Abstract
The rising rate of divorce in modern Iranian society indicates its importance. This study aims to investigate the causes of divorce in the marriage phase from the viewpoint of couples who have been referred to family courts. To do so, in a qualitative design and based on the content analysis approach, 57 people who had been referred to family courts were selected through a purposive sampling method and were studied through semistructured interviews. The data analysis was conducted according to the conventional content method. The results indicated three components as the chief reasons for divorce in the marriage phase: personal problems, the style of communication with one’s spouse, and social issues. With respect to the important portion of dysfunctional relationships with the spouse in divorce cases, these results emphasize the need for premarital counseling and life skills training for couples.