Background and purpose: Emotional intelligence skills could create and improve marital satisfaction. This study sought to evaluate the effect of skill-based emotional intelligence training program on marital satisfaction in married students.

Materials and methods: A semi-experimental study was conducted in which 60 married students (in Mazandaran University, Iran) studying in undergraduate courses were randomly selected and assigned into experimental and control groups. The subjects in the experimental group received skill-based emotional intelligence training for 15 sessions. The ENRICH Marital Satisfaction Scale and emotional intelligence (EI) questionnaire were used and the results were evaluated in both groups, before and after the intervention.

Results: The mean level of emotional intelligence in experimental group significantly improved (343.70±43.21) compared to that before the intervention (327.76±44.66) and compared to that of the subjects who did not attend the training sessions (336.63±35.39) (P=0.000). Also, the training program increased the participants' marital satisfaction (P=0.002).

Conclusion: Acquiring skill-based emotional intelligence can greatly decrease the worries and concerns associated with the growth of marital problems and divorce among students and increase their marital satisfaction.