Social Media, Digital Technology, and Sex-Related Conflicts among Christian Couples in the Good Message Baptist Association, Lagos State, Nigeria

This study investigated the impact of social media and digital technology on sex-related conflicts among Christian couples in the Good Message Baptist Association, Lagos, Nigeria. In recent years, increased digital engagement among Christian couples has been linked to emotional disconnection and declining sexual intimacy, yet limited empirical research has addressed this issue within faith-based marital contexts in Nigeria. This gap has hindered the development of effective ethical and pastoral responses to marital crises related to digital life. The study argued that digital engagement, particularly through social media, disrupts sexual intimacy in marriages but can be addressed through targeted interventions like digital literacy and faith-based counselling. Adopting a descriptive mixed-methods approach, the research combined quantitative and qualitative data collection. A total of 300 participants were selected from a population of 1,200 Christian couples married for 5 to 25 years, using stratified and purposive sampling techniques. Quantitative data were gathered through a 20-item structured questionnaire, while qualitative data were drawn from semi-structured interviews with 20 participants. The results revealed a significant negative correlation between time spent on social media and sexual satisfaction (r = -0.58), and a strong positive correlation between technoference (digital distractions) and conflicts stemming from online interactions (r = 0.66). Thematic analysis highlighted recurring issues such as emotional disconnection, jealousy linked to social media activity, body image concerns influenced by idealized online personas, and the role of faith-based counselling in conflict resolution. The study concluded that excessive digital engagement erodes marital intimacy and contributes to sex-related conflicts among Christian couples. However, digital literacy and religious counselling were identified as effective interventions. These findings underscore the importance of setting clear digital boundaries, encouraging open communication, and incorporating social media awareness into marital counselling. The study offered relevant empirical evidence from a Nigerian Christian context and contributed to the broader discourse on technology’s impact on marital intimacy, particularly sexual intimacy.