The correlation between marital stress, perceived social support, duration of marriage and mental health of married women in Oshodi–Isolo area, Lagos Nigeria

Abstract

The study explores the relationship between marital stress, perceived social support, marriage duration, and positive mental health in married women in the Oshodi-Isolo local government area of Lagos State. It also determined the mediating role of perceived social support on marital stress within the sample. The research is grounded on the theory that social support acts as a buffer to protect an individual from the negative consequences of stressful events. The study used a cross-sectional survey design to collect data from 385 married women who were randomly selected using these standardized instruments: the Marital Stress Inventory (MSI), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and the Mental Health Continuum–Short Form (MHC-SF). Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation, moderation analysis, and multiple regression techniques. Results indicated a negative non-significant relationship between marital stress and mental health. In contrast, perceived social support demonstrated a significant positive relationship with mental health. The results also revealed that perceived social support significantly moderated the relationship between marital stress and mental health. Furthermore, duration of marriage was a significant predictor of positive mental health. These findings underscore the central role of perceived social support and marital duration in maintaining positive mental health among married women. It is recommended that married women utilize their social support systems, like family, to enhance their mental health and maintain enduring, stable marriages. They can also adopt resource-focused mental health interventions through other available channels like psychologists, trusted friends, and available non-governmental organizations that promote the mental health of citizens.