title: The Relationship between Marital and Sexual Satisfaction among Married Women Employees at Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There are various elements affecting the healthy family such as marital satisfaction. Various factors such as sexual satisfaction have an important impact on satisfaction of marital relationship. The present study aimed to determine the association of marital satisfaction with sexual satisfaction among sexually active employee women.
  
  
  METHODS
  This analytical descriptive study was carried on 140 married women employed at educational and medical centers of Golestan University of Medical Sciences. Questionnaires for data collection included Enrich Marital Satisfaction Questionnaire and self-constructed questionnaire (demographic characteristic and sexual satisfaction). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, χ(2) and Spearman statistical test. Statistical significant level was set as 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The findings showed that in marital satisfaction scale, the majority of the participants (63.6%) were very satisfied and none of them were very unsatisfied. In sexual satisfaction scale, most of the participants (56.4%) expressed extremely satisfaction rate and only 0.7% were not satisfied with their sexual relationship. Marital satisfaction was significantly associated with sexual satisfaction (p ≤ 0.001). So with the increase of sexual satisfaction, there was an increase in marital satisfaction accordingly. The findings indicated that there was a significant association between sexual satisfaction and age (p = 0.086). Level of education was associated significantly with the marital satisfaction (p = 0.038). The effects of sexual satisfaction on marital satisfaction were moderated by number of children and the level of education.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings have implications for improving of couples' marital satisfaction by highlighting the need for awareness of sexual quality. According to the findings, it seems that development of educational programs and pre-marriage counseling is necessary. Continuous education would be helpful after marriage in addressing couples' unique transitional needs in marital life.
authors: Assistant Professor, Counseling and Reproductive Health Research Centre, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.
authors: Tayebe
authors: T
authors: Ziaee
authors: Assistant Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Addiction Institute AND Department of Psychiatric Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
authors: Yadollah
authors: Y
authors: Jannati
authors: Associate Professor, Department of Gynecology, School of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.
authors: Elham
authors: E
authors: Mobasheri
authors: . Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatric Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Taraneh
authors: T
authors: Taghavi
authors: Department of Medical-Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.
authors: Habib
authors: H
authors: Abdollahi
authors: Assistant Professor, Department of Community and Mental Health Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.
authors: Mahnaz
authors: M
authors: Modanloo
authors: Department of Health, School of Health, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.
authors: Naser
authors: N
authors: Behnampour
keywords: Enrich Marital Satisfaction Questionnaire; Marital Satisfaction; Married Women; Sexual Satisfaction