Assessing factors affecting marital satisfaction in the Seventh-Day Adventist Church: Case study of selected Churches in Mwanza, Tanzania

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess factors affecting marital satisfaction in the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Mwanza, Tanzania. This objective was achieved by using a survey research design with a questionnaire composed of 95 questions. The questionnaires were distributed to 270 people and 155 respondents filled and returned the forms. This makes a retrieval rate 62%. Data were analyzed by using SPSS version 20, to answer the three research objectives. The analytical tools were percentages, mean, standard deviation, and Pearson Product Moment Coefficients. The findings indicated that the majority of marriages studied were in bad condition. The first objective shows the mean average of 4.5 which reveals that the respondents are concerned to have marital satisfaction. In the second objective which had thirteen factors, which had a mean score of 3.7, an indication that marriages need improvement as they seemed not to be sure of their satisfaction in spirituality, communication, and sex life, among other areas. The third objective results showed that the majority agreed there is a great need to improve the state of affairs in order for spouses to be satisfied in their marriage. The alternative hypothesis was accepted—there is a strong relationship between marital satisfaction and spirituality. In the end, it is recommended that families invest in spirituality as it directly relates to their marital satisfaction. Finally, the Seventh-day Adventist Church is advised to increase both pre-marital and marital seminars to remedy the current situation.