Study of the Possibility of Achieving Marital Satisfaction in an Individualistic Society (Case Study of Bojnord)

Today, personal relationships and marital satisfaction of couples within families have been affected by rapid developments and prevalence of individualism in societies. Marital satisfaction as one of the indicators of the quality of marriage has changed. In other words, exposure to individualistic ideas has changed marital patterns. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to predict marital satisfaction based on individualism and intimacy.

This study was an applied research based on a descriptive survey method. The statistical population included all the married people over 18 years old living in Bojnord City, Iran in 2021. According to the population and housing census, there were 191027 people in this city in 2017. Due to the fact that the research was a correlational study, a sample power was applied to determine the sample size. The required sample size for the effect size of 0.19, error of 0.05, and test power of 0.80, which were agreed upon by the researchers, was equal to 957 people, who were selected by using the multi-stage cluster sampling method. Also, Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression were utilized to analyze the data using SPSS and AMOS software.

The descriptive findings showed that 43.5% (416 people) and 56.5% (541 people) of the statistical population were women  and men, respectively. Most of the respondents were between 25 and 34 years old and the oldest ones were between 45 and 55 years old. In terms of education level, 35.9% (344 people) and 1.64% (613 people) were undergraduate and graduate individuals, respectively. Pearson correlation coefficient showed that there was a positive and significant relationship between individualism and marital satisfaction (0.576). It meant that marital satisfaction was enhanced with increasing individualism. In such a circumstance, individual expectations and desires of married life had become an important factor for family continuity. In fact, with the rise of individualism and the values associated with free choice, more attention was being paid to the quality of relationship and enjoyment of life. In an individualistic society, a new category of marriage that is not considered in a traditional society becomes important. In a modern society, paying attention to individual desires that are accepted and respected by couples is more important, while these behaviors are against the rules in a traditional society. In a modern society, husbands and wives reduce tensions by respecting each other's individual desires, which are often ignored in a traditional society. In fact, woman, as well as their rights and desires, are ignored in most cases due to the patriarchal nature of the latter societies. In an individualistic situation, individual competition, which is considered essential in the realm of production, is met with an inverse demand within the family and in marital relationships, while emphasizing respect for one of the partner's desires. In other words, according to Bowen, the differentiation of self in non-traditional societies creates a dialogue between couples and gives people the ability to accept opposing views without a conflict and enjoy an open and free communication. These results are in contrast with those obtained by Dehghan (2016), but are in line with the theories of Giddens, Cheal, Ulrich Beck, Elisabeth Beck-Gernsheim, Jallinoja, and Bowen. In our study, there was a positive and significant relationship between intimacy and marital satisfaction (0.53), indicating enhanced marital satisfaction with increasing intimacy. Therefore, a change in intimacy and awareness of the concept of love and affection would lead to marital satisfaction. The results of this part of the research are in support of the theories of Giddens, Cheal, Ulrich Beck, Elisabeth Beck-Gernsheim, Jallinoja, and Bowen. The multivariate regression analysis showed that individualism and intimacy could explain 39.0% of variation in marital satisfaction. Intimacy is considered as one of the basic foundations of marital relationship and predicts relationship satisfaction in an individualistic society. Couples' relationships, either emotionally or physically, do not last long without intimacy. The results of the structural equation model revealed that individualism with the coefficient of effect of 0.42 had the most direct impact on the variable of marital satisfaction. Also, intimacy had a direct positive effect on marital satisfaction with the coefficient of effect of 0.25. Individualism had an indirect impact on marital satisfaction through intimacy as well. Taken together, these results confirmed the theoretical model of the present study. In general, the most important feature of marital satisfaction influenced by the prevalence of individualism in modern life is paying attention to individual desires and even prioritizing them, along with maintaining family life. In such a condition, continuity of the relationship entirely depends on each couple’ situation. Couples are trapped in a relationship that they can end at any time. In this situation, marital relationship is a contract between individuals and its continuation strongly depends on the terms of this contract. To maintain balance, we sometimes need exchange of values and sometimes a lot of sacrifice and forgiveness. According to Giddens, marital satisfaction arises from a pure relationship, which comes, first of all, in the realm of marriage and a close friendship. The reason for the emergence of a pure relationship is having a feeling of deep satisfaction that comes from coexistence and good communication. As Alrish Beck believes, prevalence of individualism inversely connects men and women and increases marital satisfaction. Thus, contrary to the view that modernity and its consequences, such as individualism, have caused the decline and collapse of families, the results indicated that the family continues to live in a new way and is still the most important social institution.