Relationship between Duration of Marriage, Personality Trait, Gender and Conflict Resolution Strategies of Spouses

The study investigated the relationship between duration of marriage, personality trait, gender and conflict resolution strategies of spouses in Makurdi, Nigeria. The research design employed was ex-post facto survey design. Purposive and convenience sampling techniques were used to select two hundred participants made up of 100 males and 100 females. Two standardized psychological instruments were used namely: Conflict Resolution Strategies Scale (CRSS) and The Big five Inventory (BFI). Data was analyzed using independent t-test, One-way Anova and multiple regression. Results showed that while duration of marriage had no significant relationship with conflict resolution strategies of spouses, personality traits and gender showed significant relationship. The result also indicated a significant interactive relationship between duration of marriage, personality traits, gender and conflict resolution strategies of spouses. It was then recommended that counsellors should put into consideration the interplay of duration of marriage, personality traits and gender when issues of conflicts arise with a view of assisting spouses in adopting helpful resolution strategies.