MARITAL SUPPORT AND THE PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLBEING OF MARRIED COUPLES IN FAKO DIVISION OF CAMEROON

Abstract This study examined the predictive relationship between marital support and psychological wellbeing among married couples in Fako Division, Cameroon. Employing a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design anchored in a triangulation protocol, the study sampled 360 individuals (180 couples) through a multistage framework combining stratified random and purposive sampling techniques. The analytical strategy integrated distinct statistical and thematic techniques to deconstruct the phenomenon. Quantitatively, data from structured questionnaires assessing emotional, instrumental, and informational support dimensions were analysed using SPSS Version 23.0. Descriptive statistics profiled the variables, while inferential analysis utilised Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient to evaluate the strength and direction of relationships. Qualitatively, data from semi-structured interviews with a purposive subsample underwent Braun and Clarke’s (2006) thematic analysis to extract and categorise subjective experiences of support. Finally, a cross-method triangulation technique mapped qualitative themes directly onto the quantitative variables to validate statistical outputs and enrich contextual understanding. The inferential analysis revealed a statistically significant, strong positive correlation (ρ = 0.550, p<0.01) between overall marital support and psychological wellbeing. Disaggregation of the variables demonstrated that higher levels of emotional, instrumental, and informational support significantly predicted greater life satisfaction and lower psychological distress. Concurrently, thematic analysis generated core themes of marital resilience, stress mitigation, and coping facilitation, which explicitly corroborated the statistical findings. The triangulation of both datasets demonstrated high convergence, establishing marital support as a robust predictor of psychological wellbeing. Consequently, the study recommends the development of culturally responsive marital counseling programmes that target specific supportive behaviours, improve communication, and promote healthy marital relationships as a pathway to enhancing psychological wellbeing. Keywords Marital supportpsychological wellbeingmarried couplesFako DivisionCameroon