Examining the Psychological Structure of Emotional Intimacy in Marital Relationships: A Qualitative Study
Keywords:
Emotional intimacy, marital relationships, attachment, emotional communication, qualitative analysis, couple therapyAbstract
This study aimed to comprehensively explain the psychological structure of emotional intimacy in marital relationships through a systematic qualitative review of the literature. This research employed a qualitative theoretical review design. Data were collected exclusively through a literature review, and 12 high-quality scientific articles on emotional intimacy in marital relationships were selected after rigorous screening. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis supported by NVivo 14 software. Open, axial, and selective coding procedures were conducted, and theoretical sampling continued until theoretical saturation was achieved The qualitative analysis revealed that the structure of emotional intimacy consists of three core themes: secure emotional attachment, effective emotional communication, and self-disclosure with mutual growth. These themes interact dynamically to form a complex system of emotional, cognitive, and interpersonal processes that determine the quality and stability of marital relationships. Key components of this structure include emotional security, trust, empathy, dyadic emotion regulation, and shared meaning-making. Emotional intimacy is a multidimensional, developmental, and modifiable construct that plays a fundamental role in marital satisfaction and stability, and the extracted conceptual framework provides a valuable foundation for designing effective couple-therapy interventions.
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