Correlation of Sexual Schemas with Marital Conflicts and Marital Instability in Couples

Sexual schemas as cognitive generalizations are the result of onechr('39')s past experiences. Existence of desirable sexual function has a very important and fundamental role in the success and stability of the family center. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between sexual schemas and marital conflicts and marital instability of couples referring to family counseling centers in Qom in 2019.

The research method was descriptive-correlational. The statistical population included all married couples aged 30-45 years who referred to family counseling centers in Qom. The statistical sample includes 404 members of the statistical community who were selected by available sampling. Research instruments included a demographic questionnaire, the “Sexual Schema Scale”, the “Revised Marital Conflict Questionnaire”, and the “Marital Instability Index”. Content validity was calculated by qualitative method and reliability was measured by internal correlation method by calculating Cronbachchr('39')s alpha coefficient. The collected data were analyzed in SPSS. 20.

Between the components of passionate-romantic sex schema (P=0.000, R= -0.147), explicit-comfortable, passionate-loving (P=0.000, R= -0.151), and intellectual-progressive (P=0.000, R=0.156), there was a negative correlation with marital instability. There was no significant correlation between shy-conservative and powerful-aggressive components with marital instability. There were also shy-conservative components (P =0.000, R=0.131), powerful-aggressive (P=0.000, R =0.144), with a significant positive correlation with marital conflicts. There was a negative correlation between the passionate-loving (P=0.05, R=-0.128) and the intellectual-progressive component (P=0.000, R= 0.160) with marital conflicts.

Sexual schemas are associated with marital conflicts and marital instability. Therefore, psychologists and counselors are advised to reduce marital conflict and stabilize marriage by changing sexual schemas in a positive way and prevent the harm of divorce.