Research Article

FACTORS AFFECTING MARITAL LIFE SATISFACTION

Author: 1 Zibonesa boleydeh * Orcid , ² Mehrdad Mazaheri, 3 Mahvash Raqibi

1Department of Psychology, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran

KEYWORDS

Marital life satisfaction, Duration of marriage, Education

CORRESPONDING AUTHOR

Zibonesa boleydeh

https://orcid.org/0009-0004-8057- 836X

ABSTRACT

The present study aims to examine the factors affecting marital life satisfaction. The research method is descriptive-analytical and based on library resources. According to the findings, marital satisfaction is a state in which the husband and wife feel happiness and satisfaction from their marriage and being together. This state is influenced by various factors such as the mutual understanding between husband and wife regarding each other’s behaviors and characteristics, their attitude toward the role of communication in marital life, the way conflicts and disputes are resolved, the level of satisfaction with family financial management, agreement on leisure time usage, satisfaction with sexual and emotional relationships, agreement on having children and its effect on marital relations, harmony of feelings and interests related to friends and relatives, satisfaction with different marital roles, and religious beliefs and practices in marital life. Marital satisfaction is one of the most important determinants of the healthy functioning of the family institution. Marital satisfaction refers to the subjective feeling of contentment, satisfaction, and pleasure of a husband and wife in their relationship. Various factors affect couples’ marital satisfaction, including satisfaction with the spouse’s temperament, trust, loyalty, and love, as well as the spouse’s income and employment.

INTRODUCTION

Marriage, if formed based on rational purposes, has benefits and advantages that lead to cooperation, companionship, empathy, unity, mutual acceptance, and keeping society away from corruption. It has been proven that individuals who are married and successful in this regard are less likely to suffer from mental illnesses, and this may be due to feelings of security and sexual satisfaction. For marriage to be successful, agreement between the man and woman at the first level, and their families at the second level, is an essential condition. To achieve this agreement, self-sacrifice, tolerance, patience, obedience regarding responsibilities, physical and mental health, husband’s income level, planning, and agreement on criteria and general future programs, sense of responsibility, and motivation for marriage are required (Rezanejad, 2001).

During their married life, various variables affect the way couples communicate with each other, and these variables lead to the satisfaction or dissatisfaction of the couple with their marital relationship; some of these variables include income and employment, children, illness, and sexual satisfaction. Berx and Lax (1960) defined marital satisfaction as: agreement between husband and wife on matters that may lead to marital problems. Shared interests and activities, frequent and open expressions of interest, and mutual trust. Few complaints and grievances. Rare complaints of loneliness, unhappiness, resentment, and the like. Marital satisfaction is a state in which the couple feels happy and satisfied with their marriage and being together (Sinha and Mukherjee, 1991).

Financial and economic issues are among the important factors in the emergence of marital disharmony. Husbands and wives who are under psychological and economic pressure are struggling with various issues. This pressure factor reveals marital conflicts and existing marital problems. Both husbands and wives may be psychologically attracted to financial and family issues. They may not have the time to devote to their marital issues due to long working hours and efforts to pay bills and living expenses, and as a result, less time and energy will be spent on family issues. Not only does increased hostility, warmth, and intimacy and good quality of marital life decrease, but relationships also become unstable (Gharacheh Daghi, 1998). Dominian (1968) concluded from a study that the latent conflict that crystallizes with the birth of the first child is a threat to the emotional security of couples (Mirahmadizadeh, 2003).

In a study titled “Investigating the relationship between the level of marital satisfaction and the level of self-expression in a group of couples living in two towns affiliated with one of the industrial organizations in Tehran,” Zamani Monfared (1997) concluded that the level of women’s education has no effect on their marital satisfaction and that of their husbands, although in couples with the same level of education (both with university education), women showed less satisfaction than men. A study by Leila Sadegh Moghaddam et al. (1996) titled “Comparison and investigation of the level of satisfaction with marital life in working and housewives and their husbands in Gonabad” was conducted. Based on the findings of this study, it seems that there is a significant relationship between satisfaction with marital life and its various aspects (income level, education, duration of marriage) in working and homemakers and their husbands with specific variables.

Given these realities and considering the consequences of unsuccessful marriage on the physical and mental health of women, men, children, and society, the necessity of examining marital satisfaction, its various dimensions, and the factors affecting it becomes increasingly

important. Accordingly, the present study aims to examine the factors affecting marital life satisfaction.

THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS OF THE STUDY

Marital Satisfaction

Mental health has been the central axis in the formation of health sciences and medical practices; therefore, its strengthening and threatening factors have always been under investigation. In this regard, the positive psychology approach, psychological well-being, and personality capabilities are considered among the strengthening factors of mental health (Nateghian et al., 2008). Psychological well-being is characterized by a number of primary components of a good life, including positive relationships with others, having a meaningful purpose in life, opportunities for personal growth, a sense of autonomy, and self-acceptance. It also includes subcategories such as life satisfaction, marital satisfaction, job satisfaction, happiness, and so on (Robinson, 2008).

There are many definitions of marital satisfaction, one of the best being by Hakines. He defines marital satisfaction as: the objective feelings of satisfaction, contentment, and enjoyment experienced by a husband or wife when considering all aspects of their marriage. Satisfaction is an attitudinal variable and is therefore considered an individual characteristic of the husband and wife. According to the above definition, marital satisfaction is in fact a positive and enjoyable attitude that the husband and wife have towards various aspects of marital satisfaction (Soleimaniyan, 1994).

Theories Related to Marital Satisfaction

There are several theories regarding family and marital satisfaction, including the classification theory of enduring marriages, Nye’s social exchange theory, the marital life cycle theory, and the resource theory.

Theory of Classification of Enduring Marriages

Goodwin’s (2003) study on satisfying marriages led to the development of a classification of enduring marriages, identifying five models of relationships as follows:

A- Conflict-Accustomed Model: This model is characterized by a lot of conflict and arguing, and the parties tolerate this conflict well, even though it is not really beneficial for them.

B- Passive Compatibility Model: Effortless adaptation and compromise - in this model, couples easily adapt to each other, just like in relationships with others.

D- General Model: The characteristic of this model is always being together and having strong mutual interest.

E- Vital Model: In this model, although the parties are largely dependent on each other, they do not limit each other and give each other more opportunities for personal growth and development compared to the general model.

Kober and Haroff have classified the first three models as beneficial marriages. These types of marriages are often satisfactory because they allow the partners to achieve important mutual goals. The general and dynamic model is characterized by the title of intimate marriages, in which the spouses have many joint activities and strong feelings for each other, and their primary focus in life is on each other. Such relationships introduce a lot of tension into the relationship that is not seen in beneficial marriages. Finally, according to the aforementioned models and the studies conducted, experts believe that the important factor in a successful marriage is that the partners feel comfortable with each other (Zamani Monfared, 1997).

Marital Life Cycle Theory

Evidence suggests that in marriage, there are specific periods in which satisfaction levels are lower or higher than in other periods. The marital life cycle theory examines differences in marital satisfaction resulting from changes in different life stages by dividing life into stages, each with specific changes, tensions, and roles.

Amato (2007) believes that marital satisfaction or dissatisfaction may change over the course of human development. A relationship that a couple considers highly satisfying in their twenties and early marriage may become less satisfying when they reach forty, due to life changes and the emergence of new interests over time. The psychosocial theory considers each stage of the life cycle as the product of an orderly sequence of previous events. This approach is useful for explaining the effects of the life cycle on relationships. An important concept often mentioned by family therapists, sociologists, and life cycle theorists is the phenomenon of epigenetic relational systems. Rogers (1998), based on the epigenetic principle, suggests that exchanges at each developmental stage are based on prior exchanges.

Success or failure in the next stages depends on the outcomes of the tasks and exchanges of the previous stages, and this issue provides an interesting model for relevant experts of the four major epigenetic flows in the enduring communication system, which are attachment, care, communication, joint problem solving, and confrontation. Zamani Monfared (1997) points out that although different models of the marital life cycle, names, and developmental signs and stages have been proposed. But there is a significant overlap in stages such as having or not having children, duration of marriage, age, and epigenetic relational flows. He also quotes Birchler, proposing a 5-stage model of the marital life cycle as follows:

Stage one: early years of marriage, stage two: transition to the parenting stage, stage three: midlife, stage four: post-parenting, stage five: peak stage.

Nye’s Social Exchange Theory

One of the important theories in the field of marriage and family, which provides appropriate guidance for both satisfying and unsatisfying relationships, is Nye’s social exchange theory (1977). In this theory, attention is given to rewards and costs present in interactions. Individuals seek rewarding exchanges and make less effort to maintain costs in comparison to rewards. Most studies on the quality of decision-making in the family and explanations of why and how decisions are made have used this theory (Seyf, 1998, cited in Tabrizi, 2007).

Exchange theory in the context of power provides a quasi-economic analysis of the interaction between two people. The interaction is viewed in terms of the costs and rewards that the two people create for each other and focuses on the reciprocal aspect of rewards, punishments, or

costs. Resource theory is an important idea for exchange theorists. However, theorists of this theory argue that before an individual can change or modify the behavior of another individual, they must use resources. According to Kamp Dush (2008), exchange forms the basis of all human relationships. Social behavior is a type of commodity exchange. Both material goods and non-material goods, such as symbols, signs of approval or prestige, and reputation. People who give more goods to others try to receive more goods from others, and people who receive more goods from others are pressured to give them more goods. The net return on an individual's labor can be calculated by subtracting the rewards from the costs incurred by each individual. Ivan Nye lists five general assumptions for this view, which are:

Human behavior is rational, where available information is limited, people act to maximize rewards and minimize costs.

Every behavior involves some costs. Regardless of the pleasurable nature of some behaviors or actions, all of them require spending time and energy. As a result, all behaviors are associated with some choice. Therefore, the costs of each behavior or action must be evaluated and a choice made accordingly.

Behaviors that have brought more rewards in the past are more likely to be repeated in the future. People are likely to repeat those behaviors that have brought more rewards in the past. On the other hand, people avoid repeating behaviors that have led to punishment in the past. Social exchanges follow the principles of reciprocity. This means that when someone receives something, they seek to reciprocate, and those who give rewards to others expect reciprocation. This principle means that a fair normative rule governs exchange relations.

If a person possesses a large amount of something, additional amounts of it are no longer rewarding for him.

This theory suggests that each individual possesses personal resources such as money, knowledge, talent, and affection, which are used to provide appropriate rewards to others. Such resources can become a source of power in couples’ decision-making. Social exchange theory has been widely used to help couples in conflict situations.

Kamo (1993) noted that in a study of Japanese and American couples, the level of reward from marital interaction was equally an important factor in satisfaction in both groups. One weakness of this theory is that not all issues can be explained within its framework, as relationships are based on complex factors that are often beyond the conscious awareness of the parties involved (ibid.).

Resource Theory

This theory is based on three main assumptions: Each individual tries to meet their needs and achieve their goals. Most of these needs are fulfilled through social interactions with other individuals or groups. During these interactions, there is a continuous exchange of resources and facilities that helps meet individual needs and is effective in achieving personal or group goals.

The main idea in this view is that one person possesses resources and capabilities that are essential for another person to achieve their goals, needs, desires, preferences, and interests. Furthermore, the person who possesses the valuable resources and capabilities may be the best available alternative source for those resources. Under such circumstances, the person who demands resources and capabilities from another may not be willing to exchange or give up power in their performance.

Blood and Wolf (1959) say that in the family environment, the balance of power (decision- making) is in favor of the party that brings the most resources and facilities to the marital life. That family member has more power who has the resources and facilities that other family members need to meet their needs and achieve their goals, and the more resources a person has, the more power they have. Such a person has the right to make important decisions that affect the entire family. (Tabrizi, 2007). This often leads to the conclusion that women have a lower position in the family, and, given their desire to have the economic facilities that are in the hands of their husbands and the lack of opportunities to provide these facilities and resources in another way, they delegate their power and freedom to their husbands and thus achieve their goals.

Rayan (1981) found that the power of the husband increases with the increase in education, income, job position, or a combination of these factors. Therefore, the aforementioned variables were defined as resources that an individual can use to gain more power and improve family relationships. When the socio-economic resources available to a husband and wife are compared, the greater the difference between them, the greater the power gap between men and women. According to this theory, age and duration of marriage are also variables that affect the distribution of power. Men are at their highest power in the early years of marriage, about 5-7 years, and women's power increases throughout the life cycle. Also, women who have children have less power than women without children.

Factors Affecting Marital Satisfaction and Related Research

The examination of factors that can sustain marital satisfaction, as well as those that place many families at risk of instability and breakdown, appears necessary. In studies related to factors influencing marital satisfaction in various sources, different factors have been mentioned, including: expression of affection and love, trust and honesty, cooperation and sexual matters, understanding the spouse and mutual agreement, attention and interest toward the spouse, financial and economic issues, gender, education, children, duration of marriage, age, and so on. In this section, some of these factors are discussed as follows:

Financial and Economic Issues

Financial and economic issues are also among the important factors in the emergence of marital disharmony. Husbands and wives who are under psychological and economic pressure are struggling with various issues. This pressure factor reveals marital conflicts and existing marital problems. Both husbands and wives may be psychologically attracted to financial and family issues. They may not have the time to devote to their marital issues due to long working hours and efforts to pay bills and living expenses, and as a result, less time and energy will be spent on family issues. Not only will hostility increase, warmth and intimacy, and the good quality of marital life decrease, but relationships will also become unstable (Gharacheh Daghi, 1998).

In addition, husbands and wives face various mental preoccupations regarding control, competition, and other symbolic meanings that harm joint activities. Many couples disagree on the integrity of paying expenses. The problem arises when the husband and wife, or usually the one who provides the largest portion of the family income, tries to control expenses and categorize priorities and quotas. The other party spends more money as a retaliatory measure

against the control. Another problem arises when the husband and wife are always deprived of the necessary wisdom to manage life and are unable to plan for household income and expenses (Nikui, 2004).

In this regard, Sidney Blochv (1991) notes that Levinger’s research shows that middle socioeconomic class couples tend to place greater emphasis on psychological and emotional factors. In contrast, low-income classes emphasize financial stability and the absence of violence in marital life. In fact, low income, lack of proper financial planning, and unnecessary expenditures can also lead to marital conflicts (Zarashken Zamanpour, 2000).

Duration of Marriage

Researchers have classified the changes that occur during family life as follows: Stage one: Marriage and family formation.

Stage two: Expansion stage. From the birth of the first child to the birth of the last child in the family.

Stage three: Stabilization. It begins with the stage of raising children and continues until the first child leaves the home.

Stage four: Commitment stage. It begins with the first child leaving the home and continues until the last child leaves.

Stage five: Parental loneliness stage.

In a study conducted by Bergs and Vallin (1953), the first result was that more than two-thirds of wives and husbands in the middle years of marriage were less compatible than in the first to fifth years of marriage. They did not completely agree on important issues such as raising children, financial problems, and relations with relatives, and this dissatisfaction was accompanied by a lack of coordination in decision-making (Seyf, 1996).

All the changes that occur in married life, especially in women's lives, upon transitioning to parenthood, affect their marital satisfaction. The number of children also affects marital satisfaction. Mothers who have more than three children feel less satisfied than mothers who have one to three children. In addition, success in fulfilling parental roles can also be effective in improving marital satisfaction (Seyf, 1989).

Hines (1987) concluded that many fathers reported experiencing severe loneliness after the birth of their first child and spending most of their leisure time alone (Mirkheshti, 1996).

Although the problems of some families begin with the birth of a child, in some cases, the existing problems are moderated by the arrival of children (Sanaei, 1996). According to the studies of Haufman and Levant (1985), children seem to be positive for marriage, while they reflect some of the love that couples have for each other, so couples should not assume that having children will solve any problems they may have, because children usually exacerbate marital tension (Nikui, 2004). Zamani Monfared (1997) showed that men and women without children have more marital satisfaction than women and men with children.

Age

Age is one of the factors affecting the choice of a spouse, and therefore, the age of couples affects the understanding and quality of their relationships. Due to social changes today, men and women form their new families in a nuclear way and outside the traditional family. The basic decisions of the house are made not by the parents but by the residents themselves. These

special conditions make it necessary for couples to make decisions every day in the face of life's issues. Since their common personality traits are very dissimilar in conditions of a deep age gap (or in marriages that take place at a young age, and couples do not have the power to make decisions in important matters of life), they may become hostile during decision-making. Instead of making decisions on these matters, they engage in more discussions and arguments (Sarokhani, 1996).

In a study conducted by Reynold and Wallas (1955) on factors affecting marital satisfaction, they concluded that, in general, older married people are satisfied with their married life. In a similar study by Tucker and Michail (1991), they also concluded that older people show a more favorable state of marital satisfaction (Takhti, 2001).

Education

With the increase in educational level, individuals’ awareness and knowledge, as well as their way of coping with problems, change significantly, and their performance improves. However, sometimes differences in educational level between spouses may lead to marital conflict.

It seems that in the case of differences in educational levels, there are differences in the way of thinking, values, and even interests of individuals. On the other hand, a woman's higher education than her husband can cause more problems than a man's higher education than his wife's. This can be for two main reasons: first, due to historical and cultural reasons in Iran, men's access to education and practice has been easier throughout human history, and as a result, the idea that men's education level should be higher than women's in marriage has been considered normal, at least until recent decades. The second reason is that a large difference in educational level creates differences in couples, especially in men who, due to a long history of patriarchy, do not tolerate accepting a superior person in the family, and ultimately causes them to feel inferior to educated women (Hassan Shahi, 1999).

In a study conducted by Takhti (2001) titled “Investigation and comparison of rational and irrational beliefs and marital satisfaction among employed couples with diploma and below diploma levels, and bachelor’s degree and above,” the results showed that there is no significant relationship between marital satisfaction and spouses’ educational level.

Employment

Generally, women show greater interest in working for several reasons. The economic factor is usually the most important. Women work to compensate for family income and increase purchasing power, or to achieve a form of personal independence or security for the future (Kar, 1994). Other factors are also influential; working instead of staying at home can be a means of gaining independence, job interest, or fulfilling personal desires. Both material and non-material motives determine women’s motivation for employment, depending on societal goals and the woman’s socio-economic position. The more elevated the goals of society are, the stronger the non-material motivations become, and they may outweigh material motivations (Safiri, 1994).

Although having an active presence in society and connecting with people takes working women out of their limited and isolated state, it forces them to express themselves in certain situations, make decisions, and play different roles. In addition, the change in the social and family roles of working women has caused tension and nervous pressure in them, which

ultimately reduces marital satisfaction. On the other hand, the greater satisfaction of homemakers is due to their avoidance of economic problems, not involving themselves in specific issues related to men, and taking more care of children and home affairs, which ultimately causes them to be more satisfied with their married life (Farasat, 2002).

Research Background

In a study conducted by Mirahmadizadeh et al. (2003) with the aim of investigating the level of marital satisfaction and the factors affecting it in Shiraz, the results showed that marital satisfaction is higher in those who were older and had higher levels of education at the time of marriage. Satisfaction is higher in couples who have mutual respect, have better communication skills and understanding, and attraction alone has less effect on marital satisfaction than investment, positive attitude, and understanding.

Also, in a study titled “Predictors of Marital Adjustment in Young Couples Four Years After Marriage,” conducted by Mazaheri et al. (2006) using a longitudinal research method, 230 couples were selected from among the couples participating in student marriage ceremonies at universities in Tehran. In the first year of the study, all couples answered questionnaires on adult attachment, general health, and gender role attitudes separately before starting their life together. Four years later, along with other measurements that were conducted annually, the Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Test was administered to the participating couples. Data analysis to predict couples' marital adjustment showed that the factors “husbands' dysfunctionality” negatively, and “men's femininity” and “women's femininity” both positively, significantly predicted men's marital adjustment four years after the initial measurement. Meanwhile, “men's anxiety” and “women's depression” both negatively, and the factors “men's depression” and “women's femininity” (both positively) significantly predicted women's adjustment four years later.

Samani (2007) investigated the main factors causing marital conflicts in a group of married students at Shiraz University. The results of this study showed that six factors: personality traits, love and affection, communication skills, commitment to life, spouse's family characteristics, and lack of adherence to moral principles are the main factors causing conflicts between spouses.

In a study of the impact of working difficulties of working women and husbands' cooperation in household affairs on satisfaction with marital relationships and children's behavioral disorders, Hossein Chari (2008) conducted a study. The results showed that the difficulty of working women did not predict marital satisfaction, but men's cooperation in household affairs positively predicted marital satisfaction. Also, while work difficulty can only positively predict children's aggression, satisfaction with marital relationships can negatively predict children's aggression, isolation, and anxiety.

Pindal (1995) concluded that no single factor alone can influence marital satisfaction; rather, a combination of factors, such as cognitive, personality, and emotional variables, interact to affect marital satisfaction.

Orgill and Heaton (2005) conducted a study on 865 mothers with children under the age of twelve. The findings showed a significant correlation between the respect a woman received from her husband and her ability to express her opinion at home and marital unity and, consequently, marital satisfaction; and high levels of marital satisfaction were found in women who had high self-esteem due to their husbands' respect (Norouzian, 2006).

Wood et al. (1989) found that there is a relationship between the personality stability of couples with intrapersonal elements and marital satisfaction, with the style of response to marital conflicts as a mediating factor. According to the results, these effects occur over time, and personality variables are strongly related to the style of conflict resolution, which is itself an effective factor in marital satisfaction.

Goodwine and Paula (2003) compared predictors of marital health in African-American and European-American couples, focusing on individual and interpersonal influences and social and economic resources, and found that emotional health, trust in the spouse, and sense of usefulness in the relationship were strong predictors of marital satisfaction.

Rogers et al. (2003) showed in a study titled “Marital Quality and Job Satisfaction: Longitudinal Patterns and Gender Differences” that marital satisfaction has a significant relationship with job satisfaction and that increased marital incompatibility is associated with decreased job satisfaction. These processes affect men and women similarly.

CONCLUSION

The family is the first social organization in which a person lives. It is a center of help, comfort, healing, and healing, a center that should relieve the psychological pressures on its members and pave the way for their growth and prosperity. A desirable society is a society that has a strong family. It is clear that whenever a society has healthy, balanced, and stable families in which healthy and balanced children are naturally raised in that family, they will be considered as the true values of that society in adulthood. Therefore, the real wealth of society is the possession of competent human resources who have been raised in balanced families. The first task of the moral norms of a society is to regulate the relations between men and women on appropriate bases. The most humane act to regulate these relations is the marriage bond, which can be considered as the main factor in the union of men and women for the improvement of future progress. Marriage is a bond between a man and a woman, the foundation of which is a biological need and the reason for the emergence and continuation of the family. The two spouses must be so compatible, harmonious, and complementary to each other that they can create inner and heart peace and tranquility for each other, so that external peace can be achieved as a result. According to the findings, marital satisfaction is a state in which the husband and wife feel happy and satisfied with being married to each other and being together. This state is affected by various issues such as the husband and wife's mutual understanding's behavior and characteristics, their attitude towards the role of communication in married life, how to resolve conflicts and disputes, the level of satisfaction with family financial management, agreement on how to use leisure time, satisfaction with sexual and emotional relationships, agreement on having children in marital relationships, harmony of feelings and interests related to friends and relatives, satisfaction with various marital roles and religious beliefs and practices in married life. Marital satisfaction is one of the most important determinants of the healthy functioning of the family institution. Marital satisfaction is defined as “the objective feeling of contentment, satisfaction, and enjoyment of a husband and wife in their relationship.” Several factors affect couples' marital satisfaction, including satisfaction with their spouse's temperament, trust, loyalty, and love, and their spouse's income and employment.

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