Relationship Between Love Maps and Marital Quality Among Members of Karura Community Chapel in Nairobi City County, Kenya

Abstract

The family is known as the basic unit of society and marital quality plays a significant role in its functioning because marriage is a partnership between a husband and a wife –a core feature of many family formations. Understanding a partner’s inner world, or “Love Maps,” has been theorized to strengthen emotional bonding and enhance marital outcomes. This study examined the relationship between Love Maps and marital quality among members of Karura Community Chapel (KCC) in Nairobi City County, Kenya. Guided by the Gottman Method Couples Therapy framework, the research employed a correlational research design. The target population consisted of 375 married individuals, from which a sample of 194 respondents was selected using stratified sampling method. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire and analysed using correlation and regression analysis in SPSS 29. Results indicated a significant positive relationship between Love Maps and marital quality, with Love Maps explaining 33% of the variance in marital quality. The study highlights the importance of integrating Love Maps with broader marital interventions and suggests avenues for further research into additional predictors of marital satisfaction. Cultivating an intimate understanding of a partner’s inner world is an important factor in promoting marital quality. Counsellors should intentionally guide couples in developing their love maps at an early stage by facilitating structured activities that help partners explore each other’s emotional needs, beliefs, values, expectations, and long-term goals. Married couples are encouraged to actively prioritize the development of love maps by intentionally seeking a deeper understanding of each other’s thoughts, emotions, aspirations, and personal experiences.