealed that there was a strong link between mentoring in conflict resolution and marital stability. Results revealed a strong link between mentoring in managing finances and marital stability among couples. Research findings revealed a strong connection between mentoring in raising Godly children and marital stability. Centering on the aforementioned discussions the research makes the following conclusions. Mentoring in communication is essential in enhancing marital stability. Mentoring in managing differences in marriage is necessary in enhancing marital stability. Mentoring in conflicts resolution is critical in enhancing marital stability. Mentoring in managing finances is important in enhancing marital stability. Mentoring in raising Godly children is very critical to enhance marital stability. The following recommendations are made. Effective communication was very critical in steadying marriages (marital stability), thus efforts must be made by the leadership of Watoto church main branch to include in the mentorship program all aspects of effective communication skills in marriage. These should include skills which engrosses cautious paying attention, commiserating with a partner you are paying attention too and responding in non-cynical approach. The leadership at Watoto church main branch need to stress on packaging the content on mentoring to include teaching couples how to avoid behaviours such as being indifference, dominating conversations, sneering and criticizing each other. The leadership at Watoto church main branch should clearly include effective conflict resolution skills suitable to achieving marital stability. Efforts must be made by the leadership of the church to teach effective financial management skills. These should include but not limited to aspects such as transparency and accountability, budgeting, saving and investment. The leadership of the church as a core in this mentoring program include techniques to be impacted to the couples which encourage fellowshipping amongst parents and children. By doing this there would be harmony in the family and thus as the saying goes: a family which prays together stays together.