The relationship between personality traits and marital satisfaction based on the mediation role of religious orientation

Aim of this study was to determine the relationship between personality traits and marital satisfaction based on the mediation role of religious orientation.

Method was descriptive-correlational and statistical population included all 4080 male and female married teachers of guidance and high schools in District Six of Tehran Education, in 2018-2019. Using random sampling 28 schools were selected from the North, South, West and East of District Six. In addition, according to Klein's (2016) suggestion, 304 volunteer teachers were selected, as well. Tools: Tools were NEO-Five Factor Inventory of Costa and McCrae (1989); Religious Orientation Questionnaire of Allport and Ross (1967) and ENRICH Marital Satisfaction Scale of Olson, Fournier and Druckman (1983). After deleting 10 distorted questionnaires and 3 outliers, path analysis has been used.

In this study, the path coefficient between internal religious orientation and marital satisfaction was positive (β= 0.364, P= 0.001). The indirect path coefficient of marital satisfaction and neuroticism factor was negative (β= -0.112, P= 0.001) and with factors of conscientiousness (β= 0.111, P= 0.001) and agreeableness (β= 0.055, P= 0.001) were positive.

Personality traits, as the preconceived forms of engagement by individuals in marital relationships, affect the mediating structures, including the religious orientation of individuals that is dealing with marital problems. Therefore, it is suggested that family therapists with strengthening couple’s internal religious orientation, improve their marital satisfaction and marital affairs.