Browsing by Author "Määttä, Päivi"

The purpose of this research was to study how couples experience happiness in their relationship. To focus the central phenomena the research questions were divided into two categories according to their nature: 1) What kind of impressions do the participants have on a happy relationship? (internal factors) 2) How do the participants try to support the happiness in a relationship? (external factors). Eight couples participated in the research: couples without children, families with children and grandparents. A qualitative method was used in this study. The data were collected by interviewing couples in May and June 2017, and the form of the interviews was a half-structured theme interview. In the interview-guide, the questions were divided into four themes according to the background theories: personality, appreciation, deeds and interaction. Theory bound qualitative content analysis was used to analyze the data. The analysis revealed 13 subgroups which describe the factors that the participants accounted to be supporting factors in a relationship. These factors: 1. Personality: compatibility of personalities, commitment, personal growth in relation to honesty and trust. 2. Appreciation: mutuality, spouses' own time and space, accepting the spouse's imperfection. 3. Deeds: serving the spouse, doing things together, paying attention to each other. 4. Interaction: open discussion and listening to the spouse, giving positive feedback, showing love both physically and verbally. The results of the study align the previous studies except the subgroup including spouses' own time and space. In the previous studies those issues were not included as supporting factors in the happiness of a relationship. This study could be applicable and useful in relationship therapy or in other connections where the previous factors concerning mutual interaction are regarded as important. In the future a similar research could be made with a greater group of participants by interviewing couples both together and separately. The effects of digitalization on interaction and happiness in relationships could also be current and interesting themes. Regarding home economics science, the most important result of this research is the understanding of the importance of interaction between personalities and people. Interaction plays an important role both personally and between people in general concerning happiness and well-being. Well-being in relationships could be described as a content and quality factor in everyday life and housing. The experienced balance in family and everyday life reflects in all communities where family members act daily.