Investigating the Impact of Digital Technologies on Marital Intimacy with Emphasis on Sternberg's Triangular Theory of Love
Keywords:
Digital technologies, marital love, intimacy, commitment, passion, Triangular Theory of Love, relationship psychologyAbstract
Objective: This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of a structured intervention based on Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love on marital intimacy in the context of digital technology usage.
Methodology: The study utilized a randomized controlled trial with a pretest-posttest-follow-up design. A total of 30 married women from Tehran were randomly assigned to an experimental group and a control group (15 participants each). The experimental group participated in ten 90-minute sessions of psychological training. Marital intimacy was measured using a standardized scale. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc test in SPSS-27.
Findings: The results indicated a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in marital intimacy scores (p<0.001). The experimental group's mean scores significantly increased from pretest to posttest and remained stable at follow-up. Bonferroni test confirmed significant differences between phases in the experimental group.
Conclusion: The intervention based on Sternberg's theory significantly enhanced and maintained marital intimacy over time. These findings suggest that structured educational programs focusing on digital and emotional communication skills can improve marital quality in the digital age.
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