Abstract
Starting from the Positive Psychology approach this study aimed to understand the main strategies and personal resources used by couple engaged in long term marriages in order to maintain the marital relationship. Seventy-five interviews with twenty-five heterosexual couples, together on average for 39.48 years, and aging on average 64.06 years, were performed. Beginning from the analysis of content, frequency, and considering the objective of the study the following categories were analysed: comprehension, compromise and giving, spirituality and affection. The moments of crisis have been overcome, especially by maintaining the efforts that each partner has made, from their own personal resources and their individuality, contributing to strengthening the marital bond. It was concluded that the marriage is maintained by strategies that are developed both from personal resources and elements shared by the couple, which indicates that the conjugality offers support to its own permanence over time.
Keywords:
marital relations; marital satisfaction; positive psychology