EFFECT OF IMAGO RELATIONSHIP THERAPY (IRT) ON MARITAL DISSATISFACTION AMONG MARRIED INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS IN THE SANKERA AXIS OF BENUE STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined the effect of Imago Relationship Therapy (IRT) on marital dissatisfaction among married individuals living with HIV/AIDS in the Sankera axis of Benue State, Nigeria, with specific focus on economic capability and educational disparities. The study was guided by two research questions and two corresponding hypotheses, and anchored on Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory and John Bowlby’s Attachment Theory. A quasi-experimental pre-test, post-test control group design was adopted. The population consisted of 33,195 married individuals living with HIV/AIDS across Katsina-Ala, Logo, and Ukum Local Government Areas, while a sample of 50 participants was selected using a multi-stage purposive sampling technique. 
Data were collected using a researcher-developed Marital Dissatisfaction Scale (MDS), validated by experts and found reliable with a Cronbach Alpha coefficient of 0.911. Descriptive statistics 
(mean and standard deviation) were used to answer the research questions, while Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that Imago Relationship Therapy significantly improved economic capability among married individuals living with HIV/AIDS in the experimental group compared to the control group. The study also found that Imago Relationship Therapy significantly reduced marital 
dissatisfaction arising from educational disparities. The study concluded that Imago Relationship Therapy is an effective intervention for improving marital adjustment among married individuals living with HIV/AIDS, particularly in relation to economic cooperation and educational imbalance. 
It is therefore recommended that Imago Relationship Therapy be integrated into counselling practices and marital intervention programmes within HIV/AIDS support services to enhance 
relationship stability and family well-being.