Indian Journal of Fundamental and Applied Life Sciences ISSN: 2231– 6345 (Online) An Open Access, Online International Journal Available at www.cibtech.org/sp.ed/jls/2015/01/jls.htm 2015 Vol.5 (S1), pp. 5189-5198/Jorshari and Boland Research Article © Copyright 2014 | Centre for Info Bio Technology (CIBTech) 5189 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ALEXITHYMIA, INTERVENTION/ EXTRAVERSION AND NEUROTICISM WITH MARITAL SATISFACTION * Mahdis Hassannia Jorshari 1 and Hassan Boland 2 1 Department of Clinical Psychology, Rasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Rasht, Iran 2 Department of Counseling, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran *Author for Correspondence ABSTRACT The present study was performed in the form of a scientific model with the aim of investigating the relationship between Neuroticism, Alexithymia and Intervention/ extraversion with marital satisfaction. The present study was a correlational study using structural equation modeling techniques. The population of this research consists of married undergraduate, master's and doctoral students of the Azad Universities of Rasht that with multistage cluster sampling method, 396 students (198 couple of students, 198 females and 198 male) from different courses of study in the areas of Humanities, Science and Technology were selected. After explaining the purpose of the study and the participation and cooperation of the subjects, Toronto Alexithymia scale, Enrich marital satisfaction scale and the Eysenk Personality scale was administered to the subjects. The results showed that neuroticism has negative and significant direct effect on marital satisfaction (β=-0.52) and Intervention/ extraversion has positive and significant direct effect on marital satisfaction (β= 0/20) but Alexithymia (β=-0.01) has no significant effect on marital satisfaction. The direct effect of neuroticism (β=0.37) on alexithymia is positive and meaningful. And also the effect of intervention-extraversion (β=0.08) on alexithymia is not significant. Also introversion - extraversion and alexithymia and neuroticism explain 33% of the change in marital satisfaction. Neuroticism and introversion - extraversion predict 14% of the alexithymia changes. So based on the findings of this study it can be concluded that the introversion / extraversion personality factors and neuroticism can affect marital satisfaction and increase mutual understanding of couples from each other. Keywords: Alexithymia, Neuroticism, Introversion-Extroversion, Marital Satisfaction INTRODUCTION Marital satisfaction is a person’s overall mental assessment of the marital relationship and the degree of the fulfillment of personal and mutual needs, desires, and wishes in this relationship (Gellz, 1995). Marital satisfaction can be considered as a psychological state that does not occur spontaneously but requires the efforts of both spouses. Expressing emotions is a major factor in differentiating unhappy couples from happy couples, because it has an important role in the intimacy of the relationship (Kathryn and Timmerman, 2003). Marriage is one of the most important issues for the mental health. Both mental healths affect the success of the marriage and the marriage will have an impact on mental health. Provided that the marriage conditions and criteria reconsidered, (with the realization of a successful marriage) the occurrence of many mental health problems can be prevented (Ahmadvand, 2010). Ellisin states that the marital satisfaction is objective feelings of happiness, satisfaction and enjoyment, experienced by the wife or the husband, when they consider all aspects of their marriage (Soleimanian, 1994). Marital satisfaction is affected by a pack of different factors. A very important factor in marital satisfaction is effective mutual communication. Communication plays a central role in the marriage so that from the respect of marital properties it is specified that the effective and efficient communication between husband and wife is the most important aspect of the families with optimal performance (Greef, 2000). Marital satisfaction is influenced by many variables. Due to the effects of variable son marital satisfaction such as intimacy, emotional expression, emotional exchange and empathy, the problems and disorders that affect these variables and issues, can prevent obtaining marital satisfaction. Alexithymia is