Correlation of factors associated with marital satisfaction-A cross-sectional study from an urban place in Andhra Pradesh

Abstract

Context: Marriage is an age-old tradition that has become an essential custom for the survival and evolution of human beings. Marital satisfaction is the most essential aspect of a marriage. It is an important psychological construct affecting individual and relational well-being. Multiple factors affect marital satisfaction, and research related to these factors is scarce in India. Aims: We aimed to study the association between various sociodemographic factors, attachment styles, sexual satisfaction, and marital satisfaction. Materials and Methods: It was a cross-sectional, correlational study done on 80 subjects who were selected by purposive sampling method. A semi-structured pro forma was used to collect sociodemographic data. ENRICH (Evaluation and Nurturing Relationship Issues, Communication, and Happiness Marital Satisfaction scale was used to assess marital satisfaction. Index of Sexual Satisfaction was used for rating sexual satisfaction. A relationship questionnaire was used to measure the adult attachment style. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were done to find the relation between different study variables. Results: Among sociodemographic variables, gender (P = 0.03), ongoing conflicts (P < 0.001), and the attachment style of the subjects (P < 0.001) had shown a statistically significant relationship with marital satisfaction. Problems in the area of sexual satisfaction had a negative correlation with marital satisfaction (r = −663, P < 0.001). Conclusions: Although marital satisfaction is culturally dependent, attachment styles, ongoing conflicts in one's relationship, and sexual satisfaction are some of the common factors associated with marital satisfaction across cultures.