Discovering the factors of dissatisfaction in older women-younger men marriages

Numerous studies have examined the causes of dissatisfaction in couples, but a qualitative research that has discovered the factors of dissatisfaction in older women-younger men marriage has been neglected.

The aim of this study was to discover the factors of dissatisfaction in older women-younger men marriages.

This research was conducted with a qualitative approach and descriptive phenomenological method The study population consisted of all older women-younger men marriages in Shiraz in 2009. 12 couples were selected as the sample, using purposive sampling method. The required information was collected through semi-structured interviews to achieve theoretical saturation. Data analysis was performed using the 7-step Colaizzi method.

The analysis of data extracted from interviews with couples, led to the identification of 3 main themes including: individual factors, couple factors, family-social factors and 18 sub-themes as well as 90 concept codes.

In this study, it was concluded that factors such as not paying attention to realistic criteria in choosing a spouse, personal worries and concerns about the future of the relationship, family and social conflicts and dissatisfaction cause and intensified dissatisfaction in relationships that in the absence of communication skills in managing these situations and documenting problems to the older women-younger men marriages, intimacy in various dimensions of the relationship is reduced. The results of this study can provide the basis for the development of preventive programs and the development of an educational model of indigenous counseling for older women-younger men marriages