Structural Model of the Relationships between Gratitude, Marital Relationship Quality and Marital Satisfaction in teachers of Sabzevar city

Gratitude, as a positive factor, can help enrich and strengthen relationships between couples. The aim of this study was testing a model of the relationships gratitude, marital relationship quality, and marital satisfaction.

The statistical population included all married female teachers of Sabzevar city in 1396. The statistical sample was 241 participants who were selected using the random sampling method. The data collection was performed using the ENRICH Marital Satisfaction (EMS), Gratitude Questionnaire-6 (GQ-6), perceived Relationship Quality. Amos -24 and SPSS -24 software packages were applied for data analysis. Bootstrap in Preacher and Hayes’ Macro program was used for testing mediation.

Results indicated that the model with some modification had a good fit with the data. The gratitude had a positive direct effect on marital satisfaction and marital relationship quality (p<0.05). Marital relationship quality had a positive direct effect on marital satisfaction (p<0.05). The gratitude had the positive indirect effect on marital satisfaction via marital relationship quality (p<0.05).

Gratitude, directly and indirectly, through increased marital relationship quality, is associated with higher marital satisfaction. This study shows a stage into a better understanding of positive processes that can protect couples against marital dissatisfaction, and that can assist counselors to help couples in attaining and keeping the marital satisfaction.