EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AS A CORRELATE OF MARITAL AGREEMENT AND INTERACTION AMONG MARRIED TEACHERS IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN BENUE NORTH-WEST SENATORIAL DISTRICT, NIGERIA

This study investigated emotional intelligence as a correlate of marital adjustment among married teachers in public secondary schools in Benue North-West Senatorial District. The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between emotional intelligence of married teachers in Benue State, Nigeria and their marital satisfaction, interaction, agreement, cohesion, maturity, and affection. Three research questions were raised to guide the study, while three null hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. A correlational survey design was adopted, since the study was focused on finding out the correlation between two variables (Emotional Intelligence and Marital Adjustment). The focused population of the study comprised 10,422 married teachers in public secondary schools across the seven Local Government Areas that make up Benue North-West Senatorial District. A sample of 385 married teachers was drawn from the population using a multi-stage sampling procedure. Data were collected using Goldman’s Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (GEIQ) and Marital Adjustment Questionnaire (MAQ), and analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient. The findings revealed significant positive relationships between emotional intelligence and marital agreement as well as marital interaction, indicating that emotionally intelligent couples are more likely to experience higher marital agreement and interaction. The study recommended integrating emotional intelligence training into marriage counselling, workshops and family support programs to enhance marital stability and reduce conflict.