TTLA: Marital satisfaction among couples in Hanoi during the first 5 years of marriage

Author's name: Luu Thi Lich

Thesis title:Marital satisfaction among couples in Hanoi during the first five years of marriage.

Field of study of the thesis: Psychology

Major: Psychology Code: 62 31 04 01

Name of the postgraduate training unit: University of Social Sciences and Humanities - Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

1. Purpose and scope of the thesis

Research objectives of the thesisThis study examines the theoretical aspects and practical observations of marital satisfaction among couples in Hanoi during their first five years of marriage; subsequently, it proposes socio-psychological measures to help couples enhance their marital satisfaction.

The subject of this thesis is:This thesis studies the level of marital satisfaction and some factors influencing marital satisfaction among couples in Hanoi during their first five years of marriage.

2. Research methods used

This thesis employs a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, including: document research, questionnaire surveys, in-depth interviews, case studies, and data processing using mathematical statistics. The research sample consists of 209 married couples who have been living together for the first five years in Hanoi.

3. Main results and conclusions

3.1. Main results

The data shows that the majority of couples participating in this study (78.5%) have a high level of satisfaction with their married life. Only about 6.5% of the couples participating in this study were dissatisfied with their married life.

Husbands are more satisfied with their lives than wives. People living in urban areas are more satisfied with their marriages than those living in rural areas. People with college/university degrees or higher have higher levels of marital satisfaction than those with high school diplomas or lower. People without children are more satisfied with their marriages than those with children. People who are in their first year of marriage are more satisfied than those who have been married for one to five years.

The study identified five factors influencing marital satisfaction among couples: the spousal relationship, communication with one's partner, compatibility, satisfaction with how one interacts with their partner, and the level of fulfillment of marital expectations. All five factors showed a relatively strong positive correlation with marital satisfaction. The factor with the greatest influence on marital satisfaction was the spousal relationship, while communication with one's partner had the least influence.

This thesis analyzes several typical married couples, showing that couples living in the same marriage have different assessments, experiences, and feelings about married life, even when both spouses generally have the same level of satisfaction with their marriage.

3.2. Conclusion

- Based on the chosen approach of Positive Psychology, the thesis has developed the concept"Marital satisfaction is a person's positive perception of their marriage, based on their feelings, perspectives, and expectations about married life.".

- The thesis described the current state of marital satisfaction and analyzed several factors influencing marital satisfaction among couples. The thesis also highlighted the differences in marital satisfaction levels among different groups of couples.

- The thesis analyzed several typical married couples, showing that the wife and husband have different perceptions of satisfaction and happiness within the same marriage.

SUMMARY OF DOCTORAL THESIS

The author's name: Lưu Thị Lịch

Thesis title:Marital satisfactionin the first 5 years of marriagecouplesin Hanoi.

Scientific branch of the thesis:

Major: Psychology Code: 62 31 04 01

The name of postgraduate training institution: University of Social sciences and Humanities, Hanoi National University

1. Purpose and subject

1.1. Thesispurpose:to study theoretical and practical aspects of marital satisfaction in the first five years of marriage couple, based on psychological and social support to enhance the marital satisfaction for marriage couples.

1.2. Thesisteacher:to examine the marital satisfaction level and factors affecting the marital satisfaction of marriage couples in the first 5 years in Hanoi.

2.Researchmethod

The thesis uses a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods including: Document research, questionnaire, In-depth interview, data processing using mathematical statistics. The research sample is 209 couples living together during the first 5 years of marriage in Hanoi.

3.Major resultsandtablets

3.1.Major results

The statistics show that the majority of couples engaged in this research (78.5%) have high satisfaction level with married life. Only about 6.5% of couples engaging in this research are not satisfied with their married life.

The husbands tend to be more satisfied with their marriage than the wives. Those who live in the city's inlying areas are happier with their married life than those who live in the suburbs. Those who graduated from colleges/universities or achieved higher academic degrees are more satisfied with their married life than those who graduated from high school or lower level academic institutions. Those who have not had children are more satisfied with married life than couples with children. Couples who are in the first year of their marriage are happier than those who have been married for 1 to 5 years.

The research evaluates 5 factors that directly affect the satisfaction level in married life of the couples, including: the intimate relationship between the husband and the wife, the communication they have with their life friend, the harmony level, the satisfaction level with the behaviors of the other half, and how much their spouses satisfies their expectations in the married life. All 5 factors above have a positive correlation with their satisfaction with married life in a high level. The factor that most affects the satisfaction of couples with their married life is the relationship between the husband and the wife, and the factor that least affects that satisfaction level is the communication behaviors with their spouse.

The thesis analyzed some typical couples, showing that the two people in the same marriage have different evaluations, experiences and feelings about their married life, even in the case that they both have the same satisfaction level with their married life.

 3.2. Conclusion

- On the basis of choosing the Positive Psychology approach, the thesis has built the definition“marital satisfaction is the positive feelings of one being about their married life based on their emotions, opinions and expectations about the married life”

- The thesis has described the reality of the satisfaction level with married life and analyzed some factors affecting the satisfaction of some couples with their married life. The thesis also points out the differences in the satisfaction level with married life among different groups of married couples.

-The thesis has analyzed some typical married couples, which shows that between the wife and the husband, the satisfaction level, and the happiness they experience are different in the same marriage.