THE INFLUENCE OF SEXUAL SATISFACTION, MUTUAL TRUST AND EMPATHY ON  CONJUGAL SATISFACTION OF NURSES IN ABIA STATE, NIGERIA

Iheoma Oguzie; Nnyanga Akpan; Gertrude Udoh

Authors

Iheoma Happiness Oguzie Department of Guidance and Counselling, Faculty of Education, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria Author
Nnyanga U. Akpan Department of Guidance and Counselling, Faculty of Education, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria Author
Gertrude J. UDOH Department of Guidance and Counselling, Faculty of Education, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria Author

Keywords:

sexual satisfaction, mutual trust, married nurses, empathy, Conjugal satisfaction

Abstract

This study investigated the influence of sexual satisfaction, mutual trust, and empathy on the conjugal satisfaction of married nurses. A descriptive correlational research design was adopted. The population comprised 5,702 nursing staff across 24 public hospitals in Abia State's three senatorial districts. A sample of 570 nurses (10% of the population) was selected using multi-stage sampling procedure comprising stratified random sampling, systematic random sampling, proportionate sampling, and accidental sampling techniques. The researcher-developed "Romantic Expectations and Conjugal Satisfaction of Nurses Questionnaire (RECSNQ)" demonstrated good reliability (Cronbach's α = .804). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics (means, standard deviations) and Pearson Product Moment Correlation at α = .05. Descriptive findings showed that nurses generally agreed they experienced sexual satisfaction (mean = 3.62, SD = 0.57), mutual trust (mean = 3.38, SD = 0.66), empathy (mean = 3.61, SD = 0.63), and conjugal satisfaction (mean = 3.65, SD = 0.58). Inferential analysis revealed very high positive and significant relationships: sexual satisfaction (r = .799, p < .01); mutual trust (r = .839, p < .01); and empathy (r = .744, p < .01). The study concluded that sexual satisfaction, mutual trust, and empathy significantly influence conjugal satisfaction of married nurses in Abia State. Mutual trust had the strongest influence, followed by sexual satisfaction, then empathy. It was recommended among many others that hospital administrations should establish marital counselling programmes targeting these three domains to enhance nurses' marital happiness and, by extension, their professional performance and patients’ care quality.

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