Comparing the Big-Five Personality Traits of Iranian Women in the Midst of Divorce and Women in the Normal State of Marriage, as Predictors of Divorce

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to compare the personality traits of divorce-seeking women and of women in the ordinary marriage, as predictors of divorce. In this descriptive correlational study, the population consists of all women in an ordinary marriage and women in the midst of divorce who lived in Hamadan, Iran from 2013 to 2014. The study sample consists of 100 divorce-seeking women and 100 in an ordinary marriage, selected by the convenience sampling method from the family court and by cluster sampling method from the public parks, respectively. Both groups completed the NEO Personality Inventory. The results of the discriminant analysis indicated that divorce-seeking women and women in an ordinary marriage are significantly different in personality traits of Neuroticism and Openness to Experience; therefore, the success or failure of marriage can be predicted based on these two traits.

KEYWORDS:

• discriminant analysis
• divorce
• personality traits
• women