A Dyadic Approach of Gaslighting Behaviours and Marriage Harmony of Intra-ethnic Spouses in Mkpat Enin Local Education Committee of Akwa Ibom State.

Abstract

The study aimed at determining the relationship between gaslighting behaviours and marriage harmony of intra-ethnic spouses in Mkpat Enin Local Education Committee Akwa Ibom State. Three research questions were raised for the study. A 
correlational survey design was adopted while the population comprised 2,207 female teachers from the 49 public primary schools in the study area. A sample size of 220 teachers was selected for the study using a multi-stage sampling procedure. Out of 49 schools in the population, 20 public primary schools as well as 11 female teachers each in all the sampled schools were selected using balloting method of random sampling. The researchers developed instrument titled “Gaslighting Behaviours and Marriage Harmony of Intra-ethic Spouses Questionnaire (GRMAISQ)” were used for data collection, with a reliability co-efficient of 0.73 and 0.84 obtained through Cronbach Alpha Statistics. Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) statistics was used in answering the research questions. The 
finding revealed a very weak negative relationship between deceitfulness and marriage harmony of intra-ethnic spouses. The findings further revealed a weak negative relationship between contemptuousness, blame-shifting and marriage harmony of intra-ethnic spouses. It was concluded that deceitfulness, contemptuousness and blame-shifting are all gaslighting behaviours which can hamper marriage harmony. The researchers recommended among other things that, male spouses should reshape feelings of contempt into healthy means of communication while avoiding comments and gestures that would show greater disregard to the feelings and emotions of their female’s spouses.