EMOTIONAL REGULATION AS A MEDIATOR OF PERSONALITY TRAITS AND MARITAL SATISFACTION AMONG ACADEMIC STAFF IN COLLEGES OF EDUCATION IN OYO STATE

Abstract

 

This study explores how emotional regulation mediates the relationship between personality traits and marital satisfaction among academic staff in Colleges of Education in Oyo State. The study seeks to evaluate marital satisfaction in relation to sexual relationships, financial management, and communication. It will analyse key personality traits such as openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism, while also investigating the impact of emotional regulation techniques, including cognitive reappraisal and suppressive expression, on the relationship between these traits and marital satisfaction. A descriptive survey design was utilised, encompassing 1,150 academic staff from five operational colleges, chosen through intact sampling. The data collection involved a questionnaire that assessed marital satisfaction, personality traits, and emotional regulation, achieving a reliability coefficient of α = 0.827. Descriptive and inferential statistics were utilised, demonstrating notable impacts of emotional regulation on marital satisfaction, especially regarding communication. The findings highlight that the satisfaction with communication among staff is significantly high, probably attributed to their teaching responsibilities, while agreeableness emerged as a common personality trait. The influence of personality traits on marital satisfaction was mediated by emotional regulation, underscoring the importance of counselling and emotional management programs to improve interpersonal harmony within marital relationships.