Influence of Conflict Resolution Styles on Marital Stability among Married Individuals at St. Monica Catholic Church, Kitengela, Kajiado County, Kenya

Conflict is normal in close relationships like marriage. For the marital relationship to be stable, it is important to understand the cause of the conflict, the conflict resolution behavior and its impact on the marital relationship. Data was collected from 106 females and 94 males aged between 20 and 60 years at St. Monica Catholic Church, Kitengela County Assembly Ward in Kajiado County, Kenya using the Thomas Kilmans Conflict resolution styles questionnaire. The study used a descriptive correlational research design, data collected through stratified and random sampling and analysed by use of Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Results showed that the conflict resolution styles; accommodation, collaboration, competition, compromise, avoidance have a significant effect on the marital relationship. Collaboration was also correlated with the highest relationship stability while Avoidance showed a negative correlation suggesting that the continued use may result in reduced marital stability. There was a very slight difference in the ratio of conflict resolution patterns used by male and female. Results showed that children and money were the most common causes of conflict among couples and age at marriage was correlated with marital stability. The study recommends that conflict resolution skills are important in the stability of marital relationship and should be incorporated in premarital counselling in churches and other institutions. There is also need to create awareness to groups and families periodically on conflict and conflict resolution.