Abstract

MOSMANN, Clarisse  and  FALCKE, Denise. Marital conflicts: causes and frequency. Rev. SPAGESP [online]. 2011, vol.12, n.2, pp. 5-16. ISSN 1677-2970.

Satisfaction and stability of conjugal unions are not directly associated with the absence of conflict, but with the way the spouses establish their strategies to solve them. Given the dimension of marital conflict as inherent in marital relations, this study aimed at identifying the reasons for marital conflict and the frequency that they occur in marital relations. A quantitative study with descriptive design was conducted among 149 middle-class couples who lived in the Capital and in the countryside of Rio Grande do Sul. The instruments used were a survey of socio-demographic data and Marital Conflict Scale. The results indicated that the most frequent causes of marital conflicts are: children, followed by the time the couple spend together, money, house chores and, finally, sex and legal issues. There was a preponderancy of mild discussions as alternative to solve the conflicts, although verbal abuse situations were reported in 75.8% of couples. Moreover, episodes of physical violence or thrown objects happened in 7.3% of couples. Therefore, setting specific focuses for intervention, such as helping couples to develop strategies to solve conflicts, might be helpful to increase quality levels in marital relationships.

Keywords : Marriage; Marital relationship; Marital conflict.

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