Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale Research Articles

Associations between Attitudes toward Factors Underpinning a Successful Marriage and Marital Satisfaction among Married Men and Women in Midlife

This study examined attitudes toward factors underpinning a successful marriage and their associations with marital satisfaction among married men and women in midlife. The sample comprised 201 married men and women aged between 40 and 59 living in Seoul, South Korea, and the data were collected by a self-report survey in 2019. Attitudes toward factors underpinning a successful marriage were measured using 12 items from the European Values Study Master Questionnaire 2008 and marital satisfaction was measured using three items from the Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis were performed in order to identify the factors deemed important for a successful marriage, as well as a <i>t</i>-test to explore gendered domains. Additionally, regression analysis was conducted to examine the association between attitudes toward factors underpinning a successful marriage and marital satisfaction. The results revealed two factors that were deemed important for a successful marriage: 'marital exchange based on conditions' and 'qualitative interaction based on sharing.' Women were more likely to believe that both factors were important for a successful marriage than men. The regression analysis revealed that 'qualitative interaction based on sharing' had a positive association with marital satisfaction, while 'marital exchange based on conditions' had a negative association with marital satisfaction, and also that these associations did not differ by gender. The findings imply that a successful marriage can be achieved when married partners make efforts to maintain their relationships through positive interactions and share intimacy in midlife.

The Impact of Outside Friendships on Relational Satisfaction for Dating and Married Couples

The influence of outside friendship on Couples’ relational satisfaction (RS) was explored with a sample of 444 romantically involved participants from central Alberta. There were, therefore, 222 couples, 89 of the couples were dating or engaged; 133 of the couples were Married or cohabitating. All couples were heterosexual. The primary focus of the study was to identify the relationship between the number and quality of outside friendships and relational satisfaction of the couples. Friendships were divided into three types: unshared (individual) friends, family friends, and shared (mutual) friends. A combination of the George-Wisdom Marital Satisfaction Scale and the Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale measured relational satisfaction. Results underlined the importance of friendship-related variables on couples’ relational satisfaction; they accounted for 37% of the variance (in relational satisfaction) for men and 47.5% for women. Additional results found that individual friendships are a serious liability to couple satisfaction, family and mutual friends are associated with greater couple satisfaction. Finally, in regression analyses the families supporting the relationship and liking the partner were the greatest predictors of relational satisfaction.

Effect of Sustaining a Perinatal Loss: Mothers’ Mental Health and Marital Satisfaction

The occurrence of perinatal losses is an unfortunate, yet common degeneracy that implements perturbing taxation on the mental, emotional, and marital health of mothers considering the grief they impose. This study is a quantitative venture that utilizes psychometrically sound measures such as the Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale (KMSS), the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF), and calibrated excerpts from the Perinatal Grief Scale (PGS). By addressing mothers (n = 53) who had recently undergone pregnancy losses, infant deaths, or during-birth child demises—significant links were established among the facets taken into consideration. Findings revealed that both mental health (r = −.48, p < .01) and marital satisfaction (r = −.34, p < .05) significantly deteriorated as an aftermath of the grief inculcated by sustaining the loss. Dimensions of mental health, in the form of emotional, social, and psychological well-being, all followed suit and underwent plunges mediated by the instigated bereavement. Further differences in both mental health and marital satisfaction were evident among participants who had children other than the ones lost to demise, and those who did not. Findings are helpful for mental health practitioners, family counselors, and gynecologists when dealing with such clients.

Evaluation of sexual behaviors of married couples during the coronavirus pandemic in 2019-2020

Purpose: Due to the Corona virus pandemic in 2019, all around the world people had to spend a long time in quarantine. The effect of this life style on the sexual behaviors of couples is an important issue that needs further investigation. The present study mainly aimed to investigate the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak on the sexual behaviors of married couples.Methods: In total, 740 participants completed questionnaires through different online social platforms. The participants were married men and women over 18 years old. The required data were obtained from the sexual behaviors of couple’s questionnaire (Iranian version), Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale, and demographic variables questionnaire.Results: Data analysis revealed that 56.1% and 49.7% of the participants experienced no changes in their sexual and desire sexual frequency, respectively. According to multiple regression analysis, it was found that satisfaction with the partner, satisfaction with marriage, economic status, emotional relationship, tobacco use, psychiatric disorders have significant relationships with sexual frequency in couples.Conclusions: According to the results, it can be concluded that there were no significant differences in sexual desire, frequency, pleasure and request in married couples during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Mother-Infant Bonding and Its Associated Factors Among Mothers in the Postpartum Period, Northwest Ethiopia, 2021.

BackgroundThe emotional bond that a mother senses to her infant is essential to their social, emotional, and cognitive development. Understanding the level of mother-infant bonding plays an imperative role in the excellence of care. However, in Ethiopia, there is a paucity of information about mother-infant bonding in the postpartum period.ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the level of mother-infant bonding and its associated factors among mothers in the postpartum period, Debre Tabor Town Northwest Ethiopia, 2021.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study was conducted with 422 postpartum mothers. The postpartum Bonding Questionnaire was used to assess mother-infant bonding. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was used to assess postnatal depression. The level of marital satisfaction was assessed by using Kansas marital satisfaction scale. Social support was assessed by Oslo social support scale. A simple random sampling technique was applied to select study participants. Simple and multiple linear regression were used to identify potential factors associated with the mother-infant bonding scale. A P-value of <0.05 was considered to declare statistical significance.ResultsIn this study, out of 420 postpartum mothers,53 (12.6%) had a risk for the quality of mother-infant bond difficulties between mother and an infant; 8.1% of mothers had a risk for rejection and pathological anger; 3.6% of mothers had a risk for infant-focused anxiety and 1.9% of mothers had risk for incipient abuse of an infant. Maternal depression status [adjusted β coefficient (β) = 2.31, 95% CI: (1.98, 2.64)], non-union marital status [β = 15.58, 95% CI: (9.88, 21.27)], being government employee [β = −5.68, 95% CI: (−9.71, −1.64)], having current pregnancy complication [β = −7.28, 95% CI: (−12.27, −2.29)], being non-breastfeeding mother [β = 7.66, 95% CI: (2.94, 12.38)], substance use history [β = −6.55, 95% CI: (−12.80, −0.30)], and social support [β = −2, 95% CI: (−2.49, −1.50)] were statistically significant factors for mother-infant bonding.ConclusionGenerally, a significant number of mothers had mother-infant bonding difficulties in the postpartum period. Preventing strategies for bonding difficulties focus on social support during pregnancy, screening postpartum mothers for postpartum depression, and special attention to substance users, non-union maternal status, and non-breastfeeding mothers.

MORE MATERIALISM, LESS MARITAL SATISFACTION: THE MEDIATING ROLE OF GRATITUDE

Materialism has been consistently regarded with less satisfaction with life in general. This may be explained as people who hold materialistic values are less grateful and therefore, consequently are either not satisfied or less satisfied with their relationships and life (overall). The present research investigated how being grateful would affect the marital satisfaction of married individuals, holding high materialistic values. Married individuals (N = 200), through purposive and convenient sampling technique, responded on a booklet comprised of Gratitude Questionnaire (McCullough et al., 2002), Materialistic Values Scale (Richins &amp; Dawson, 1992) and Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale (Schumm et al., 1983). Results indicated satisfactory reliability of the instruments of the study. Hypotheses testing revealed significant positive associations between gratitude and marital satisfaction. However, materialism was found to be negatively associated with both gratitude and marital satisfaction. Similar, results were further indicated in the prediction analysis which was further confirmed through mediation analysis as gratitude mediated the association. These findings of the study could be helpful for professionals in the field in the current scenario of the pandemic. As the pandemic is not over yet, and the economies are facing numerous challenges which has affected the family life of individuals.

Validity and Reliability of the Korean Version of the Couple Satisfaction Index

The study aimed to translate the Couple Satisfaction Index (CSI 32) into Korean, to evaluate the reliability and validity of CSI 32 and short-form (CSI 16, 4) in the Korean context, and to determine a cut-off score for Korean couples. Korean Versions of the Couple Satisfaction Index (K-CSI) 32 was translated, back-translated, and reviewed by five bilingual experts. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted with data from a sample of 218 couples (N = 436) to test construct validity. Validity and reliability were evaluated. The receiver's operating characteristics curve analysis was used to obtain the cut-off score. The construct validities of K-CSI 32, 16, and 4 were verified using one-factor structures. The results of CFA showed a slightly better fit for K-CSI 16 and 4 than for K-CSI 32. Convergent validity was supported by significant positive correlations of K-CSI with Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale, Dyadic Adjustment Scale, and Family Relationship Assessment Scale. Moreover, the significant differences in K-CSI between normal and depressive group demonstrated known-group validity. Cut-off scores of 105.5 on K-CSI 32, 50.25 on K-CSI 16, and 13.25 on K-CSI 4 were validated to identify distressed couple relationships. For clinical practice, the reliable and valid K-CSI 32 has the potential to measure changes in couple satisfaction after couple therapy or interventions. Applying K-CSI 32 may facilitate research on couple and family relationships in nursing and contribute to the discussion on the role of couple satisfaction in mental health.

Psychosocial Effect of Newborn Genomic Sequencing on Families in the BabySeq Project

Newborn genomic sequencing (nGS) may provide health benefits throughout the life span, but there are concerns that it could also have an unfavorable (ie, negative) psychosocial effect on families. To assess the psychosocial effect of nGS on families from the BabySeq Project, a randomized clinical trial evaluating the effect of nGS on the clinical care of newborns from well-baby nurseries and intensive care units. In this randomized clinical trial conducted from May 14, 2015, to May 21, 2019, at well-baby nurseries and intensive care units at 3 Boston, Massachusetts, area hospitals, 519 parents of 325 infants completed surveys at enrollment, immediately after disclosure of nGS results, and 3 and 10 months after results disclosure. Statistical analysis was performed on a per-protocol basis from January 16, 2019, to December 1, 2019. Newborns were randomized to receive either standard newborn screening and a family history report (control group) or the same plus an nGS report of childhood-onset conditions and highly actionable adult-onset conditions (nGS group). Mean responses were compared between groups and, within the nGS group, between parents of children who received a monogenic disease risk finding and those who did not in 3 domains of psychosocial impact: parent-child relationship (Mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale), parents' relationship (Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale), and parents' psychological distress (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale anxiety subscale). A total of 519 parents (275 women [53.0%]; mean [SD] age, 35.1 [4.5] years) were included in this study. Although mean scores differed for some outcomes at singular time points, generalized estimating equations models did not show meaningful differences in parent-child relationship (between-group difference in adjusted mean [SE] Mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale scores: postdisclosure, 0.04 [0.15]; 3 months, -0.18 [0.18]; 10 months, -0.07 [0.20]; joint P = .57) or parents' psychological distress (between-group ratio of adjusted mean [SE] Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale anxiety subscale scores: postdisclosure, 1.04 [0.08]; 3 months, 1.07 [0.11]; joint P = .80) response patterns between study groups over time for any measures analyzed in these 2 domains. Response patterns on one parents' relationship measure differed between groups over time (between-group difference in adjusted mean [SE] Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale scores: postdisclosure, -0.19 [0.07]; 3 months, -0.04 [0.07]; and 10 months, -0.01 [0.08]; joint P = .02), but the effect decreased over time and no difference was observed on the conflict measure responses over time. We found no evidence of persistent negative psychosocial effect in any domain. In this randomized clinical trial of nGS, there was no persistent negative psychosocial effect on families among those who received nGS nor among those who received a monogenic disease risk finding for their infant. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02422511.

Eating disorders and sexuality: A quantitative study in a French medically assisted procreation course.

ObjectiveAmong medically assisted procreation (MAP) patients, the prevalence of eating disorders (ED), clinical or subclinical, current or past, is considerable. In addition to metabolic repercussions, the literature suggests that these patients present with more sexual dysfunction, leading to anxiety.This quantitative research on a population of women consulting a MAP department for unexplained or ovulatory infertility proposed to study the sexuality of this population by comparing the sexuality of patients suffering from or having suffered from an ED to the sexuality of the non‐ED group.MethodPatients (n = 61) filled out the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE‐Q), the Brief Index of Sexual Functioning for Women (BISF‐W), the ED Whole Life Research Questionnaire, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale (KMSS).ResultsWe found a prevalence of 54% of ED, current or past. Even though these patients reported the same prevalence of sexual intercourse, they had significantly more physical problems (e.g., anorgasmia, vaginismus, headache) affecting their sexuality (p = .01) than the non‐ED group, after adjusting for depression. Approximately 10% of the study population reported no intravaginal intercourse during the last month.DiscussionThis study provides evidence for the existence of more sexual dysfunction in patients who have a fertility disorder and have ED or a history of ED. Future research should evaluate the results of psychological or sexological care that may be more suitable for the infertility of these patients.

MARITAL SATISFACTION AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN PATIENTS WITH ALCOHOL AND OPIOID DEPENDENCE SYNDROME: A HOSPITAL BASED STUDY

Background: Opioid and alcohol consumption is considered as an on-going stressor, not only for the individual, but for family members as well. Spouses are particularly affected given the intimate nature of their relationship and constant exposure to the behaviour of the dependent persons. Quality of life has emerged as an important treatment outcome measure for alcohol and opioid dependence whose natural course comprises of remission and relapse. Objective: To assess the quality of life, marital adjustment and among the patients of alcohol and opioid dependence syndrome. Materials and Methods: This was a cross sectional hospital based study and included 100 treatment seeking population 50 each with alcohol dependence and opioid dependence as per ICD-10 criteria. The participants were purposively selected and informed consent were taken. Research tools were Hindi version of Kansas Marital Satisfaction scale and WHOQOL-BREF. Results: The mean age of the participants were 34.87 +12.48 years. The study did not observe a signicant difference in the overall domains of quality of life. Except the overall health domain, quality of life was more in alcohol subjects as compared to opioid subjects (p &lt; 0.05). There was a signicant difference in the marital quality of life which was lower in opioid dependence than alcohol dependence subjects. Conclusion: Improved marital adjustment are most important part of improved quality of life and its sustainability plays key role in preventing relapse and reaching to the recuperation. Effective management for the alcohol and opioid patients must include the marital intervention to improve the recovery and rehabilitation of the patients.

Portuguese Version of the Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale: Preliminary Psychometric Properties

Marital satisfaction is considered a core dimension to understand marriage quality, influencing individual and family well-being. The Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale (KMSS) is one of the most used instruments to assess this dimension. This study presents the psychometric properties of the KMSS Portuguese version through two studies. In Study 1, 145 couples (parents of school-aged children) completed the KMSS, and the Co-parenting Questionnaire and Inventory of Attachment in Childhood and Adolescence. The one-factor structure of the KMSS was supported (CFA), and an invariance analysis showed the same structure for males and females. Preliminary evidence supported concurrent and discriminant validity, and high reliability (α = .97) was observed. In Study 2, the factor structure was replicated in an extended sample (361 couples) and invariance tests showed a similar one-factor structure for two stages of the family life cycle (children 6–12 and 13–18 years). Results indicated the measure’s suitability for research in the Portuguese context; however, further study is needed for its clinical use.

Psychological Well-Being, Marital Satisfaction, and Parental Burnout in Iranian Parents: The Effect of Home Quarantine During COVID-19 Outbreaks.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), as an infectious disease, is now prevalent in many countries around the world, which has recently led many governments to home quarantine and impose penalties for violating quarantine. Concerns and stress caused by lockdown and social isolation led to personal and interactive reactions in some families, which are also culturally important to address. This study was administrated to study the psychological well-being and the effect of home quarantine on marital satisfaction (MS) and parental burnout (PB) from parenting responsibilities during the prevalence of COVID-19 in Iranian parents. A total of 213 parents (140 mothers and 73 fathers) voluntarily participated in the online survey in the period of February to mid-April 2020 and completed the 5-item index of the well-being of the World Health Organization (WHO-5), the Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale (KMSS), and the Parental Burnout Assessment (PBA). The results showed that the effect of home quarantine on MS and PB was not significant in parents (p > 0.01). The interactive effect of home quarantine and gender was not significant on MS and PB (p > 0.01). In addition, the mothers significantly reported higher PB than the fathers, but the fathers had higher scores in MS and psychological well-being (p < 0.01). The effect of some demographic factors on the studied variables was also significant. Supportive resources in family-based culture may play an essential role to reduce the negative effects of stressful situations on family interactions.

High Levels of Stress Due to the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic among Parents of Children with and without Chronic Conditions across the USA.

Background: The 2020 SARS-CoV-2 pandemic led to community-wide measures affecting parents and children such as school/daycare closures, job losses, and interruptions in medical care for children with chronic diseases. This is the first study to describe the level of stress and mental health of parents of either healthy children or children with chronic conditions, during the 2020 pandemic. Methods: A representative sample of US parents was recruited from 10–17 April 2020. Parents completed online questionnaires about the past 7 days, including the Perceived Stress Scale, Resilient Coping Scale, Self-Efficacy Scale, Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale, Parental Stress Scale, PROMIS Anxiety and Depression scales and various other pandemic-related stress questions Results: Levels of stressors (e.g., job loss, school closures, etc.) were high during this time (e.g., 79% of children attended home/online school) and parents reported being moderately to highly stressed. Rates of clinical anxiety (44.6%) and depression (42.2%) were high. Parents of children with chronic conditions reported higher levels of stress and worse mental health, but did not differ from other parents in dealing with stress or interruptions in work, child schooling, and marital satisfaction. Discussion: The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced unprecedented levels of stress for parents, especially those of children with chronic conditions. Mental health effects are expected to continue for months/years and preparation is needed to meet an increasing demand for mental health care.

Financial Transparency Scale: Its Development and Potential Uses

The purpose of this study was to develop the Financial Transparency Scale (FTS) to assess financial transparency, the open and honest disclosure of one's finances, between married partners. A sample of 183 individuals married for less than 5 years, in their first marriage, completed an online survey. Principal components analysis (PCA) was conducted and determined the FTS is comprised of three components: Financial Partnership, Financial Secrecy, and Financial Trust and Disclosure. The FTS was positively correlated with four related scales: the Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale, the Shared Goals and Values Scale, the Frequency of Financial Management Scale, and the Communication Patterns Questionnaire – Short Form. An alpha of .94 was reported for the FTS. Financial practitioners can use the FTS as a tool to determine the level of financial transparency within a couple relationship, identify areas of concern, and illustrate the importance of open and honest communication about finances.

Psychosocial factors that influence marital couple duration

Humanity’s history, with its biological, psychological, social, cultural, economic and political dimensions, belongs to the coexistence of man and woman, to the relationships between them and their children. In time, family has become one of the oldest community forms, which ensures the evolution and continuity of the human species. Family influences the most the human being. Many studies made by researchers in this field, have proved the importance of the family for people, emphasizing that family is a real laboratory for the development of a person. In contemporary society, family suffered a lot of important transformations, like female empowerment for example, which, in turn, has determined many other changes in the family life. Due to these changes, the marital couple is currently more interested in satisfying its own interests and minimizes the tasks that society assigns to the family. A sample of 30 married couples, residing in Constanta County, has been assessed with Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale, Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Scale, Kansas Marital Conflict Scale and Influence of the Material Situation on the Couple Questionnaire. The main objective of the research was to identify the relationship between these factors and the duration of the marital couple. We identified significant correlation between: (1) the couple’s duration and marital satisfaction; (2) the marital satisfaction and marital adjustment; (3) the level of the financial status and marital quarrels. Results are discussed in terms of marital counseling, the increase of marital satisfaction and the development of assistance for families in need.

Relational Satisfaction of Spousal/Partner Informal Caregivers of People with Multiple Sclerosis: Relational Commitment, Caregiving Burden, and Prorelational Behavioral Tendencies.

Relational satisfaction of spousal/partner informal caregivers of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) is important for continued care and support. Previous studies have examined relational satisfaction in terms of well-being and quality of life of informal caregivers. Based on the Rusbult investment model, we directly studied the relational satisfaction of spousal/partner informal caregivers of individuals with MS. In doing so, we investigated possible effects that commitment to relationship, caregiving burden, and prorelational behavioral tendencies might have on relational satisfaction. Nine hundred nine adult spousal/partner informal caregivers of people with MS completed measures of relational satisfaction (Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale), commitment to relationship (15-item commitment measure), caregiving burden (Zarit Burden Interview), and prorelational behavioral tendencies (adapted Prosocial Tendencies Measure). Participants also provided demographic information (age, sex, duration and type of relationship [spouse, partner]). Structural equation modeling highlighted commitment to the relationship as the strongest predictor of relational satisfaction. Caregiving burden was found to affect relational satisfaction directly and through commitment to relationship. Prorelational behavioral tendencies were found to affect less relational satisfaction. Commitment to relationship, namely, intent to persist, had the highest positive effect on satisfaction. Caregiving burden was found to have a two-way negative relationship to commitment to relationship. These findings suggest that specialists should enhance the intent-to-persist aspect of commitment because it seems to have an alleviating effect regarding caregiving burden (which itself negatively affects relational satisfaction).

The Persian version of the revised dyadic adjustment scale (RDAS): a validation study in infertile patients

BackgroundInfertility can have a powerful impact on marital quality. The Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale (RDAS) is a widely used measure of marital quality. This scale has not been validated in infertile patients. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the reliability and validity of the RDAS in a sample of infertile patients.MethodsThe sample of this methodological study consisted of 254 infertile patients referring to a referral infertility clinic in Tehran, Iran. A battery of questionnaires was administered to the participants, including a demographic/fertility questionnaire, the RDAS, the Relationship Assessment Scale (RAS), the Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale (KMSS), the Couples Satisfaction Index- 4 Item (CSI-4), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the Perceived Stress Scale-4 Item (PSS-4). Internal consistency of the scale was assessed with Cronbach’s alpha, construct validity was investigated using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and convergent validity was examined by correlating the RDAS with RAS, KMSS, CSI-4, HADS, and PSS-4 instruments.ResultsThe mean total RDAS score was 49.26 ± 9.34, and 100 patients (39.4%) had marital distress based on the cut-off value of < 48. The second-order three-factor model of the RDAS exhibited an excellent fit to the data, as indicated by χ2/df = 2.26; CFI = 0.96; GFI = 0.91; NFI = 0.93; IFI = 0.96; RMSEA = 0.071 and SRMR = 0.050. The RDAS and its subscales revealed satisfactory internal consistency that ranged from 0.664 to 0.847. Convergent validity was confirmed by strong correlations between RDAS scores and scores on the RAS, KMSS, and CSI-4. These correlations also tended to be larger than correlations with measures of HADS-anxiety, HADS-depression, and PSS-4. Among demographic/fertility variables, only infertility duration was found to be correlated to the RDAS.ConclusionThe RDAS is a reliable and valid inventory for measuring marital quality in infertile patients. Further validation studies are needed to generalize the underlying structure of the scale in various populations.

Effectiveness of emotional intelligence training program on marital satisfaction, sexual quality of life, and psychological well-being of women.

CONTEXT:Emotional communications play an important role in having a satisfying relationship and a more successful marriage. If marriage does not provide suitable conditions to satisfy couple's needs, not only it does not help to mental health but also results in negative and irreversible effects.AIMS:This research was performed with the aim of determining the impact of emotional intelligence training on marital satisfaction, sexual quality of life, and psychological well-being of women.SETTINGS AND DESIGN:The present research is an experimental study conducted on 70 women referring to community health centers of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in 2019.SUBJECTS AND METHODS:The sampling was performed using multistage cluster sampling. Before implementing the training intervention, the research instruments (general questionnaire, Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale, Iranian version of Sexual Quality of Life-Female questionnaire, and World Health Organization Five Well-Being Index) were provided to the participants in order to complete them. All participants recompleted the instruments immediately and 1 month after the training intervention.STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED:The significance level was considered as P < 0.05.RESULTS:The mean scores of marital satisfaction in the control group had no significant difference before, immediately after, and 1 month after the intervention (P = 0.895). However, in the intervention group, over time, the mean scores of marital satisfaction increased (P = 0.001), and the difference between the two groups was significant (P < 0.001). The mean scores of sexual quality of life and psychological well-being had no significant differences before, immediately after, and 1 month after the intervention in the control group. However, in the intervention group, over time, the mean scores of sexual quality of life and psychological well-being firstly increased and then decreased (P < 0.001), and the difference between the two groups was significant (P < 0.001).CONCLUSIONS:Training the components of emotional intelligence can be effective on enhancing marital satisfaction, sexual quality of life, and psychological well-being of women.

Marital Satisfaction and Satisfaction With Life: Mediating Role of Sexual Satisfaction in Married Women

Background: Marital satisfaction is an integral part of the life of Pakistani women. Married women cannot get satisfied with their lives without marital satisfaction. But previous studies hint at the possible role of sexual satisfaction in addition to marital satisfaction to bring about overall satisfaction with life in married women. Aims: This study was designed with an objective to assess the mediating role of sexual satisfaction in marital satisfaction as a predictor and satisfaction with life as an outcome in married Pakistani women. Previous studies have demonstrated a possible link among marital satisfaction, sexual satisfaction, and satisfaction with life. Settings and Design: One hundred married women of childbearing age (18-48 years, M = 29 years) were recruited by a convenient sampling method from the three hospitals of Bahawalpur in the South Punjab state of Pakistan. Methods and Material: Three questionnaires (a) Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale; (b) Index of Sexual Satisfaction, and (c) Satisfaction with Life Scale, were administered to collect the data. Statistical Analysis: The results were analyzed by the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (IBM, USA), version 25, and Process Macro, version 3.4, and expressed in the form of descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, and frequencies), mediation analysis, analysis of co-variance, analysis of variance and t test. Results and Conclusion: The unstandardized indirect effects yielded a significant mediation (IE = 0.4757, SE = 0.1786, P &lt; .05, LL = 0.1736, UL = 0.8681). The sexual satisfaction fully mediated the relationship between marital satisfaction and satisfaction with life in married women. It was concluded that married women cannot get marital satisfaction and satisfaction with life without a satisfied sexual life.

Association between menopausal symptoms and relationship distress

ObjectiveTo determine the association between relationship distress and menopausal symptoms. Study designA retrospective analysis was conducted of questionnaires completed by women 40–65 years of age seeking menopause or sexual health consultation between May, 2015 and May, 2017. Main outcome measuresAssociations between menopausal symptoms assessed using the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) and relationship distress measured on the Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale (KMSS) were evaluated with two-sample t-tests. Linear regression was used to assess associations after adjusting for potential confounders. ResultsThe sample of 1884 women averaged 53 years of age (SD = 6.1); most were white (95%), employed (66%), married (90%), and well-educated (≥ college graduate, 64%). Women reporting no relationship distress (KMSS ≥ 17) had less severe menopausal symptoms overall compared with women reporting relationship distress (total MRS score 13.1 vs 16.0, P < 0.001), with similar findings in each MRS domain. In multivariable analyses, this relationship persisted for total MRS scores and for psychological symptoms among women with no relationship distress, who scored an estimated 1.15 points (95% CI 0.52–1.78) lower on the total MRS and 0.82 points (95% CI 0.53–1.10) lower in the psychological symptom. ConclusionsThe absence of relationship distress was associated with less severe menopausal symptoms, particularly in the psychological domain, in women presenting to a women’s health clinic. Given the cross = sectional design, the direction of the relationship is unknown.