Influence of Self-Esteem Counselling on Marital Stability Among Married Couples in Selected Catholic Parishe s in Kapseret Sub County Kenya

Author: Vincent Kibet Kitur , Prof Jennifer K. Munyua

Date: 2025

Abstract: The study examined the influence of self-esteem counselling on marital stability among married Catholic couples in Kapseret Sub County, Kenya, against a backdrop of rising marital problems, including intimate partner violence and femicide. Guided by Bowen’s Family Systems Theory, which conceptualizes the family as an emotional unit with interconnected relationships, the research employed a correlational design. The study targeted 131 couples who had sought selfesteem counselling services in selected parishes, with a sample of 99 respondents selected through simple random sampling. Data was collected using questionnaires, with validity ensured through a pilot study and reliability tested using the test-retest method. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were used. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) tested the hypothesis. Findings revealed that self-esteem counselling had a statistically significant positive influence on marital stability (F = 13.794, p < 0.001). The study concluded that self-esteem counselling enhances emotional well-being, communication, and conflict resolution, leading to greater marital stability. It recommended integrating self-esteem counselling models into church-based marriage programs and fostering collaboration between faith-based institutions and mental health professionals to strengthen marital health and promote family stability within Catholic communities.

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