Abstract

In this study, the predictors of marital satisfaction and intimacy were examined within an African context that is characterized by a fast growing economy, migrant population, urbanization and industrialization. Specifically, this study examined the role of two relational variables, gender role attitudes and spousal support and two demographic variables, age and gender in predicting the variance in marital satisfaction and intimacy, after controlling for number of children, religion, occupation, education, length of marriage and household income among married individuals in Botswana. The results of this study reveal the importance of gender role attitudes and spousal support as key predictors of marital satisfaction and intimacy when compared to age and gender. That is, individuals who reported high scores in spousal support and egalitarian gender role attitudes also reported high scores in marital satisfaction and intimacy. Gender and age were not related to both outcomes used in this study. The findings in this study will be of benefit to mental health professionals (a fairly new profession in Botswana), marriage officers, pastors and family life educators, as they deal with married and prospective couples in Botswana. Mental health professionals in Botswana will be able to explore the perspectives of married individuals on gender role xii attitudes and spousal support within the context of their marital relationships. The results of this study provide some support for the use of family therapy interventions in Botswana and neighboring countries, open a dialogue among couples regarding marital expectations and what they bring in from families of origin and provoke some thoughts among family educators in creating interventions relevant to the African context.

LLU Discipline

Marital and Family Therapy

Department

Marital and Family Therapy

School

School of Science and Technology

First Advisor

Wilson, Colwick M.

Second Advisor

Fox, Curtis A.

Third Advisor

Jenkins, Louis

Fourth Advisor

Simpson, Cheryl

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Degree Level

Ph.D.

Year Degree Awarded

January 2010

Date (Title Page)

6-1-2010

Language

English

Subject - Local

Marital Satisfaction; Gender Role Attitudes; Spousal Support; Botswana

Type

Dissertation

Page Count

191 p.

Digital Format

Application/PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses & Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

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