Marital satisfaction and its associated factors at reproductive age women referred to health centers

Marital satisfaction, as one of the elements of family health, is affected by various factors such as social norms, customs, and expectations. Sexual self‑efficacy as one of the important aspects of female sexual affairs may be related to the marital relationship. The aim of this study was to evaluate the related factors of marital satisfaction in Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran.

This research was a cross‑sectional study performed on 350 married women in the reproductive age referred to health centers in Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran, in 2018. The data collection tools were Evaluation and Nurturing Relationship Issues, Communication, and Happiness Marital Satisfaction Questionnaire and a sexual self‑efficacy questionnaire derived from Schwarzer general self‑efficacy scale. The data were analyzed with Pearson’s correlation coefficient and linear regression. A P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

The mean age of the participants was 30.85 ± 7.56 years. Most people had high sexual self‑efficacy (51%) and relative and intermediate marital satisfaction (68%). There was also a significant relationship between sexual self‑efficacy and marital satisfaction (P = 0.001). According to the linear regression test, only three variables of sexual self‑efficacy, dyspareunia, and socioeconomic status explain 12% of the variance of marital satisfaction in women (P < 0.05).

The results indicated that sexual self‑efficacy, dyspareunia, and socioeconomic status have significant relationship with marital satisfaction. Due to the significant relationship between sexual self‑efficacy and marital satisfaction, some interventions to improve this aspect of sexual life may increase the satisfaction of individuals from marital life.