Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Health-related Quality of Life, Marital Satisfaction, and Social Support in Medical Staff in Iran

  • Published:
Applied Research in Quality of Life Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Quality of life is a subjective and multidimensional concept that includes all aspects of an individual’s life. Many investigations indicate that marital satisfaction is an important determinant of quality of life and social support affects both marital satisfaction and quality of life. Since medical staff face job stressors in their everyday life, in the present cross-sectional study, the relationships between quality of life, marital satisfaction, and social support in medical staff in Tehran were analyzed. Data collection was performed in 653 medical staff using socio-demographic questions, the SF-36 questionnaire, the ENRICH Marital Satisfaction Inventory, and the Social Support Questionnaire. The results revealed that men reported significantly higher quality of life and marital satisfaction than women, but there was no gender difference in social support. The quality of life and marital satisfaction domains were found to be differentially correlated among male and female participants. All domains of marital satisfaction were found to be significantly associated with the “vitality” and “mental health” domains among females and “physical functioning” domain in the male. Also, social support was associated with almost all quality of life domains in both sexes. The multiple regression analyses indicated that all the study variables combined with socio-demographic factors can explain between 12 % and 28 % of the variance in quality of life domains. Therefore, focusing on these factors could be an effective approach to improve quality of life in medical staff as a group with a stressful job.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Achat, H., Kawachi, I., Levine, S., Berkey, C., Coakley, E., & Colditz, G. (1998). Social networks, stress and health-related quality of life. Quality of Life Research, 7(8), 735–750.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Adeb-Saeedi, J. (2002). Stress amongst emergency nurses. Australian Emergency Nursing Journal, 5(2), 19–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, S. A., Russell, C. S., & Schumm, W. R. (1983). Perceived marital quality and family life-cycle categories: a further analysis. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 45(1), 127–139.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ardekani, Z., Kakooei, H., Ayattollahi, S., Choobineh, A., & Seraji, G. (2008). Prevalence of mental disorders among shift work hospital nurses in Shiraz, Iran. Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences, 11(12), 1605–1609.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Azadarmaki, T. (2005). Families in Iran: The contemporary situation. In B. N. Adams & J. Trost (Eds.), Handbook of world families (pp. 467–485). Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publication.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Barbour, A. (2003). Social support and depression. In the15th International Congress of the International Association of Group Psychotherapy, Istanbul, Turkey.

  • Beach, S. R. H., Arias, L., & O’Leary, K. D. (1986). The relationship of marital satisfaction and social support to depressive symptomatology. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 8(4), 305–316.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beach, S. R. H., Katz, J., Kim, S., & Brody, G. H. (2003). Prospective effects of marital satisfaction on depressive symptoms in established marriages: A dyadic model. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 20(3), 355–371.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beck, A. T. (1976). Cognitive therapy and the emotional disorders. New York: New American Library.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bookwala, J. (2005). The role of marital quality in physical health during the mature years. Journal of Aging and Health, 17(1), 85–104.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bookwala, J. (2011). Marital quality as a moderator of the effects of poor vision. Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 66, 605–616.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burman, B., & Margolin, G. (1992). Analysis of the association between marital relationships and health problems: an interactional perspective. Psychological Bulletin, 112(1), 39–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cherepanov, D., Palta, M., Fryback, D. G., & Robert, S. A. (2010). Gender differences in health-related quality-of-life are partly explained by sociodemographic and socioeconomic variation between adult men and women in the US: evidence from four US nationally representative data sets. Quality of Life Research, 19(8), 1115–1124.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Corney, R. (2005). The impact of breast cancer on couple satisfaction andquality of life: a review of the literature. London, England: One Plus One Marriage and Partnership Research; 2005. Available at: www.oneplusone.org.uk. Accessed June 12, 2010.

  • Cory, C. W. (2007). The relationship between professional burnout and marital satisfaction. Minnesota: Capella University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Daalen, G., Sanders, K., & Willemsen, T. M. (2005). Sources of social support as predictors of health, psychological well-being and life satisfaction among Dutch male and female dual-earners. Women & Health, 41(2), 43–62.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davis, C., & Cowles, M. (1991). Body image and exercise: a study of relationships and comparisons between physically active men and women. Sex Roles, 25(1–2), 33–44.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Demaray, M. K., & Malecki, C. K. (2002). Critical levels of perceived social support associated with student adjustment. School Psychology Quarterly, 17(3), 213–241.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ditzen, B., Schmidt, S., Strauss, B., Nater, U. M., Ehlert, U., & Heinrichs, M. (2008). Adult attachment and social support interact to reduce psychological but not cortisol responses to stress. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 64(5), 479–486.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Edalati, A., & Redzuan, M. R. (2010). Perception of women towards family values and their marital satisfaction. The Journal of American Science, 6(4), 132–137.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fowers, B. J. (1991). His and her marriage: a multivariate study of gender and marital satisfaction. Sex Roles, 24(3–4), 209–221.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fowers, B. J., & Olson, D. H. (1989). ENRICH marital inventory: a discriminant validity and cross-validation assessment. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 15(1), 65–79.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freudiger, P. (1983). Life satisfaction among Three categories of married women. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 45(1), 213–219.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Glenn, N. D. (1998). The course of marital success and failure in five American 10-year marriage cohorts. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 60(3), 569–576.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grant, M., Padilla, G., Ferrell, B., & Rhiner, M. (1990). Assessment of quality of life with a single instrument. Seminars in Oncology Nursing, 6, 260–270.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hahlweg, K., & Richter, D. (2010). Prevention of marital instability and distress. Results of an 11-year longitudinal follow-up study. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 48(5), 377–383.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hale, C. J., Hannum, J. W., & Espelage, D. L. (2005). Social support and physical health: the importance of belonging. Journal of American College Health, 53(6), 276–284.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hamaideh, S. (2012). Occupational stress, social support, and quality of life among Jordanian mental health nurses. Issues In Mental Health Nursing [Issues Ment Health Nurs] 2012 Jan, 33(1), 15–23.

  • Helgeson, V. S. (2003). Social support and quality of life. Quality of Life Research, 12(1), 25–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hjermstad, M. J., Fayers, P. M., Bjordal, K., & Kaasa, S. (1998). Health-related quality of life in the general Norwegian population assessed by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality-of-Life Questionnaire: the QLQ=C30 (+ 3). Journal of Clinical Oncology, 16(3), 1188–1196.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holt-Lunstad, J., Birmingham, W., & Jones, B. Q. (2008). Is there something unique about marriage? The relative impact of marital status, relationship quality, and network social support on ambulatory blood pressure and mental health. Annals of Behavior Medicine, 35(2), 239–244.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jose, O., & Alfons, V. (2007). Do demographics affect marital satisfaction? Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 33(1), 73–85.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karnell, L. H., Christensen, A. J., Rosenthal, E. L., Magnuson, J. S., & Funk, G. F. (2007). Influence of social support on health-related quality of life outcomes in head and neck cancer. Head & Neck, 29(2), 143–146.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karney, B. R. (2001). Depressive symptoms and marital satisfaction in the early years of marriage: Narrowing the gap between theory and research. In: St. R. H., Beach (Ed.) Marital and family processes in depression: A scientific foundation for clinical practice.

  • Le Poire, B. A. (2005). Family communication: Nurturing and control in a changing world. California: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, T. L., & Fung, H. H. (2011). The dynamic goal theory of marital satisfaction. Review of General Psychology, 15(3), 246–254.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meijer, A. M., & Van den Wittenboer, G. L. (2007). Contribution of infants’ sleep and crying to marital relationship of first-time parent couples in the 1st year after childbirth. Journal of Family Psychology, 21(1), 49–57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meltzer, A. L., & McNulty, J. K. (2010). Body image and marital satisfaction: evidence for the mediating role of sexual frequency and sexual satisfaction. Journal of Family Psychology, 24(2), 156–164.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Monga, M., Alexandrescu, B., Katz, S. E., Stein, M., & Ganiats, T. (2004). Impact of infertility on quality of life, marital adjustment, and sexual function. Urology, 63(1), 126–130.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Montazeri, A., Goshtasebi, A., Vahdaninia, M., & Gande, B. (2005). The short form health survey (SF-36): translation and validation study of the Iranian version. Quality of Life Research, 14(3), 875–882.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mosadeghrad, A. M., Ferlie, E., & Rosenberg, D. (2011). A study of relationship between job stress, quality of working life and turnover intention among hospital employees. Health Services Management Research, 24(4), 170–181.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nasseh, M., Ghazinour, M., Joghataei, M., Nojomi, M., & Richter, J. (2011). A Persian version of the Social Support Questionnaire (SSQ). Social Welfare Quarterly, 11(41), 251–266.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nedjat, S., Holakouie Naieni, K., Mohammad, K., Majdzadeh, R., & Montazeri, A. (2011). Quality of life among an Iranian general population sample using the World Health Organization’s quality of life instrument (WHOQOL-BREF). InternationalJournal of Public Health, 56(1), 55–61.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ng, K., Teik-Cheok, L. J., Clinton, G., & Cheong, W. (2009). Gender differences in marital and life satisfaction among Chinese Malaysians. Sex Roles, 60(1–2), 33–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Olson, D., Fournier, D., & Druckman, J. (1983). PREPARE/ENRICH Counselor’s Manual. Minneapolis: PREPARE/ENRICH. Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Orth-Gomer, K., Rosengren, A., & Wilhelmsen, L. (1993). Lack of social support and incidence of coronary heart disease in middle-aged Swedish men. Psychosomatic Medicine, 55, 37–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Proulx, C. M., Helms, H. M., & Buehler, C. (2007). Marital quality and personal well-being: a meta-analysis. Journal of Marriage and Family, 69(3), 576–593.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pujols, Y., Meston, C. M., & Seal, B. N. (2010). The association between sexual satisfaction and body image in women. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 7(2pt2), 905–916.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rafatjah, M. (2011). Changing gender stereotypes in Iran. International Journal of Women’s Research, 1(1), 61–75.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rahimi, A., Ahmadi, F., & Akhond, M. (2004). An investigation of amount and factors affecting nurses’ job stress in some hospitals in Tehran. HAYAT, 10(3), 13–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rasooli, M. (2001). Investigation of relationship between career stress with marital satisfaction and mental health in police officers. Tehran: Tehran University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richter, J., Brandstrom, S., Emami, H., & Ghazinour, M. (2007). An Iranian (Farsi) version of the Temperament and Character Inventory: a cross-cultural comparison. Psychological Reports, 100(3 Pt 2), 1218–1228.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, N. A., & Levenson, R. W. (2001). The remains of the workday: impact of job stress and exhaustion on marital interaction in police couples. Journal of Marriage and Family, 63(4), 1052–1067.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarason, I. G., Levine, H. M., Basham, R. B., & Sarason, B. R. (1983). Assessing social support: The Social Support Questionnaire. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 44(1), 127.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmitt, M., & Kliegel, M. (2006). The influence of marital support on marital satisfaction: are there age and gender differences? In H. W. Wahl et al. (Eds.), The many faces of health, competence and well-being in old age (pp. 81–92). Netherlands: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Schwarzer, R., & Leppin, A. (1992). Possible impact of social ties and support on morbidity and mortality. In H. O. F. Veiel & U. Brumann (Eds.), The meaning and measurement of social support (pp. 65–83). Washington: Hemisphere.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shapiro, A. F., Gottman, J. M., & Carrere, S. (2000). The baby and the marriage: identifying factors that buffer against decline in marital satisfaction after the first baby arrives. Journal of Family Psychology, 14(1), 59–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shek, D. T. L. (1995). Gender differences in marital quality and well-being in Chinese married adults. Sex Roles, 32(11–12).

    Google Scholar 

  • Simon, R. W., & Nath, L. E. (2004). Gender and emotion in the United States: do men and women differ in self–reports of feelings and expressive behavior? The American Journal of Sociology, 109(5), 1137–1176.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, S. M., Green, N. M., Smith, D. B., & Ward, D. B. (2008). Marital satisfaction and marital discord as risk markers for intimate partner violence: a meta-analytic review. Journal of Family Violence, 23(3), 149–160.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Soleimanian, A. (1994). Survey effect of illogical thinking (cognitive theory) in marital satisfaction. Tehran: Tarbiat Moalem University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Su, J. A., Weng, H. H., Tsang, H. Y., & Wu, J. L. (2009). Mental health and quality of life among doctors, nurses and other hospital staff. Stress and Health, 25(5), 423–430.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thoits, P. A. (1991). Gender differences in coping with emotional distress. In E. John (Ed.), The social context of coping (pp. 107–138). New York: Plenum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trief, P. M., Wade, M. J., Britton, K. D., & Weinstock, R. S. (2002). A prospective analysis of marital relationship factors and quality of life in diabetes. Diabetes Care, 25(7), 1154–1158.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vaillant, C. O., & Vaillant, G. E. (1993). Is the U-Curve of marital satisfaction an illusion? A 40-Year Study of Marriage. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 55(1), 230–239.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walker, A., Lee, M. P., & Bubolz, M. (1990). The effects of family resources and demands on quality of life: a rural-urban comparison of women in middle years. In M. H. Lee & S. M. Josef (Eds.), Quality of life studies in marketing and management (pp. 397–411). Blacksburg: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Laningham, J., Johnson, D. R., & Amato, P. R. (2001). Marital happiness, marital duration, and the U-shaped curve: evidence from a five-wave panel study. Social Forces, 79(4), 313–341.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ware, J. E., & Sherbourne, C. D. (1992). The MOS 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36): conceptual framework and item selection. Medical care, 30(6), 473–483.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Whisman, M. A., & Uebelacker, L. A. (2004). Psychopathology and marital satisfaction: the importance of evaluating both partners. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 72(5), 830–838.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • WHOQOL Study Protocol: The development of the World Health Organization Quality of Life assessment instrument (1993). Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization.

  • Wickrama, K. A. S., Lorenz, F. O., Conger, R. D., Elder, J., & Gelen, H. (1997). Marital quality and physical illness: a latent growth curve analysis. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 59, 143–155.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu, S. Y., Li, H. Y., Wang, X. R., Yang, S. J., & Qiu, H. (2011). A comparison of the effect of work stress on burnout and quality of life between female nurses and female doctors. Archives of Environmental & Occupational Health, 66(4), 193–200.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yeo, J. H. (2004). Correlational study on management of menopause, marital satisfaction, and quality of life in middle-aged women. Taehan Kanho Hakhoe Chi, 34(2), 261–269.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou, E. S., Kim, Y., Rasheed, M., Benedict, C., Bustillo, N. E., Soloway, M., et al. (2011). Marital satisfaction of advanced prostate cancer survivors and their spousal caregivers: the dyadic effects of physical and mental health. Psycho-Oncology, 20(12), 1353–1357.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Social Work, Umeå University, 901 87, Umeå, Sweden

    A. Rostami, M. Ghazinour & L. Nygren

  2. Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran

    M. Nojumi

  3. Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Oslo, Norway

    J. Richter

Authors
  1. A. Rostami
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Ghazinour
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. L. Nygren
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M. Nojumi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. J. Richter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Rostami.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rostami, A., Ghazinour, M., Nygren, L. et al. Health-related Quality of Life, Marital Satisfaction, and Social Support in Medical Staff in Iran. Applied Research Quality Life 8, 385–402 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-012-9190-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-012-9190-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation