Exploring the impact of the Marburg virus outbreak on marital attitudes and quality among Rwandan couples

Abstract

The Marburg virus outbreak presented a unique stressor that likely influenced marital dynamics among couples in Rwanda. This study examined the relationship between stress, marital attitudes, and marital quality in a sample of 364 married individuals (182 couples) using a quantitative correlational design. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Marital Attitudes and Expectations Scale (MAES), and Marital Quality Scale (MQS) were utilized to measure the key variables. The findings revealed a significant negative relationship between stress and marital quality (β = -0.48, p = 0.0001), indicating that higher stress levels were associated with lower marital satisfaction and emotional intimacy. Additionally, marital attitudes were found to mediate this relationship, with positive marital attitudes buffering the negative effects of stress on marital quality (β = -0.32, p = 0.0001). The results highlight the importance of positive marital attitudes in preserving relationship quality during crises and provide valuable insights for marital counseling and stress management interventions.