Ebrahim Jahandar, Maryam Fatehizade, Leila Mirahmadi, Somayeh Jaberi,
Volume 25, Issue 97 (5-2026)
Abstract
Aim: The present study aimed to explore and identify marital virtues among married men. Method: A qualitative approach using interpretative phenomenological methodology was employed to achieve the research goal. The study participants were married men and women residing in the Isfahan, whose length of marriage ranged from 5 to 20 years in 2024. Participants were selected through purposive sampling from individuals accessible to the researcher, resulting in a sample of 20 participants (10 men and 10 women). Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using Colaizzi’s method. Finding: The findings were ultimately organized into 47 subcategories, 8 main categories, and 2 themes. The extracted main categories included caregiving, relational wisdom, steadfast loyalty and commitment, respect and reverence, intelligent adjustment, gentleness and emotional stability, marital prudence, and spirituality-based tranquility. Conclusion: The results indicate the existence of two broad categories of marital virtues among married men. Inner-regulatory virtues pertain to intrapersonal processes that foster psychological and moral readiness for healthy engagement with the challenges of married life. In contrast, relationship-responsive virtues emerge within direct interaction with one’s spouse and relate to how individuals respond to the needs, expectations, and demands of the marital relationship. The formation of a healthy and high-quality marital relationship requires the simultaneous presence and interaction of these two moral dimensions. It is therefore suggested that enhancing marital virtues in men may provide a foundation for improving the quality of marital relationships among married individuals.
