Relationship between emotional intelligence and marital satisfaction in couples

Abstract

Introduction: Specialists and researchers believe that emotional intelligence can have important applications and effects on different human activities such as leadership and direction of others, professional growth, mental health, family life, and marital life. Therefore, the aim of this research was to study the relationship between emotional intelligence and marital satisfaction in married women and their husbands.Method: 500 married women employed in Tehran state administrations, organizations, and companies and their husbands were selected by random stratified sampling. The necessary information was collected using Petrides and Furnham’s Emotional Intelligence Scale and Najarian Family Assessment Tool. To analyze data statistically, Pearson`s correlation coefficient and multivariate regression were employed.Results: The results showed that there is a significant positive correlation between emotional intelligence and marital satisfaction of women and their husbands. In addition, emotional intelligence of women and their spouses can explain 35% of women`s marital satisfaction variance and 6% of their husbands marital satisfaction variance.Conclusion: Considering the significant positive correlation between emotional intelligence and marital satisfaction in married women and their husbands, quality of emotional intelligence can be considered as influential and fundamental construct in improving and reinforcing satisfactory marital relationships. Therefore, effective measures can be taken by training of the emotional intelligence role in improving interpersonal and marital relationships.