The relationship between family stress and psychological well-being among married individuals
Abstract
This study examined the relationship between family stress and psychological well-being among married individuals. A total of 412 participants (263 females, 149 males; M = 36.60, SD = 9.70) were selected using a convenience sampling technique from selected institutions in Enugu State. Data were collected using the Psychological Well-Being Scale (Ryff, 1989) and the Family Stress Scale (Douglas & Omeje, 2025). A correlational research design was adopted, and data were analysed using Pearson Product-Moment Correlation. Results indicated that family stress had a significant negative relationship with overall psychological well-being (r = −.42, p < .01). Specifically, family stress was negatively associated with environmental mastery (r = −.38, p < .01), personal growth (r = −.31, p < .01), and self-acceptance (r = −.29, p < .01), while weaker relationships were observed with autonomy (r = −.12, p < .05). Positive intercorrelations were found among the dimensions of psychological well-being, suggesting an integrated structure of well-being. The findings highlight the detrimental impact of persistent family stress on emotional and psychological functioning among married persons. It was concluded that reducing family-related stressors may significantly enhance psychological well-being.
Downloads
References
Akin, A. (2008). The scales of psychological well-being: A study of validity and reliability. Educational Sciences: Theory & Practice, 8(3), 721–750.
Chikwendu, C. E., Douglas, J. U., & Aninze, C. C. (2026). The mediating roles of shyness in the relationship between fear of negative evaluation and psychological well-being among undergraduate students. Journal of Humanities and Social Policy, 12(2), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.56201/jhsp.vol.12.no2.2026.pg1.13
Chinawa, F. C., Anike, R. U., Ekwo, J. C., Omeje, O., Chikwendu, C. E., Umeokonkwo, C. N., & Douglas, J. U. (2024). Body image satisfaction as a predictor of psychological wellbeing among undergraduate students. GPH-International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research, 7(5), 71–79. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.12624755
Conger, R. D., & Conger, K. J. (2008). Understanding the processes through which economic hardship influences families and children. In G. W. Handel, S. G. Hughes, & R. D. Seltzer (Eds.), Handbook of families and poverty (pp. 64–81). Sage Publications.
Datatab. (2024). Cronbach’s alpha: Simple definition, use and interpretation. https://datatab.net/tutorial/cronbachs-alpha
Douglas, J. U., & Omeje, C. (2025). Development and validation of a family stress scale among married individuals. Global Public Health Journal, 7(1), 1–15. https://gphjournal.org/index.php/ssh/article/view/1732
Ekwo, J. C., Silas, C. R., Douglas, J. U., Omeje, O., Mba, K., Nwodo, T. O., & Ezugwu, C. O. (2024). Loneliness and social media as correlates of psychological well-being among undergraduate students. Research Journal of Mass Communication and Information Technology, 10(5), 128–142. https://doi.org/10.56201/rjmcit.v10.no5.2024.pg128.142
McLoyd, V. C. (1990). The impact of economic hardship on Black families and children: Psychological distress, parenting, and socioemotional development. Child Development, 61(2), 311–346. https://doi.org/10.2307/1131096
Ryff, C. D. (1989). Happiness is everything, or is it? Explorations on the meaning of psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57(6), 1069–1081. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.57.6.1069
Author(s) and co-author(s) jointly and severally represent and warrant that the Article is original with the author(s) and does not infringe any copyright or violate any other right of any third parties, and that the Article has not been published elsewhere. Author(s) agree to the terms that the GPH Journal will have the full right to remove the published article on any misconduct found in the published article.
