Marital satisfaction of Iranian female students in Malaysia: a qualitative study

Abstract

Although studies show international married students when faced with a new context, experience new marital concerns, but the study is limited to exploring marital satisfaction factors for various populations. In the past decade, there has been an increasing rate of Iranian married students in Malaysia, but little is known about the marital life of this group. The purpose of the study is to explore factors which contribute to marital satisfaction of Iranian females students in Malaysia. By criterion purposive and snowballing sampling, 10 Iranian female students who were temporary residents at University Technology Malaysia (UTM) were selected. Data were collected by semi- structure interview. By utilizing a qualitative approach (Inductive thematic analysis) four themes were emerged from the data .These themes orderly revealed that financial issues, intimacy, commitment and children education were significant factors that influence the level of marital satisfaction for Iranian female students in Malaysia. Results of this study can help Malaysian universities and counselling services in these universities, propose programs and workshops to international married students in order to reduce their married concerns of this group.Regarding the most common theme (financial issues), UTM should offers some financial facilities for this group.