Influence of Digital Technologies on Marital Communication Among Married Individuals in Selected House of Power Churches in Embakasi Central Sub-County, Nairobi County, Kenya

Abstract

While existing research has extensively documented the direct influence of digital technologies, especially on bringing about a paradigm shift in the way people relate, a critical gap remains in understanding how the adoption of digital technology influences marital communication within faith-based communities. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of digital technologies on marital communication among married individuals in selected House of Power Churches in Embakasi Central SubCounty, Nairobi County, Kenya. The study was informed by the Rational Choice Theory and the Communication Theory of Relational Dialects. The study adopted a onvergent–parallel mixed-methods design. The target population was 800 married individuals from House of Power Churches in Embakasi Central Sub-County. The stratified sampling method was used to collect data from a sample size of 260 married individuals. Another purposive sample of 5 pastors participated in key informant interviews, and 18 married individuals were selected to participate in focus group discussions. The study used Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 31 to undertake cross tabulation analysis, chi-square tests, percentage distributions, and mean and standard deviation scores. Qualitative data was analyzed using thematic analysis with aid of Atlas’s software. Results showed a statistically significant association between access to digital technologies and marital communication, χ² (2) = 13.905, p<.05. The results also revealed a statistically significant association between frequency and duration of digital technology use and marital communication, χ² (2) = 6.93, p<.05. However, there was no statistically significant association between motives of digital technology use and marital communication, χ² (1) = 3.02, p>.05. In terms of strategies for enhancing marital communication, the highest-rated strategies were boundary management (M = 4.09), safety, privacy, and risk awareness (M = 4.09), and healthy information consumption (M = 4.00). Thematic analysis revealed the themes of digital technology dependence, irresponsible use, information and entertainment and social connection motives, conflict and loneliness, and the need for self-regulation. A conclusion was drawn that high access as well as high frequency and duration of digital technology use is linked to elevated communication problems among married individuals. The study recommended that people in marital relationships should intentionally regulate their access, frequency, and motives for digital technology use to safeguard marital communication. Marriage and family therapists should integrate digital technology assessment into their routine couple therapy. Future research should adopt a more integrative conceptual framework to better fathom the mechanisms through which digital technology use affects marital communication.