Relationships Between Spiritual Quotient and Marital Satisfaction Level of Men, Women and Couples Referred to Consultancy Centers of Bandar Abbas .

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by  Zarei, Eghbal

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Relationships Between Spiritual Quotient and Marital Satisfaction Level of
Men, Women and Couples Referred to Consultancy Centers of Bandar Abbas

Eghbal Zarei PhD ●* , Tahereh Ahmadisarkhooni MSc*

(Received: 21/11/2010; Revised: 17/9/2012; Accepted: 24/1/2013)

Objective: The aim of this research is to determine the relationship between Spiritual Quotient parameters including
understanding, life origin, and spiritual life and marital satisfaction of couples in Bandar Abbas City.
Methods: It is descriptive correlational study. 150 couples referred to consultancy centers of Bandar Abbas City
were selected by accessible sampling method. We utilized Spiritual Quotient Questionnaire and Marriage Satisfaction
Questionnaire (ENRICH) which both have high reliability and validity levels. We calculated men, women and couples’
scores in the questionnaires.
Results: According to the findings; among all parameters of Spiritual Quotient, spiritual life had the strongest
correlation with spiritual quotient (r=0.282 and r=0.277 for men and women; P<0.01 for both). Meanwhile, there were
not any significant relationship between couples’ understanding and origin of life and their marital satisfaction.
Conclusion: Overall, we can conclude that training according to cultural conditions as well as promoting couples’
spiritual quotient can be utilized to improve the quality of marital life of couples.–More studies should be conducted for
further evaluation of the relationship between SQ and marital satisfaction. The results can be used for helping couples in
increasing their marital satisfaction.
Declaration of interest: None
Citation: Zarei E, Ahmadisarkhooni T. Relationships between spiritual quotient and marital satisfaction level of
men, women and couples referred to consultancy centers of Bandar Abbas. Iran J Psychiatry Behav Sci 2013;7(1):45-51.

Keywords: ● Consultancy ● Couples ● Marital Satisfaction ●Spiritual Quotient

Introduction and benefits in disorders & high stress daily
•
H uman being has been always life (1).
interested in conducting researches Sometimes marriage faces some difficulties
and investigations about various due to the lack of couples’ knowledge about
specifications and types of the concept of mental abilities, value systems and behavioral
intelligence. One aspect of intelligence is relations. When both husband and wife
specified under the title of “Spiritual conclude that they lack mutual factors, their
Quotient” (SQ) which is the focus of attention marriage connections would be weakened and
of psychologists who study on the field of finally destroyed (2). Gardner (1999) has
religion and spirituality. No organized and evaluated different concepts and content of
systematic study has been performed to SQ. He explained SQ as an aspect of
determine the specifications of different intelligence responsible for explaining secrets
aspects of SQ and their relationship with other of life and presenting final questions about
variables including marital satisfaction. SQ is life mysteries (3). Unlike Intelligence Quotient
beyond the physical relations of individuals which can also be considered for computers
with their surrounding environment. It may and Excitement Quotient which is applicable
enter higher dimensions of life enabling in high level mammals; SQ is only applicable
individuals to find hidden resources of love for human beings. Individuals use SQ to
improve their personal interests, preserving
Authors’ affiliation:*Department of Family Consultancy, values and achieving their goals. SQ enables
Hormozgan University,Km.9 Old road of Minab, Hormozgan
individuals in utilizing their abilities for
University, Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan, Iran.
•Corresponding author: ●*Eghbal Zarei, PhD, Assistant Professor overcoming difficulties. SQ is the foundation
and faculty member of Hormozgan University, Bandar Abbas,
of personal beliefs and has a significant role
Hormozgan, Iran.
Tel:[phone] in individuals’ reactions and forming their
Fax:[phone]
lives (4).
E-mail:[email protected]
45 Iran J Psychiatry Behav Sci, Volume 7, Number 1, Spring / Summer 2013 www.ijpbs.mazums.ac.ir
Spiritual Quotient and Marital Satisfaction
SQ is related to individuals’ lives and their but they are different regarding mental health
relations with life and the environment. SQ is (8). Another research conducted by Ghobari
a means of good understanding of deep Bonab et al (2007) revealed that SQ includes
spiritual questions and having internal attitude a type of compatibility and solving-problem
about different aspects of intelligence. SQ behavior. As a result it includes the highest
means good knowledge of spirituality as a levels of development of different
field or an innovative force of life. SQ means recognizing, behavioral, excitement and inter-
having complete and internal knowledge and personal scopes which may enable the
deep information about body, materials, individuals in coordination with surrounding
mentality and spirituality. SQ is like mental environment and finding an internal/external
and personal abilities. It is related to a person, integration (1).
inter-personal relations and also mentality. It Abedi and Sorkhi (2009) concluded that there
is complete knowledge about people is a significant inverse relationship between
themselves and their relationship with other SQ and depressed mind and also a significant
persons and all creatures. SQ would direct relationship between SQ and extrovert
developed by exercise. Different cultures personality factors and also being contentious.
explain it as love, servitude or worship. SQ is There is not a significant relationship between
related to excitement quotient; therefore as a SQ and reflection and being acceptable (9).
spiritual exercise it includes inter-personal Emmons (2000) studied on effects of SQ on
interactions. A way of increasing individuals’ personal health and observed that spirituality
knowledge about their internal spiritual life is is associated with lower diseases prevalence
paying more attention to the feelings and and longer life. In addition, spiritual people
kindness. SQ depends on personal would response to treatments better and go
characteristics and recognition of the with damages easier. Depression rate is lower
relationships among concepts, belief and among these people (5).
behavior. Most people are responsible for This research was conducted for further
their behaviors but not against their doubts evaluation of the relationship between SQ and
and concepts. Increasing individuals’ SQ marital satisfaction of couples who had
needs more education and training. When referred to consultancy centers of Bandar
people seek for meaning of different Abbas City. For this purpose, we tried to
questions like who am I? Why am I here? etc., specify the relationship between sub-criteria
we are trusting SQ (5). of SQ including spiritual life and
Amram (2005) believes that SQ includes understanding and their relationship with life
meaning and duties in life, holy feeling of origin and marital satisfaction. Regarding
life, balanced understanding of materials and previous researches, we can consider SQ as an
beliefs about the better world (6). important factor for increasing couples’
Mc Mullen (2003) believes that some values marital satisfaction level. Thus we conducted
including brevity, integration, witness and this study to determine the relationship
kindness are included in SQ. He also believes between SQ and marital satisfaction. Results
that there is a relationship between insight and of this study may help couples in endeavor for
SQ and in contrast, stress is against intuition. increasing their satisfaction of life and then
He introduces calm attention as one of the family life.
ways for increasing insight. Moole also
believes that stress is an increasing and end- Materials and methods
less effort against any delays in decision This is a descriptive correlation study.
making (7). Researcher did not perform any interventions
In a research conducted by Yaghoubi et al and only tried to explain any relationship
(2007) it was concluded that there is a between SQ and marital satisfaction.
significant relationship between SQ and
mental health. There were not significant Population, sample and sampling
differences between SQ of men and women Statistical society of this research comprised

www.ijpbs.mazums.ac.ir Iran J Psychiatry Behav Sci, Volume 7, Number 1, Spring / Summer 2013 46
Zarei E , Ahmadisarkhooni T
of couples referred to consultancy centers of questionnaire in 2009 and accordingly, the
Bandar Abbas City including consultancy final questionnaire was prepared with 29
center of Family Judicial Complex in questions. To evaluate the validity of the
Enghelab General Justice Office, Private questionnaire, we used factor analysis rather
Consultancy Centers, and Center of interfere than superficial content validity upon the
in family crisis and Divorce Reduction comments of experts. The correlation between
Center. Couples who were married for at least questions was more than 0.3. Regarding
for 2 years and have one or more children reliability of the test, alpha in primary step
were enrolled in the study. Eventually we was 0.87 and 0.89 in final step of reliability.
selected 150 couples through sampling For estimating validity of the questionnaire
method. we used both content and simultaneous
validity as well. Correlation coefficients of
Research tools both parameters (any relationship with life
SQ and ENRICH questionnaires were applied origin and spiritual life) were 0.416 and 0.583
for data gathering. in females and 0.638 and 0.387 in males
Enrich marital satisfaction questionnaire respectively. This shows the appropriate time
Olson (1989) developed this questionnaire validity of the spiritual quotient questionnaire.
which comprised of 47 questions and 12 Reliability of this research was evaluated and
criteria for evaluation of marital satisfaction (10). using Cronbach alpha. Cronbach alpha for the
Mirkheshti (1996) translated the questions to entire questionnaire, sub-criteria of spiritual
Persian language. After consulting with life, understanding and any relationship with
experts, he omitted the questions which were life origin were 0.94, 0.91 and 0.89
in contrast with Iranian culture. Eventually respectively. This shows the suitable
he formed a questionnaire with 47questions. reliability of the questionnaire (12).
Then he studied the questionnaire in a trial on
30 individuals. Some questions were Results
incomprehensible to the participants and were Results of this research are presented in two
modified. In the end, the reliability of the parts. Firstly, table 1 depicts descriptive
Persian questionnaire was approved by the results including mean and standard deviation
experts. Correlation coefficient of “Enrich of couples’ scores of marital satisfaction and
questionnaire” with familial satisfaction SQ. Furthermore table 2 depicts the results of
reported to be about 0.41 to 0.60 and with life statistical tests including Pearson correlation
satisfaction criteria to be about 0.32 to 0.41 coefficients.
which demonstrate its structural validity. Pearson simple correlation coefficient is used
Enrich questionnaire may detach satisfied for evaluation of relationship between marital
and-dissatisfied couples which is the rationale satisfaction level and couples’ spiritual
for validity of our study. Furthermore, quotient parameters. The data depicted in
Mirkheshti (1996) has studied on 60 persons table 2shows that there is a significant direct
and calculated the Cronbach alpha coefficient relationship between spiritual life parameters
to be 0.92 which is a high coefficient (11). and marital satisfaction (r=0.282; p<0.01 and
n=150). There is also a direct relationship
Spiritual quotient Questionnaire between understanding parameter and life
Abdollahzadeh along with Keshmiri and Arab origin and marital satisfaction but it wasn’t
Ahmadi developed the spiritual quotient statistically significant.

Table 1. Mean and standard deviation of scores of couples, females and males

Couples Women Men
Criteria index Mean Standard Mean Standard Mean Standard
deviation deviation deviation
Couples’ marital satisfaction 233.1 33.50 112.15 15.75 119.95 17.75
Couples’ spiritual quotient 226.77 25.32 113.3 12.50 113.47 12.82
Understanding & relation with life origin of couples 105.2 10.01 52.73 5.03 52.47 4.98
Spiritual life of couples 121.58 17.88 60.58 7.94 61 9.94

47 Iran J Psychiatry Behav Sci, Volume 7, Number 1, Spring / Summer 2013 www.ijpbs.mazums.ac.ir
Spiritual Quotient and Marital Satisfaction
Discussion
Table 2. Relationship between spiritual quotient &
The aims of previous studies were
couples’ marital satisfaction
recognizing the effects of SQ on marital
Understanding Spiritual
and any relation life satisfaction and their relationship. With the
with life origin same goal, the present study was conducted
Pearson correlation 0.123 ** 0.282
Couples’ coefficient and showed important results regarding this
marital
Significance level 0.133 0.01 field. According to the findings of this study,
satisfaction
Qty 150 150
there is a significant relationship between

*p<0.05 ** p<0.01
marital satisfaction and couples’ SQ. Couples

required SQ in their marital relationships to
According to the results in table 3, there was a
achieve marital satisfaction. The strongest
relationship between understanding
correlation was between men and women’s
parameters, life origin, spiritual quotient of
spiritual life and their marital satisfaction.
women and their marital satisfaction (r=0.025
Although there is not any direct relationship
and 0.122 respectively) and also a direct
between results of preceding researches and
relationship between two aforementioned
the current study, but since both SQ and
parameters and marital satisfaction but was
marital satisfaction are specified in preceding
not statistically significant.
studies, one can find them analogous and

notice some similarities between them.
Table 3. The relationship between spiritual quotient and
marital satisfaction in women Results of our study were comparable with

Understanding Spiritual findings of Mahanian Khameneh, Borjali and
& any relation life
Salimi Zadeh’s study (2006) as they reported
with life origin
Pearson correlation 0.025 0.122 a significant correlation between excitement
Women’s
coefficient
marital quotient and marital satisfaction. Therefore it
Significance level **0.765 *0.136
satisfaction
Qty 150 150 seems that various parameters including

*p<0.05 ** p<0.01 excitement quotient and excitement self-
conscious, social and self-skills have
Results of table 4 shows that there is a significant effects on couples’ marital
significant direct relationship between satisfaction. Excitement quotient and marital
spiritual quotient in men and their marital satisfaction have also significant effects on
(r=0.277; p<0.01 and n=150). The results also individuals’ job satisfaction (13).Furthermore;
show that there is a direct relationship results of Khodayari Fard, Shahabi and Akbari
between understanding parameters and life Zard Khaneh’s study (2007) demonstrated
origin, and men’s marital satisfaction level that there is a significant direct relationship
(r=0.143) but was not statistically significant. between individuals’ religious attitudes and
Although the relationship was not statistically their marital satisfaction. They also reported
significant, but it doesn’t mean that such that among the four sub-criteria, marital
variable could not estimate the marital compatibility and religious attitude had the
satisfaction. Generally, the relationship strongest relationship with couple’s
between SQ and marital satisfaction is more satisfaction (14). Results of our study were
significant in men, which means that the men also comparable with findings ofLotfi and
with higher SQ have higher marital Sayyar (2008) as they reported that there is a
satisfaction level. significant relationship between couples’ SQ
and mental health (15). Moreover, Booj
Table 4: The relationship between spiritual quotient and
Mehrani (2008) showed that there is a
marital satisfaction in men
relationship between individuals’ SQ and
Understanding Spiritual
& any relation life alcohol addiction, which is comparable with
with life origin
results of our study (16). As demonstrated in a
Pearson correlation *0.143 ** 0.277
Men’s coefficient research performed by Abedian Sorkhi
marriage
satisfaction Significance level 0.081 0.01 (2009), there is a significant direct
Qty 150 150
relationship between individuals’ SQ and
*p<0.05 ** p<0.01
www.ijpbs.mazums.ac.ir Iran J Psychiatry Behav Sci, Volume 7, Number 1, Spring / Summer 2013 48
Zarei E , Ahmadisarkhooni T
extrovert personal factors and conscience (9). of our study (24).
According to considerations of Mack Howk Mc Mullen (2003) believes that SQ is related
(2002) as reported by Nasel (2004), compared to asking more than replying. This means that
with non-religious education and realistic only those with a lot of questions about
knowledge, SQ has a close relationship with themselves and life and surrounding world
individuals’ attitude and satisfaction. SQ may could make desired relationship with their
develop all concepts individuals and assists in environment and thus with surrounding
making deep relations which would enrich persons (7).Therefore one can conclude that
people’s relations. Furthermore, spiritual similar to other aspects of intelligence, SQ
growth and moving toward blossoming are may also upgrade personal functions of
mostly related to individuals’ SQ (17). Yung’s individuals. Consequently, based on results of
research (2006) showed that age, beliefs, high previous and our studies, there is a significant
records and childhood spirituality are relationship between peoples’ SQ and their
fundamental and effective factors on marital satisfaction. Generally we found a
individuals’ SQ which is consistent with significant direct relationship between SQ and
present study (18). Also as reported in Zargar marital satisfaction in couples, women and
et al. study (2008), individuals with lower men. Although there are few domestic and
levels of religious attitudes are more prone to foreign researches in this field; and out study
addiction (19). Results of Sullivan’s study was almost a novel one, but such a
(2001) showed that persons with higher relationship was anticipated with regard to
religious attitude have higher marital theoretical basics of spirituality and SQ.
satisfaction compared to individuals with The relationship between individuals’ SQ and
lower religious attitude. This is in tandem their marital satisfaction is complex and its
with results of our study, because both SQ details have not completely been understood
and marital were considered in the study (20). yet. Therefore it is important to conduct
Hanler and Genchoz (2005) stated that there studies for better understanding of this
is significant relationship between religion complex relationship. Eventually we may
and familial conditions. Thus having religious conclude that for improving marital life
beliefs may increase couples’ marital quality of couples, men and women we can
satisfaction and do not increase couples’ upgrade training of SQ aspects with regard to
marital problems. Those findings are consistent cultural and religious conditions of our
with results of current study (21). Orathinkal society with more attention to sub-criteria of
and Vansteewegen (2006) compared couples spiritual life and. Performing further trial
who had married one time with the ones who researches to evaluate the effects of
had married more than one time and individuals’ SQ on increasing couples’
concluded that religious beliefs have positive marital satisfactions necessary to help couples
effects on couples’ marital satisfaction (22) to have higher marital satisfaction and life
.According to the studies of Shiota and quality and to live with calmness and
Levenson (2007), any similarities between confidence.
couples in different dimensions including
social-economic situation, academic and
educational conditions, age, nationality, Authors, Contributions
religion, body attractions well as intelligence ZE conceived and designed the study, helped
may increase couples marital satisfaction in interpretation and statistical analysis of the
which is in compliance with findings of our data, and contributed in drafting the
research (23).Flowers’s study (1998) showed manuscript. AST participated in collecting the
that religion is more important for men and data and drafting the manuscript, took part in
having equal rights is more important for conceiving and designing the study and also
women. These two aforementioned factors helped in interpretation of the results. Both
have significant effects on marital authors read and approved the final
satisfaction, which is concordant with results manuscript.
49 Iran J Psychiatry Behav Sci, Volume 7, Number 1, Spring / Summer 2013 www.ijpbs.mazums.ac.ir
Spiritual Quotient and Marital Satisfaction
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