The structure of attraction in the family life cycle, emphasizing the concept of love among married women

Abstract

Family, in its life cycle, is associated with changing roles, especially for couples. Compatibility with these changes has a significant effect on the attractive relationships between couples. The present paper aimed to investigate the gravity structure (love-based relationships) in the family life cycle and the effect of contextual variables (such as employment, education level, social capital of the family, and socioeconomic status) on it. Data collecting tool was a Researcher-made questionnaire on love. The statistical population of this study were estimated to be 13161 married women in Gonabad according to the 1995 census. The cluster sampling method was used and the participants were 510 individuals. The results showed the variety of love quality at different stages of family life cycle. In other words, the mean of love quality reduces in the first five steps of the family life cycle by a steady downward trend from 5.59 to 4.20, and then in the final stage of the "empty nest" it increases to 4.38. It also varied only with the arrival of family social capital as contextual variable. Therefore, it can be said that the arising problems from the birth and the growth of children is accompanied by weakening couples' romance. Although social capital can partly mitigates this negative relationship.