Prediction of Marital Satisfaction Based on Emotional Intelligence in Postmenopausal Women

Adopting strategies with menopausal experiences: A systematic review

Background and Aims

Menopause is one of the most significant stages in women's life. It is accompanied by many complications and a serious challenge. This study aimed to assess the menopause experiences of Iranian women and compatibility strategies.

Methods

We searched PubMed, Web of Science (ISI), Scopus, Ovid, and the Iranian Clinical Trial Registry and Magiran, SID, from January 1990 to January 2021.

Results

Psychological effects, sexual disorders, physical problems, bone pain, insomnia, fatigue, and hot flashes are all menopause experiences. Cultural factors, lifestyle, social factors, education level, employment and economic status, marital status, and the number of pregnancies and births can influence this experience. It is important that menopausal women are aware how menopausal compatibility and prepare for this period. Many factors have affected menopausal adopting strategies. Negative emotions, negative attitudes, worry, and anxiety, and their psychological effects exacerbate the annoying experiences of menopause and decelerate menopausal adoption.

Conclusions

Social support and educational intervention were the practical menopausal adopting strategies. It will guarantee the health of menopausal women in the last third of their lives.

The relationship between personality traits, menopausal symptoms and marital adjustment

This study was aimed at determining the relationship between personality traits, menopausal symptoms and marital adjustment in postmenopausal women. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 599 postmenopausal women who presented to the family health centers between September 2018 and February 2019. Data were collected with the Personal Information Form, Marital Adjustment Test, Cervantes Personality Scale and Menopause Rating Scale. The mean marital adjustment score of the postmenopausal women was 44.03 ± 10.75. The correlation analysis revealed significant negative correlations between marital adjustment, and personality traits and menopausal symptoms. Education level, economic status, duration of menopause, neurotic and inconsistent personality traits, somatic, psychological and urogenital symptoms were determined to be statistically significant predictive factors of marital adjustment in postmenopausal women.

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.

The correlation between marital satisfaction and childbearing characteristics in women in Tehran

BACKGROUND

Pregnancy and childbearing can change the relationship between a couple and their degree of marital satisfaction.

OBJECTIVES

The present study was conducted to determine the effect of women's childbearing characteristics, including age at marriage, childbearing age, the interval between marriage and the birth of the first child, the number of children, age differences between children and children's gender composition (only sons, only daughters or both sons and daughters) on marital satisfaction in women of childbearing age in Tehran.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This descriptive correlational study was conducted on 213 married females aged 15-45 years presenting to health centers in Tehran in 2016. The demographic questionnaire, the Enrich Marital Satisfaction Scale and a devised questionnaire on childbearing were used for data collection. The data collected were analyzed with SPSS-17 using descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and Pearson's correlation test, the analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the stepwise regression test.

RESULTS

According to the stepwise regression test, of all the factors associated with marital satisfaction, the number of children showed the highest correlation with marital satisfaction (p < 0.001, r = -0.22). In those with three children, the age difference between the second and third children had the highest correlation with marital satisfaction (p < 0.001, r = -0.5). The variables of age at first childbirth (r = 0.18) and children's gender composition were also significantly related to marital satisfaction (p < 0.005).

CONCLUSION

The findings suggest that of all the factors associated with marital satisfaction, the number and spacing of children affect marital satisfaction.

Sexual Function and Factors Affecting Menopause: A Systematic Review

The purpose of this review study is to evaluate sexual function and its effective factors in menopause. A systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The key words of “menopause,” “postmenopause,” “postmenopausal,” “premenopause,” “pre-menopausal period,” “sexual function,” “sexual health,” “sexuality,” “sexual and gender disorders,” “sexual development,” “sexual dysfunction,” “sexual disorders,” “sexual behavior and “sexual activity” were used in combination with the Boolean operators OR and AND. After reviewing the selected articles, 27 papers were selected based on the criteria for entering the study and the goals set. The results of the reviewed articles showed that, in the physical domain, the factors affecting sexual function can be mentioned, age, hormonal changes, medical problems and reproductive history. Sexual disorders in menopause can be affected by some of the individual and social characteristics and psychological problems. Considering the fact that many psychological and social injuries occur in this period following sexual disorders; therefore, policies and programs for improving the quality of life of women in menopause should be aimed at eliminating sexual dysfunction, correcting attitudes and negative emotions and help to women for more comfortable in menopause.

Predictors of Quality of Life in Infertile Couples

OBJECTIVES

This study was conducted with the aim of examines the quality of life of infertile couples and their relationship with the practical resilience of infertile couples referring to Yazd's centers of infertility.

METHODS

This research is a descriptive-correlational study. The research population consisted of all infertile couples who referred to Infertility Centers in Yazd, Iran in the winter of 2016. Sampling was conducted in a non-random and accessible manner. The instrument used in the research included a) demographic information questionnaire, b) Conner and Davidson's Resilience Scale, and c) quality of life infertile couples questionnaire. Data were analyzed by SPSS software version 17 at a significant level of P < 0.05. To describe the data, descriptive statistics methods were used and the inferential statistics (Pearson correlation coefficient, regression, independent t test, and variance analysis) were used to test the research hypotheses.

RESULTS

People (202 couples) participated in this research. Three variables of resilience (β = 0.04, P = 0.04), gender (β = -0.22, P < 0.001), and education level (β = 0.21, P < 0.001) had a prediction coefficient and there was a significant relationship with quality of life.

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that resilience, gender, and education predict the quality of life of infertile couples. In the infertile couples counseling program, resilience should be considered as a coping factor.