Journal of Education and Health Promotion

The presence of the child, the opportunity or a threat to marital satisfaction: A qualitative study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

. Zeinab Tavakol 1
. Alireza Nikbakht Nasrabadi 2
. Zahra Behboodi Moghadam 3
. Hamid Salehiniya 4

1 Departments of Reproductive Health Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran

2 Departments of Medical‑Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences

3 Departments of Reproductive Health

4 Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Abstract
BACKGROUND: The aim of this qualitative study was to explore if the presence of a child in the
family was an opportunity or threat to the marital life.
METHODS: In this common qualitative content analysis, semi‑structured interviews with 20
participants were conducted. All of the interviews were recorded and then transcribed. The data
were categorized, and the main themes and sub‑themes were extracted.
RESULTS: Twenty transcription were analysed. The data analysis led to the development of the first
theme of “feeling evolution” with the category of “flourishing the motherhood sense,” and the second
theme of “strengthening the marital life” with the two categories of “the marital life stabilization” and
“efforts for a common goal.”
CONCLUSIONS: The presence of the child can lead to the feeling of development and stabilizing
the marital life. Furthermore, the presence of the child can facilitate or hinder marital satisfaction.
Given the challenges due to a lack of preparation of parents for childbirth, consultation and support
by family members or the society can help with adaptation with this life period and increasing the
positive effects of the presence of the child on parents’ relationships and marital satisfaction.

Keywords

Iran
marital satisfaction
opportunity
presence of child
qualitative study
threat
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Journal of Education and Health Promotion
Volume 9, Issue 3
March 2019
Pages 1-6

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