Harmful Upbringing on Marital Satisfaction and Counseling in Ghanaian Couples

In Ghanaian culture, marriage is a significant spiritual and ritualistic process that includes traditions and practices passed down through generations. The marriage traditions in Ghana include a symbolic union between two families shown through the formal request for the bride’s hand in marriage from the groom to the bride’s father, large family-centered ceremonies, and other customs alike. Several factors can influence the relationship health of a married couple: socioeconomic status, individual personality traits, individual physical and mental health, childhood experiences, etc. This study examined the relationships between harmful childhood family environments, adult marital satisfaction, and engagement with premarital counseling among married Ghanaians (Ghanaians living in Ghana or the Diaspora), drawing on a dataset previously collected for behavioral predictors of marital outcomes. It was hypothesized that individuals from more harmful upbringings (i.e., physical or verbal abuse between parents) report lower marital satisfaction and a lower likelihood of seeking premarital counseling. Marital satisfaction consisted of positive behaviors such as affection, companionship, financial support, and commitment. On the other hand, dissatisfaction relates to negative behaviors such as disrespect, selfishness, and annoying habits. Cultural contexts are important in interpreting behaviors and relational expectations across cultures. The secondary data was collected through the 2019 survey with 231 participants who reported being married; they reported on their past childhood experiences and relevant marital behaviors and satisfaction. The results showed no significant associations between the main variables (harmful upbringing, marital satisfaction, and level of premarital counseling); however, upon further investigation, between 63% and 85% of participants reported low rates of inter-parental violence witnessed during upbringing. Future research could study this question more in depth by including more and related variables that contribute to a harmful upbringing to fully understand childhood experiences as associated with marital satisfaction and participation in premarital counseling. These studies could deepen our understanding of how early family life experiences shape adult marital quality and counseling behaviors. They could also contribute to culturally sensitive interventions that promote marital well-being in different populations. Keywords: Ghanaian marriage, marital satisfaction, premarital counseling, harmful upbringing