Marital Compatibility and its Relationship to Marital Variables: A Sociological Study on Married Libyan Women in Tripoli

Abstract

Objectives: The study aims to identify the dimensions of marital adjustment among Libyan wives in the city of Tripoli and to examine whether marital adjustment is influenced by the following variables: type of family, type of marriage, age difference between spouses, duration of marriage, and criteria for spouse selection.

Method: The study employed a social survey method using an available sample of 315 Libyan wives aged 18 years and older residing in the Andalus neighborhood of Tripoli.

Findings: The study found that the social dimension of marital adjustment ranked highest among Libyan wives in Tripoli (mean: 3.60), followed by emotional (3.44) and economic (3.06) dimensions. Significant differences in the social dimension favored nuclear families and traditional marriages. While the emotional dimension showed no differences by marriage type, it varied with age differences (5–10 years), shorter marriages (under 5 years), and spouse selection based on personality traits. The economic dimension showed no significant differences.

Conclusion: Despite the challenges and societal changes faced by Libyan society, Libyan wives in Tripoli's families continue to experience relatively consistent levels of marital adjustment across its various dimensions. This reflects positively on family unity and cohesion in addressing these challenges. The findings call for efforts by family-related entities to enhance and build on this cohesion to safeguard Libyan society and ensure its security and stability.