Correlation Study Between Sexual Health Awareness, Marital Adjustment

and Emotional Intimacy among Married Individuals

Proposal Submission
To
Modern College of Arts, Science & Commerce, Pune for the Degree of M.A.
Psychology

By
Gauri Phadanavis

Under the supervision of

Dr. Shradha Sakatkar

Department of Psychology
Modern College of Arts, Science & Commerce, Pune

Through
Department of Psychology
Modern College of Arts, Science & Commerce, Pune

Gauri Phadanavis Dr. Shradha Sakatkar

Candidate (Supervisor)
Research Proposal

Correlation Study between Sexual health awareness, marital Adjustment and Emotional

Intimacy among married Individuals

I. Introduction

Marriage is a dynamic relationship that evolves over time, requiring continual adjustment,

emotional intimacy, and effective communication to thrive. Sexual health awareness, an

often-overlooked component, plays a critical role in fostering physical and emotional

connections between partners. Marital adjustment, which encompasses the ability to adapt to

changing roles, expectations, and challenges, is intricately linked to the emotional bond

shared by spouses. Emotional intimacy, the cornerstone of a healthy relationship, involves

mutual trust, understanding, and shared vulnerability.

Despite the interconnectedness of these factors, there is limited research exploring how

sexual health awareness influences marital adjustment and emotional intimacy. This research

aims to study the correlations between these three variables, shedding light on the intricate

dynamics that contribute to marital satisfaction and relationship stability among married

couples.

Sexual Health Awareness –

 WHO has been working in the area of sexual health since at least 1974, when the

deliberations of an expert committee resulted in the publication of a technical report

entitled “Education and treatment in human sexuality” (WHO, 1975).

 The World Health Organization (WHO), 2002, defined Sexual health as a state of

well-being that's not just the absence of disease, dysfunction, or infirmity. It's about

respect, safety, and freedom from discrimination and violence.

  According to SIECUS (2005), Sexual health encompasses sexual development and

reproductive health, as well as such characteristics as the ability to develop and

maintain meaningful interpersonal relationships, appreciate one’s own body, interact

with both genders in respectful ways, and express affection, love and intimacy in

ways consistent with one’s own values.

Marriage Adjustment –

 Sinha and Mukerjee (1990) defines marital adjustment as, “the state in which there is

an overall feeling between husband and wife, of happiness and satisfaction with their

marriage and with each other.

 As Lasswell (1982) points out, “understanding the individual trait of the spouse is an

ongoing process in marriage; because even if two people know each other before or at

the time of marriage, there is a possibility that people change during the life cycle.

 Locke and Wallace (1959) defines marital adjustment as: “accommodation of

husband and wife to each other at a given time” Marital adjustment is a process, the

outcome of which is determined by the degree of: a) troublesome marital differences,

b) interpersonal tensions and personal anxiety, c) marital satisfaction d) dyadic

cohesion, e) consensus on matters of importance to marital functioning.

Emotional Intimacy –

 Dr. David Wells (2022) defines emotional intimacy as a progression through levels of

sharing, starting with safe communication, then sharing opinions, beliefs, personal

experiences, and finally, deepest feelings and needs.

  According to Dr. Messina & associates (2023), Emotional Intimacy is a close,

emotional bond characterized by mutual understanding, trust, vulnerability, and

communication. It is often described as the feeling of being “In Sync” with someone

else.

 According to Perlman and Fehr (1986), intimacy is defined as including self-

disclosure, physical closeness, affection, trust, and warmth.

 R. A. Lewis (1978) stated that emotional intimacy is “defined in behavioral terms as

mutual self-disclosure and other kinds of verbal sharing, as declarations of liking and

loving the other, and as demonstrations of affection.”

II. Statement of Problem

To Study the relationship between Sexual health awareness, marital adjustment, and

Emotional Intimacy among married individuals.

III. Objectives

1. To assess Sexual Health Awareness, Marital Adjustment, and Emotional Intimacy

among Married Individuals.

2. To assess the relationship between Sexual Health awareness and Marital adjustment

among married individuals.

3. To assess the relationship between Marital Adjustment and Emotional Intimacy

among married individuals.

 4. To assess the relationship between Sexual health awareness and Emotional Intimacy

among married individuals.

IV. Significance and Rationale

Rationale:

Marital relationships are complex and multifaceted, requiring ongoing effort and adjustment

to maintain harmony and satisfaction. Among the factors that significantly influence marital

well-being, sexual health awareness, marital adjustment, and emotional intimacy are

particularly critical. Despite the evident interconnectedness of these variables, there is limited

empirical research exploring their correlations within the context of married individuals aged

30–50 years, a demographic often navigating career pressures, parenting responsibilities, and

evolving relationship dynamics.

Sexual health awareness, marital adjustment, and emotional intimacy are vital components of

marital satisfaction, yet their interconnectedness remains underexplored. Sexual health

awareness fosters trust and open communication, while marital adjustment enables couples to

navigate changes and resolve conflicts. Emotional intimacy, built on deep connection and

vulnerability, is a key predictor of relationship quality. This study aims to examine the

interplay of these factors in married individuals aged 30–50 years, offering insights into their

collective impact on marital well-being. The findings could inform strategies to enhance

relationship quality and promote healthier marriages.

Significance:

This research study delves into the interconnectedness between sexual health awareness,

marital adjustment, and emotional intimacy, three critical factors in fostering marital

satisfaction and relationship stability. Understanding these relationships is particularly

significant for individuals aged 30–50 years, a demographic often facing complex challenges
such as balancing career demands, parenting responsibilities, and evolving relationship

dynamics.

V. Review of Literature

1. The study "The associations among satisfaction with the division of housework,

partner's perceived attractiveness, emotional intimacy, and sexual satisfaction in a

sample of Norwegian middle-class men" examines how gender roles and perceptions

within marital contexts influence sexual satisfaction. Based on a sample of 220

married or cohabiting Norwegian men, the study found that satisfaction with the

division of housework correlates directly with sexual satisfaction, mediated by

emotional intimacy. Surprisingly, partner attractiveness did not significantly mediate

this relationship.

Key insights include the significant role emotional intimacy plays in bridging

household dynamics and sexual satisfaction, revealing that men who feel emotionally

close to their partners also report greater sexual fulfilment. The findings reflect a shift

in male gender roles influenced by egalitarian norms, suggesting that men, like

women, derive sexual satisfaction from relational factors such as fairness in

household duties and emotional closeness.

2. The study titled "Marital strain and emotional intimacy in midlife couples: The

moderating role of empathy" by Ella Carasso and Dikla Segel-Karpas investigates

the relationship between marital strain and emotional intimacy among midlife

couples, emphasizing the role of empathy as a moderating factor. The researchers

aimed to explore how emotional intimacy, a critical component of marital quality, is

 affected by the strain experienced by partners and how empathy can mitigate these

negative effects.

The findings reveal significant negative associations between marital strain and

emotional intimacy for both men and women. Notably, men's empathy was found to

moderate the relationship between women's strain and their emotional intimacy,

suggesting that empathetic responses from husbands can alleviate the detrimental

impact of stress on their wives' emotional closeness. Conversely, women's empathy

did not show a similar moderating effect for men's strain. This highlights the

importance of assessing both partners' experiences of strain to understand marital

dynamics fully.

3. The paper "Predicting Marital Adjustment from Young Adults’ Initial Levels and

Changes in Emotional Intimacy over Time: A 25-Year Longitudinal Study" explores

how emotional intimacy during young adulthood predicts marital adjustment later in

life. The study, spanning 25 years and five data collection points, examined 144

participants. It found that higher initial emotional intimacy and an increase in

intimacy during young adulthood positively correlated with greater marital adjustment

in later years. Interestingly, gender did not moderate these relationships, though

women initially reported higher levels of intimacy.

The research highlights that intimacy develops over time, influencing marital

satisfaction and stability. Additionally, individuals who maintained consistently high

or improving intimacy trajectories reported better marital outcomes compared to those

with low or declining intimacy levels. The study’s longitudinal design and grounding

in Erikson’s developmental theory make it a robust exploration of the long-term

impacts of intimacy on marital relationships.

 So, to conclude, this research study gives us an idea on how Intimacy plays a much

important role in Marital adjustment and Marital satisfaction. This paper directly

focuses on Emotional Intimacy and marital adjustment by highlighting emotional

intimacy as a mediating factor in marital dynamics. The longitudinal nature of this

study emphasizes the importance of assessing relationship patterns over time.

4. The study "Sexual and Marital Communication and Perceived Marital Adjustment" by

Noelle Anne Vogel examines the relationships between sexual communication,

marital communication, and marital adjustment. It involved 44 couples divided into

two groups: those undergoing marital counselling for distressed relationships and

those who perceived their marriages as satisfactory. Using tools like the Dyadic

Adjustment Scale, the Marital Communication Inventory, and the Sexual

Communication Inventory, the study tested hypotheses through t-tests and Pearson

correlations.

Findings revealed a strong positive correlation between marital adjustment and open

sexual communication, while inhibited sexual communication was significantly

linked to marital distress. Results further highlighted that sexual communication is

group-specific and affects marital satisfaction and adjustment differently across

distressed and non-distressed couples. The study reinforces the importance of both

general and sexual communication in marital relationships.

5. The research paper "Emotional intimacy and sexual well-being in aging European

couples: a cross-cultural mediation analysis" by Štulhofer et al. explores the interplay

between emotional intimacy, sexual activity, and sexual well-being among older

couples across four European countries: Norway, Denmark, Belgium, and Portugal.
 The study aims to validate a newly developed five-dimensional measure of sexual

well-being while examining how emotional intimacy influences sexual well-being

through the frequency of sexual intercourse.

Findings indicate that emotional intimacy significantly predicts sexual well-being for

both male and female partners. The study reveals that the frequency of sexual

intercourse acts as a mediator in this relationship, particularly for Norwegian and

Portuguese men and Norwegian and Belgian women. Interestingly, the partner effects

were gender-specific: the emotional intimacy of male partners positively influenced

their female partners' sexual well-being, while the reverse was not observed. This

highlights the importance of emotional closeness in enhancing sexual satisfaction

among aging couples.

6. The study "Marital Adjustment, Love, Personal Intimacy, Personality, Dyadic Coping,

and Spirituality on Marital Stability" explores the role of psychosocial factors in

determining marital stability among Indian couples. Conducted on 30 married couples

using stratified random sampling, the study examined variables such as marital

adjustment, love, intimacy, personality, dyadic coping, and spirituality. Key findings

revealed a significant negative correlation between sexual intimacy and marital

stability (r = -0.44, p < .01), while other factors did not show a direct impact on the

longevity of marriage. This suggests that psychosocial factors alone may not predict

marital stability in the Indian context, potentially due to cultural influences or

methodological constraints.

The research highlights the complexities of marital relationships, emphasizing that

stability might be mediated by other unexamined variables, such as societal norms or

familial influences. The study's limitations include a small sample size and reliance on
 self-report inventories, which may introduce biases such as socially desirable

responses. This paper provides insights into how emotional intimacy, love, and

marital adjustment influence marital stability, offering a cultural perspective. It

emphasizes the need to consider cultural nuances in exploring sexual health

awareness, marital adjustment, and emotional intimacy, which adds to this research

study.

VI. Methodology

1. Research Design

The researcher will conduct a correlational study to explore the relationships among

aggression, Perceived stress, and binge eating behaviour among young adults. A purposive

sampling method will be used. Researchers will collect primary data through questionnaires,

with a primary focus on quantitative analysis to measure correlations among these variables.

2. Sample

Married Men and Women. Overall, 200 samples will be taken from around Pune city, with

marriage durations between 1 and 15 years.

3. Variable

Variables Under Study -

i. Sexual Health Awareness

ii. Marital Adjustment

iii. Emotional Intimacy

Controlled variables –

i. Marital Status

ii. Education Qualification

4. Hypothesis
1. There is a positive correlation between Sexual health awareness and Marital

adjustment among Married individuals.

2. There is a positive correlation between Sexual Health Awareness and Emotional

Intimacy among married individuals.

3. There is a positive correlation between Marital Adjustment and Emotional Intimacy

among married individuals.

5. Inclusion Criteria

a. Duration of Marriage - 1 to 15 years

b. Gender - The data will be taken from Males and females for this research

study.

c. Married - Individuals who have been married for at least 1 year

6. Exclusion criteria

a. Individual having a history of mental disorder

b. Illiteracy - Individuals who have no education Qualification

c. Individuals who do not have at least one child

7. Tools

a. Sexual Health Awareness Scale (S.H.A.S.)

 The Sexual Health Awareness Scale (S.H.A.S.) is a measure of sexual health

awareness of individuals. The S.H.A.S. was developed by Stuti Parasha Kashyap,

Ashwathy A N, Shalini Pai, Serena Ajith, Akhila Asokan, Grace Maria Jochan, Trina

Banerjee in the year 2022. This scale consists of 48 test items, with a five-point likert

scale. Some items on this scale are reverse scored. Lowest score for this scale is 48
 and the Highest score is 240. Low scores indicate low level of Sexual Health

Awareness, and High scores indicate High level of Sexual Health Awareness.

 Reliability - Internal consistency rating is high with a range of .805 to .824, and

Cronbach's alpha for various samples are in the range of .795 to .812.

 Validity - The Content Validity of the scale is Good.

 Norms - The age norms for this assessment are 18 and above.

b. Marriage Adjustment Inventory (MAI)

 The Marriage Adjustment Inventory (MAI) was developed to measure the adjustment

between married individuals. This questionnaire was constructed and standardized by

C. G. Deshpande (Former Prof. & Head, Dept. of Applied Psychology, University of

Mumbai) in the year 2022. It consists of 25 items. It is a five-point Likert type scale

of 1,2,3,4 and 5, lowest at the first preference and highest at the fifth preference.

 The total score for the marital adjustment is 25 and for the worst adjustment 125.

High scores indicate bad adjustment and low scores indicate high marital adjustment.

 The reliability index ascertained by split half and test-retest method for the scale was

found to be 0.83 and validity applying Biserial correlation it is 0.49 respectively.

c. Intimacy Scale of the Emotional Dimension (ISOTED)

 The Intimacy Scale of the Emotional Dimension (ISOTED) is a measure of emotional

intimacy. This test has been developed by Euckie Udo Immanuel from the university

of Nigeria.

 The ISOTED can be used to assess the quality/level of Intimacy in married couples as

well as individuals in a close relationship. This scale consists of 14 items in total.

There is a five-point likert scale which ranges from Never (N) Rarely (R) Sometimes

(S) Often (O) to Always (A). Higher scores on this scale indicate higher intimacy.
 The 14 item Intimacy Scale of the Emotional Dimension (ISOTED) was subjected to

Item analysis.

 Emotional Congruence’s Cronbach’s alpha = 0.97; Correlated Item-Total Correlation

range from 0.83 to 0.91; Split-half reliability = 0.94; Emotional Vacuum, alpha =

0.92; Correlated Item-Total Correlation range from 0.68 to 0.85; Split-half reliability

= 0.86; Full-Scale, alpha = 0.92; Correlated Item-Total Correlation range from 0.53

to 0.77.

 The ISOTED sub-scales were compared with each other for concurrent validity.

Emotional Congruence vs. Full-Scale, r = 0.60, p < .01; Emotional Vacuum vs. Full-

scale, r = 0.83, p < .01. This suggests that each of the sub-scales is related positively

to the full-scale.

 The ISOTED has concurrent validity with the Dyadic Communication Assessment

Scale (DCAS). The ISOTED also has criterion validity with the Simple Screening

Instrument for Substance Abuse (SSISA).

VII. Procedure

This research will implement a mixed-method approach, where a combining of quantitative

survey and qualitative questionnaires will be used. The population will be comprised of both

males and females. A purposive sample of 200 married individuals will be selected across

both genders.

A structured and standardized questionnaire will be used to gather quantitative data on

individuals’ Sexual health awareness, Marital adjustment, and Emotional Intimacy. To gain

further insight, a semi-structured questionnaire will be used, which will include open-ended

questions and a few multiple-choice questions. The survey will be administered through an

offline platform. Consent will be obtained before filling out the form.
The Survey responses will be exported and statistically analyzed through Excel and SPSS

Software version 30. The semi-structured questionnaire will be analyzed manually for

thematic coding, allowing for in-depth exploration of emergent themes related to sexual

health awareness, Marital adjustment and Emotional Intimacy and the coding will be stored

in Excel.

VIII. Research Design

The researcher will conduct a correlational study to explore the relationship among sexual

health awareness, Marriage adjustment and Emotional intimacy among married individuals. A

purposive sampling method will be used. The researcher will collect primary data through

questionnaires with the primary focus on quantitative analysis to measure correlations among

these variables. The study will rely on the standardized psychometric tools that includes,

Sexual health awareness scale by Stuti Kashyap et. al., the Marriage adjustment scale by C.

G. Deshpande, and Intimacy Scale of the Emotional dimension by Euckie Udo Immanuel to

measure respective constructs. Some qualitative questionnaire will be used to provide a

contextual understanding and for better interpretation. The data will be descriptive in nature

and the researcher will use both quantitative and qualitative methods for interpreting the data.

IX. Statistical Analysis

This research will study the correlation between sexual health awareness, marriage

adjustment, and emotional intimacy among married individuals. An alternative hypothesis has

been established for this study. Utilizing a purposive sampling method, 200 participants, 100

male and 100 female will be chosen. The sexual health awareness scale, Marriage adjustment

scale, and Intimacy scale of the emotional dimension will be used. For data analysis, SPSS

software will be employed.

X. Implications

1. The findings can guide marital counselors and therapists in understanding the

interplay of sexual health awareness, marital adjustment, and emotional intimacy.

2. This knowledge can be used to develop targeted interventions that address specific

relational issues within couples.

3. The findings can stimulate further research into gender-specific and cultural aspects of

these relationships, enriching existing psychological and sociological theories.

4. Marital counselors and therapists can use these insights to design targeted

interventions aimed at enhancing emotional intimacy and resolving marital conflicts.

5. The study emphasizes the importance of integration of sexual health education into

premarital counseling and marital enrichment programs.

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