Spousal support, educational background, and couples’ transition to parenthood satisfaction in Benin City, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined how spousal support relates to new parents’ adjustment to parenthood, and whether this relationship is influenced by the couples’ educational background in Benin City, Nigeria. Using a correlational survey design, the authors sampled 241 newly married couples who recently had their first child. Participants completed the Spousal Support Scale (SSS) and the Couples Satisfaction Index (CSI), and demographic information including education level was collected. Pearson’s correlation analysis and one-way ANOVA statistics were used to test the formulated hypotheses. The findings showed a strong positive correlation between spousal support and satisfaction in the transition to parenthood (r ≈. 75, p <. 001). By contrast, there was no significant difference in parenthood satisfaction between couples of different educational backgrounds (p >. 05). The study concludes that spousal support is a crucial factor in achieving a satisfying transition to parenthood, whereas a couple’s level of education does not significantly impact this outcome. The authors suggest that interventions to foster mutual support between spouses may improve new parents’ experiences, and that parenting should be approached as a shared responsibility of both partners.