Designing a structural equation model of marital satisfaction based on aging perception and demographic and clinical variables in Iranian elderly patients with coronary artery disease

Marital satisfaction is an important variable in maintaining or promoting elderly health. Therefore, identifying the effective factors can increase life expectancy and quality of life. This study aimed to determine the relationship between aging perception and demographic and clinical characteristics with marital satisfaction in the elderly patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

This was a descriptive-correlational study. The sample size was 480 elderly patients with CAD who were referred to the heart clinics of hospitals in the west of Mazandaran Province, Iran, who were recruited by convenience sampling. Data were collected by a demographic checklist, ENRICH Marital Satisfaction Inventory, and Aging Perceptions Questionnaire (APQ). The data were analyzed by structural equation model (SEM) using Goodness of Fit Index (GFI and chi-square test. P-value less than 0.050 was considered as significant level.

The mean and standard deviation (SD) of marital satisfaction was 145.16 ± 12.12, and the mean and SD of aging perception was 113.39 ± 12.74. The results of the Pearson’s correlation coefficient indicated that the highest correlation was between aging perception and marital satisfaction (r = 0.68, P < 0.001). The model fit indices of the hypothesized model met the criteria, with the GFI = 0.91, Comparative Fit Index (CFI) = 0.93, Normed Fit Index (NFI) = 0.94, and non-Normed Fit Index (NNFI) = 0.91.

Considering the psychological risk factors affecting marital satisfaction such as aging perception and suitable measurement can lead to marital health and improve treatment outcomes by increasing elderly motivation in self-care. Therefore, the elderly patients with CAD need more serious and long-term educational, counseling, and supportive interventions.