Document Type : Original Article
Authors
- . Mohammad Eslami
- . Mahdieh Yazdanpanah
- . Parnian Andalib
- . Azardokth Rahimi
- . Mansoureh Safizadeh 1
- . Adeleh Dadvar 1
- . Nouzar Nakhaee 2
1 Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences
2 Neuroscience Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Evidence is accumulating that the pattern and nature of marital relationships are
very different in different cultures. This nationwide study aimed to determine marital satisfaction
and the prevalence of emotional divorce as well as to identify the sociodemographic correlates in
a Muslim population.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross‑sectional study, one‑third of Iran’s provinces were
selected randomly and a representative sample of inhabitants of their central city was included in
the study. The ENRICH marital satisfaction scale was used to determine marital satisfaction levels.
A single‑item measure with confirmed validity and reliability was used to find out about emotional
divorce. The demographic variables included respondent’s age, spouse’s age, gender, educational
level, residency, childbearing, and premarriage familiarity.
RESULTS: Of the 2033 participants, 1034 were women (50.9%). Nearly one‑third of both men and
women had academic degrees. Almost 53% of them were satisfied with their marital life and 9.7% had
emotional divorce. Men with academic degrees had a higher probability of marital satisfaction (odds
ratio [OR] =1.26, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.04–1.53) and a lower prevalence of emotional
divorce (OR = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.24–0.58).
CONCLUSION: This study showed a relatively high percentage of marital dissatisfaction as well
as emotional divorce. Policymakers should strengthen premarriage education programs and
postmarriage counseling centers.
Keywords
countries: Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, the UK, and Australia.
Asian Popul Stud 2018;14:137‑52.
2. TaghaniR, Ashrafizaveh A, Soodkhori MG, Azmoude E, Tatari M.
Marital satisfaction and its associated factors at reproductive age
women referred to health centers. J Edu Health Promot 2019;8:133.
3. Leopold T. Gender differences in the consequences of divorce:
A study of multiple outcomes. Demography 2018;55:769‑97.
4. Helland MS, von Soest T, Gustavson K, Røysamb E, Mathiesen KS.
Long shadows: A prospective study of predictors of relationship
dissolution over 17 child‑rearing years. BMC Psychol 2014;2:40.
5. Marringle Definition. Urban Dictionary. Available from: https://
www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Marringle.[Last
accessed on 2017 Mar 23].
6. Barzoki MH, Tavakoll M, Burrage H. Rational‑emotional
‘divorce’in Iran. Appl Res Qual Life 2015;10:107‑22.
7. Hashemi L, Homayuni H. Emotional divorce: Child’s well‑being.
J Divorce Remarriage 2017;58:631‑44.
8. MotlaqME, EslamiM, YazdanpanahM, NakhaeeN. Contraceptive
use and unmet need for family planning in Iran. Int J Gynaecol
Obstet 2013;121:157‑61.
9. Fowers BJ, Olson DH. ENRICH marital satisfaction scale: A brief
research and clinical tool. J Fam Psychol 1993;7:176.
10. Fowers BJ, Montel KH, Olson DH. Predicting marital success for
premarital couple types based on PREPARE. J Marital Fam Ther
1996;22:103‑19.
11. Alidousti AA, Nakhaee N, Khanjani N. Reliability and validity
of the Persian versions of the ENRICH marital satisfaction (brief
version) and Kansas marital satisfaction scales. J Health Dev
2015;4:158‑67.
12. Samari M, Nakhaee N. Psychometric properties of two
questionnaires measuring emotional divorce in Iranian context.
J Fam Med 2018;5:1137.
13. Chubin F. Iran, families. In: Shehan CL, editor. The Wiley
Blackwell Encyclopedia of Family Studies. 1st ed. Hoboken, NJ:
John Wiley and Sons, Inc.; 2016.
14. Sorokowski P, Randall AK, Groyecka A, Frackowiak T,
Cantarero K, Hilpert P, et al. Marital satisfaction, sex, age,
marriage duration, religion, number of children, economic status,
education, and collectivistic values: Data from 33 countries. Front
Psychol 2017;8:1199.
15. Madanian L, Mansor SM. Marital satisfaction and demographic
traits in an emigrant sample: Rasch analysis. Procd Soc Behav Sci
2013;107:96‑103.
16. Kreager DA, Felson RB, Warner C, Wenger MR. Women’s
education, marital violence, and divorce: A social exchange
perspective. J Marriage Fam 2013;75:565‑81.
17. Sayer LC, England P, Allison PD, Kangas N. She left, he left: How
employment and satisfaction affect women’s and men’s decisions
to leave marriages. AJS 2011;116:1982‑2018.
18. Tavakol Z, Nasrabadi AN, Moghadam ZB, Salehiniya H, Rezaei E.
A review of the factors associated with marital satisfaction. Galen
Med J 2017;6 (3):197‑207.
19. Sahebihagh MH, Khorshidi Z, Atri SB, Asghari M, Jafarabadi AH.
The rate of emotional divorce and predictive factors in nursing
staff in North of Iran. Int J Women’s Health Reprod Sci
2018;6:174‑80.
20. Birditt KS, Brown E, Orbuch TL, McIlvane JM. Marital conflict
behaviors and implications for divorce over 16 years. J Marriage
Fam 2010;72:1188‑204.
21. Lorber MF, Erlanger AC, Heyman RE, O’Leary KD. The
honeymoon effect: Does it exist and can it be predicted? Prev Sci
2015;16:550‑9.
22. Lee WS, McKinnish T. The marital satisfaction of differently aged
couples. J Popul Econ 2018;31:337‑62.
)