The Relationship between Marital Intimacy, Communication Patterns, and Pursuing- Distancing Behavior of Married Personnel of Kharazmi University

Marital intimacy is an interactive process in which both partners try to approach each other and explore their similarities and differences in feelings، thoughts، and behaviors. The aim of present study was to investigate the relationship between marital intimacy، communication patterns، and pursuing- distancing behavior of married personnel of Kharazmi University. The study design was descriptive cross-sectional. The population in this study included all married personnel of Kharazmi University in 2012 among which 100 married men and women were selected using simple random sampling method. In other to collect data، Intimacy Questionnaire، Communication Patterns Questionnaire، and Distancing-Pursuing Questionnaire were utilized. Finally، the data were analyzed using Pearson correlation، regression and one-way analysis of variance method. The results indicated that there is a positive significant relationship between marital intimacy، pursuing behavior، and constructive communication pattern of couples. However، there was a negative significant relationship between marital intimacy and woman demand/ man withdraw communication pattern. Also، a negative significant relationship was found between pursuing behavior and woman demand/ man withdraw، man demand/ woman withdraw، and mutual avoidance communication patterns. Also، there was a positive significant correlation between pursuing behavior and constructive communication pattern. Additionally، the results showed that pursuing behavior، mutual constructive communication pattern، and demand/ withdraw communication pattern predict marital intimacy significantly. According to these result، the mutual constructive communication pattern between married couples increases their intimacy and decreases distancing behavior