Moderating Effect of Trust And Commitment on The Relationship Between Interspousal Friendship and Marital Quality of Members In Karura Community Chapel, Nairobi
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Date
2025-12-16
Authors
Patricia Wanjiru Wanderi
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Publisher
PAC University
Abstract
Marital quality encompasses emotional intimacy, communication, and relationship satisfaction in couples. The interspousal relationship between a husband and wife is a deep and intimate connection characterized by love, trust, and affection. This study aimed to investigate the moderating effect of the relationship between interspousal friendship and marital quality in a church community. The study focused on how factors such as fondness, admiration, love maps, and bids for connection affect the overall quality of marital relationships. The research used Gottman Method Couples Therapy as a guide anchored on a correlational mixed methods approach. The study was conducted at Karura Community Chapel (KCC) on a sample size of 194 respondents. The researcher used both probability and non-probability sampling techniques to select respondents that best answered the research questions. Primary data was collected directly from the respondents and key informants using questionnaires and interviews. For quantitative data analysis, the researcher used Pearson’s correlation coefficient statistical tests through the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS 29). Furthermore, regression analysis was used to test the moderating effect of trust and commitment on the relationship between interspousal friendship and marital quality couples. Qualitative data was analysed by identifying and classifying major concepts or themes. A significant positive correlation was found between marital quality and love maps (r = .573, p < .01), fondness and admiration (r = .704, p < .01), and turning towards (r =.713, p .01).Collectively, these interspousal friendship dimensions had a significant positive main effect on marital quality (B =.649, p< .01), as did commitment (B = .619, p<.01). The moderating effect of trust was not significant (B = .002, p>.05), but the moderating effect of commitment was significant (B = -.006, p<.01). The qualitative themes identified in the study include companionship and mutual support, balancing competing priorities, consistent communication and emotional support, communication and trust, trust and commitment as a stabilizer, rebuilding trust and commitment, and spiritual and emotional support. Conclusion was drawn that interspousal friendship is essential for enhancing marital quality, with trust and commitment serving as resilience anchors. It was recommended that pastors should encourage couples to deepen their understanding of each other’s inner world through sermons and marriage enrichment programs. Premarital counsellors should guide couples in developing their love maps early on in their relationships. Married couples should prioritize the development of love maps by making a concerted effort to understand each other’s thoughts, emotions, and life aspirations and intentionally practice turning-towards behaviors. This study has contributed to knowledge by empirically testing the role of interspousal friendship in enhancing marital quality, specifically within a religious community context. Future studies should explore how external forces impact the relationship between interspousal friendship and marital quality.