Indicators of Marital Satisfaction in Married Couples

Abstract

Understanding the factors which are essential for marital satisfaction can help not only married couples to improve their relationship but it is also beneficial for single individuals to get prepared for the future. The current study was conducted to explore the causes of marital satisfaction among couples living in Bahawalpur. A qualitative, cross-sectional research design was used. Only fertile married couples were included in the study using Snowball Sampling. Questions were generated in the light of Dynamic Goal Theory. Out of 12 couples, every participant was interviewed individually. Verbatim Transcription was applied on the audio recorded interviews. Thematic Analysis of the data explained that husbands and wives like each other because of trusting, respecting, praising and shopping for each other. In a good marital relation, husbands trust their wives leaving them alone at home or outside. They both respect each other in making decisions for practical matters. The most liked topic in a couple’s communication was planning the future of kids. Husbands consider marriage as a beautiful phase of life while most wives take marriage in Islamic perspective. Husbands reported that marriage had given them the quality of hard work as compared to wives who got protection. However, both genders reported improved self-confidence after marriage. The results of study are important for premarital counseling and family therapy.