Association of Character Strengths and Hope with Marital Satisfaction in Ethiopia
Shimelis Wondimua & Tamirie AndualembIntroduction: Studies have claimed that character strengths and hopefulness are crucial for better marital functioning. However, few studies have examined the role of character strength and hope in marital satisfaction. Objective: The present study aimed to investigate how character strengths and hope contribute to marital satisfaction among 386 participants. Methods: A correlational study design was employed to investigate this phenomenon. Self-report data were collected using a questionnaire. Hierarchical multiple regression was used to analyze the data. Results: Findings showed that all character strengths (i.e., sacrifice, generosity, fairness, and admiration) and hope were positively correlated with marital satisfaction. The present study also revealed that two character strengths (fairness and admiration) and hope positively contribute to marital satisfaction. Practitioners interested in marriage and marital relationships may benefit from this study. The positive correlation between character strengths and hope in this study is in line with previous research. Moreover, supporting previous studies, the present study also revealed that character strengths such as fairness, admiration, and hopefulness positively predict marital satisfaction. Conclusion: The study concludes that character strengths and hope positively influence marital satisfaction. Limitations and future directions were also discussed.