Phenomenology of Marital Attraction among Iranian Spouses: A Qualitative Study

Attraction in the marital relationship is necessary to create interest between spouses. Different individuals and groups probably perceive and interpret marital attraction in different ways. The objective of this research was the phenomenology of marital attraction among Iranian spouses using a qualitative. The participants were 17 Iranian women and men who had the experience of common-life with their spouses by purposive sampling with maximum variation (2016-2017). The data were gathered through semi-structured interviews by asking open questions about the research goals. The data were analyzed through Conventional Qualitative Content Analysis. According to the findings, the participants perceive marital attraction as a lovable and pleasant marital relationship. Marital attraction involves two main categories: attraction of spouse (including appearance, emotional, behavioral, intellectual, moral, and social attraction) and attraction of marital relationship (including consistency, joy, satisfaction, tranquility, and happiness). Studying the concept of marital attraction in other cultural contexts, providing an instrument for its assessment, using marital attraction conceptual dimensions in marital training, evaluating, counseling, and therapy, were suggested.