ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Relationship education training on the management of marital discord among young couples in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Ten specific objectives with ten research questions were stated and six Null hypotheses were raised. Among the objectives were to determine young couples' awareness of Relationship education, and to identify the causes of marital discord among young couples in the southern part of Kaduna state. Experimental research design was adopted for the study. The population for the study was 1,495,644 couples. The sample size used for the study was 120 young couples; 60 served in the experimental group and 60 for control group. The researcher had two different forms of questionnaires (a baseline questionnaire and a pre-test and post-test questionnaire) and a Relationship Education Training manual, developed by the researcher. The aim of the first (baseline) questionnaire was to enable the researcher pick out the conflicted and devitalized couples for the study and this was done through a diagnostic method. Couples that fell between the ranges of 26%-66% were used for the study. These diagnoses were mainly for the researcher's use. The second questionnaire (pre-test and post test) on the other hand was used to answer the ten research questions and also to test the six null hypotheses. The questionnaire consisted of six (6) sections with multiple choice questions measured using 4-Point Rating Scale. The same questionnaire was used for pre-test and post-test. Before the administration of the post-test questionnaire, the researcher conducted a four weeks relationship education training on the experimental group. Six Null hypotheses were formulated and tested using Independent t-test statistics at 0.05 Alpha level of significance. The result showed significant difference on the management of acute discord of young couples that went through Relationship Education training and those who did not. There was significant difference between couples who went ix through Relationship Education training and those who did not on the management of role discord. There was also significant difference in the frequency of marital discord of young couples before and after the training. Based on the findings, it was concluded that Relationship-Education training had positive effect on the management of marital discord among couples. Some recommendations were given. Among them were; religious leaders should prevail on all intending couples on the need to undergo thorough and effective Relationship Education training before getting married so as to acquire adequate skills and knowledge in managing marital discord. Marriage seminars and workshops should be conducted regularly by relevant stakeholders (religious organizations, governmental institutions and NGOs) so as to give couples and intending couples adequate knowledge on current marital issues and effective ways of handling them.