EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION SKILLS AND HEALTHY MARITAL RELATIONSHIP

Abstract

In any relationship, especially that of marriage, effective communication skills are vital for the well-being of its members. In the process of communicating, problems are experienced, which evoke complaints about a partner not talking to a spouse or not listening. These show that couples lack attending and listening skills. This study, therefore, attempts to examine the efficacy of attending and listening skills in improving communication among married couples.

An experimental design was chosen to gather data for the study. A sample of 120 subjects were randomly selected and assigned to an experimental group (60) and a control group (60). An instrument titled "Couples' Communication Skills Inventory (CCSI)" was administered to the subjects. T-test analysis was used to test the hypotheses. The result showed a statistically significant difference between the experimental group and the control group. Based on the findings, attending and listening skills counseling on communication was recommended for a marriage enrichment program.