EXPLORING FACTORS INFLUENCING MARRIAGE FAILURE AMONG YOUNG COUPLES: A STUDY OF BAUCHI METROPOLIS BAUCHI STATE NIGERIA

This study exploring factors contributing to marriage failure among youth couples in Bauchi Metropolis, Bauchi State, Nigeria. The study identifies several key factors influencing marital instability, including socio-economic challenges, cultural and societal expectations, communication barriers, and lack of premarital counseling. Socio-economic factors, such as financial strain and unemployment, were found to significantly impact marital satisfaction and stability. Economic difficulties exacerbate tensions within relationships, leading to increased conflict and dissatisfaction. Additionally, cultural and societal expectations, including pressures related to traditional gender roles and family obligations, often create unrealistic demands on young couples, contributing to marital strain. Communication barriers, characterized by inadequate conflict resolution skills and poor interpersonal communication, were also highlighted as critical factors in marriage failure. The causes of marriage failure especially among young couples is often complex, as several factors can lead a person or couple to be dissatisfied with the marriage. For obvious reasons, many see marriage failure as a very traumatic experience. Marriage failure affects the people involved in all ramifications. In Bauchi metropolis some men divorce women with ease, when such happened, the women are left to fend for themselves without any preparation. Family lifecycle theory was used to guide the research assumptions. The study was based on mixed method in which a total population of 298,549 in which simple random sampling techniques were used in conjunction with Krejcie and Morgan 1970 formula to sample a total of 400 respondents for the study. The study reveals that many youth couples struggle with effective communication, leading to misunderstandings and unresolved conflicts. The lack of premarital counseling further compounds these issues, as couples often enter marriage without a clear understanding of its demands and the skills necessary for sustaining a healthy relationship. The research underscores the need for targeted interventions to address these factors, including the provision of financial support, enhanced access to marital counseling services, and educational programs focused on communication and relationship management. By addressing these issues, stakeholders can help improve the stability and success of marriages among youth couples in Bauchi Metropolis.