The effects of relationship enrichment counseling on marital satisfaction among infertile couples with a history of domestic violence

Abstract

Context: One method for improving marital satisfaction is to educate relationship enrichment programs to couples. Aim: This study aimed to determine the effects of relationship enrichment counseling on the marital satisfaction among infertile couples with a history of domestic violence. Setting and Design: This study was conducted in Imam Khomeini Hospital of Sari city in 2015. Materials and Methods: This was a semiexperimental study with pre and postintervention measurements. The study was conducted in two intervention and control groups consisting of 44 infertile couples referred to Imam Khomeini Hospital of Sari city in 2015. Statistical Analysis Used: SPSS 20 software was used for data analysis applying descriptive and inferential statistics (repeatedmeasures oneway ANOVA and twoway ANOVA). Results: The means of marital satisfaction scores were obtained as 3.4 ± 0.36, 3.71 ± 0.4, and 3.87 ± 0.28 in intervention and 3.44 ± 0.47, 2.56 ± 0.3, and 2.52 ± 0.33 in control groups at pretest, immediate posttest, and 2 months after the intervention, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean score of quality of life between the two intervention and control groups at pre and postintervention (P = 0.75). As evidenced by the repeatedmeasures ANOVA test, the relationship enrichment program was effective in boosting marital satisfaction score among infertile couples (P = 0.001). Conclusions: The enrichment program was effective in improving marital satisfaction and its all domains among infertile couples with a history of domestic violence.