Effect of Premarital Counseling on Marital Satisfaction

Abstract

Background: Communication has a fundamental role in marital life and lack of effective communication is a common compliant of married couples attending counseling and treatment centers. Objectives: This study was conducted to examine the effect of communication skills on marital satisfaction of couples attending premarriage counseling centers. Methods: This parallel interventional study was conducted on 60 couples who attended a premarriage counseling center (Shahid Rast Ravesh) affiliated to Alborz University of Medical Sciences. A simple sampling method was used and samples were allocated into the intervention and control groups using blocks randomization. The intervention group, in addition to the routine trainings, received training on communication skills and sexual relation. The Enrich’s marital satisfaction questionnaire was completed by the participants in both groups before, after and two months after the intervention. Results: The mean age of the couples was 24.9 ± 4.7 years in the intervention group and 25.8 ± 4.1 in the control group. Twenty participants (66.7%) in the intervention group and 19 participants (63.3%) in the control group had diploma. Also, 13 persons (43.3%) in the intervention group and 12 persons (40%) in the control group were self-employed. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in socio-economic traits of the couples. The results of repeated measures showed that marital satisfaction has changed over time (P < 0.001). Also, the results of a paired t test showed a significant relationship between the level of marital satisfaction in the intervention group before and after the intervention (P < 0.001), and also before and two months after the intervention (P = 0.004). Marital satisfaction in the intervention group was significantly higher than in the control group. Conclusions: Considering the effect of communication skills on marital satisfaction of the couples, it would be suggested to include the content of communication skills in the premarriage education class.