The Factors Affecting the Marriage Disaffection among Iranian Couples in Iran: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Aim and Background: The marital disaffection seems to be the last step in marital relationships. Therefore, study of the effective factors on this variable is important. The purpose of this study was to review the factors affecting marital disaffection among Iranian couples. Methods and Materials: This research was fundamental in terms of objective, and a qualitative plan of the grounded theory type in terms of method. Statistical population of the study included married women and men in Tehran City, Iran. The required information was collected through a targeted sampling method from 15 people who had marital disaffection, and was continued till saturation of data. Research tools were a semi-structured deep interviewed and the information was analyzed using theoretical coding. Findings: After analysis of interviews, the factors affecting marital disaffection were classified based on selective coding in four categories of interpersonal factors (lack of intimacy, structure of power, sexual dissatisfaction, and roles in the main family), strategies (aggression, and conflict resolution styles), cognitive factors (communication beliefs, and cognitive distortions), and situational factors (spouse's family, and the effects of virtual space on the couple’s relation). Conclusions: On this basis, we could conclude that couples' marital disaffection is affected by the various contextual, intervention, psychological, and personality factors. Therefore, when counselling and treating couples with marital disaffection, attention to the various factors of marital disaffection is essential and this research could be a suitable guide for therapists to provide proper interventions for couples suffering frustration.

Keywords

• marital disaffection
• couples
• qualitative research
• iran