Fatemeh Sayyadi - MSc Student of Midwifery, Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Nahid Golmakani - Assistant Professor of Midwifery, Evidence-Based Care Research Center, Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Mahdi Ebrahimi - Professor of Quranic Sciences, Department of Cultural Affairs, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Azadeh Saki - Associate Professor of Statistics, Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health , Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

Background & aim: Stability and survival of marital life depends on the love and positive feelings towards spouse in married couples. Sexual assertiveness is considered as a person s ability to have intercourse to meet his/her sexual needs and promote sexual relationships with the spouse. The more couples are aware of each other s sexual needs and can satisfy those needs, the more desirably their emotional bond are developed. This study was conducted to determine the relationship between sexual assertiveness and positive feelings towards spouse in married women. Methods: This correlational study was conducted in 2016 on 60 women visiting Imam Reza Medical Center in Mashhad, Iran. The subjects who were selected through convenience sampling were married and involved in a heterosexual marriage for a minimum of one year. Data was collected using Halbert Index of Sexual Assertiveness and Positive Feelings Questionnaire. To analyze the data, Pearson correlation coefficient, multivariate regression, Mann-Whitney U test, and Chi-squared test were run in SPSS, version 16. Results: Higher sexual assertiveness scores were associated with more positive feelings towards spouse. The multivariate regression analysis reflected a significant positive correlation between sexual assertiveness and positive feeling toward spouse (r=0.5, P<0.01). Conclusion: Sexual assertiveness and positive feelings towards spouse are significantly associated, and they affect couples’ emotional and sexual relationship. Considering mutual agreement and sexual rights among couple, providing sexual care and consultancy services are recommended for married women to improve their sexual assertiveness and positive feelings towards their husband.

married women, Positive feelings towards, spouse, Sexual assertiveness