Prediction of Marital Satisfaction Based on Personality Traits and Coping Styles in Married People with Extramarital Affairs

Extramarital affairs is a shocking issue for couples and families that play a major role in marital conflicts and coupleschr('39') tendency towards divorce. The purpose of this study was to determine and predict marital satisfaction based on personality traits and coping styles in married people with extramarital relationships in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province.

The research method adopted was correlational in nature. The study population consisted of all married people who due to extramarital affairs in the years 2016-2017 had referred to the welfare divorce reduction centers of K.B province, counseling centers of K.B provinces, as well as courts and other related cases. The sample group consisted of 234 people who were selected by the available sampling and according to the satisfaction of individuals to participate in the research. For the purpose of data collection, use was made of three questionnaires, namely NEO Personality Inventory, Marital Satisfaction Scale Enrich Questionnaire and Indler and Parker Coping Styles.

The findings indicated that Personality Traits and Coping Styles had a significant correlation with Marital Satisfaction. The results correspondingly revealed that the characteristics of extraversion, agreementability, problem-oriented and emotion-oriented explain a total of 29% of the variance of marital satisfaction. In addition, the variables of extraversion, agreementability, problem-oriented and emotion-oriented with beta of 0.21, 0.10, and -0.09, respectively, had a significant contribution in predicting marital satisfaction.

Generally speaking, the findings of the present study indicated that extraversion was the strongest predictor of marital satisfaction. Moreover, personality traits and coping styles were the psychological foundation of peoplechr('39')s stable relationships with others and were therefore a key predictor of marital satisfaction.