Developing the Model of Family Functioning based on the Components of Hope, Intimacy and Marital Conflicts in Couples

In today's society, we face with a high rate of divorce and marital conflicts; therefore, developing a model that can help counselors and psychologists to reduce this rate seems necessary. The aim of this study was to develop a model of family functioning on the basis of the components of hope, intimacy and marital conflicts in couples referred to counseling centers in Kermanshah City.
This study was descriptive (non-test) and correlational with structural equation modeling. The study population consisted of all couples referred to the counseling centers in Kermanshah City; of which 500 patients (250 females, and 250 males) were randomly selected. Data were collected using four questionaires including family functioning (FAD), Snyder hope scale, an intimacy questionnaire and a questionnaire of marital conflicts. Then, the data were analyzed using inferential statistics (path analysis) by the LISREL software.
The studied model had a good fit. Marital conflicts predicted family functioning; marital conflicts with a mediating role of intimacy and hope predicted family functioning; marital conflicts predicted hope in couples; marital conflicts predicted the intimacy; intimacy predicted family functioning and hope predicted family functioning (in women and men).
The results of this study showed that the management and reduction of tensions and conflicts, and increasing couple's intimacy and hope can be effective in improving family functioning.