The relationship between communication and high levels of marital satisfaction : a systematic review

Abstract

Communication in the marital relationship and its particular predictive relationship to marital quality and satisfaction has been widely researched (Karney & Bradbury, 1995). However despite it being widely researched, the researcher was unable to find a systematic review summarizing these findings. The aim of the current study was therefore to summarize the available research within the parameters of the indicated inclusion criteria on aspects of communication which contribute to high levels of marital satisfaction. A rapid systematic review was conducted by two researchers over the course of a four week period. The search was limited to articles which were published between 2005 and 2015, specifically articles which reported on qualitative and quantitative empirical data to which the NWU full text was available. Initial results revealed 103 articles, following which 60 of these were excluded based on initial screening by the researchers. Of these 43 remaining studies which abstracts’ were screened, 23 more were excluded based on their not meeting the inclusion criteria. Thereafter 20 full text articles were screened by utilizing the NICE guidelines. A further 5 were subsequently excluded and 15 articles were finally included in the present study. The quality of included articles was appraised by two researchers by utilizing the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines. The results of the quality appraisal were then compared using a Kappa K rating, and only articles for which a Kappa K rating of .7 was included. The results of the current study highlighted the important role of communication activities, positive interactions in general and conflict interactions, communication skills and affect, gender and socioeconomic factors on promoting high levels of marital satisfaction. In conclusion this study underlined the importance of positive interactions on high levels of marital satisfaction. The findings of this rapid review support and correlate with theories and existing literature, namely that communication plays and integral part in married couples’ levels of marital satisfaction. The findings also highlighted that communication plays a significant and intricate role in marital satisfaction, both on a direct and indirect manner. Results emphasize the importance of how married couples communicate rather what they say to be particularly important in this regard. The results of this study possibly implicate the need for future research on aspects of communication which relate to high levels of marital satisfaction. It may further have implications for psychotherapists or those involved in marital therapy to place more emphasis on promoting effective communication within relationships during marital therapy