UNDERSTANDING THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN MARITAL SUPPORT AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLBEING AMONG MARRIED COUPLES IN FAKO DIVISION, CAMEROON

Abstract

Abstract This study examined the relationship between marital support and psychological wellbeing among married couples in Fako Division, Cameroon. A mixed-methods sequential explanatory design with triangulation was employed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon. The study involved 180 married couples (360 individual participants) selected through a multistage sampling procedure that combined stratified random and purposive sampling techniques. Quantitative data were collected using structured questionnaires assessing emotional, instrumental, and informational dimensions of marital support alongside measures of psychological wellbeing. Qualitative data were obtained through semi-structured interviews with a purposively selected subsample of participants to enrich and explain the quantitative findings. The quantitative findings revealed a statistically significant positive relationship between marital support and psychological wellbeing. Specifically, higher levels of emotional, instrumental, and informational support were associated with greater life satisfaction, enhanced emotional wellbeing, and lower levels of psychological distress. Qualitative findings corroborated these results, with participants describing mutual support as a critical resource for coping with life challenges, strengthening marital resilience, reducing stress, and fostering positive mental health. The triangulation of quantitative and qualitative evidence reinforced the consistency and credibility of these findings. The study concludes that marital support is a significant predictor of psychological wellbeing among married couples in Fako Division. It recommends the development of culturally responsive marital counselling programmes and family support interventions that strengthen supportive behaviours, improve communication, and promote healthy marital relationships as a pathway to enhancing psychological wellbeing. Keywords Marital supportpsychological wellbeingmarried couplesFako DivisionCameroon