Aims: Satisfactory marital relationships are the basis of good family performance. Factors such as emotional intelligence have been considered as factors affecting marital satisfaction. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of emotional intelligence management training on marital satisfaction and emotional intelligence in war prisoners’ wives and compare the marital satisfaction between wives of war prisoners and wives of normal people.
Materials and Methods: In this semi-experimental research with pre-test post-test design, 30 women married with war prisoners and 30 women married with normal people in Tehran in 2014, were selected by available sampling method. The data were collected, using Enrich marital satisfaction questionnaire and Bar-on Intelligence questionnaire. The questionnaires were, first, completed by two groups. Then, experimental group received 10 sessions of emotional intelligence training; each session took 45 minutes (per week 2 sessions). After completing the intervention, the experimental group completed the questionnaire again and the follow-up phase took place after 3 months.  . The data were analyzed by SPSS 16 software, using independent t-test, t-test, and ANOVA.
Findings: There was no significant difference in mean marital satisfaction between wives of war prisoners and wives of normal people (p=0.088). The mean score of marital satisfaction and emotional intelligence in the post-intervention stage was more than the pre-intervention stage (p=0.0001), and this difference was not seen between post-intervention stage and follow up.
Conclusion: Emotional intelligence management training increases marital satisfaction and emotional intelligence of war prisoners’ wives. Also, the marital satisfaction is not different between the wives of war prisoners and wives of normal people.