The Correlation between Self-Differentiation and Emotional Experiences toward the Spouse with the Probability of Divorce among Married Female Students

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Department of Psychology, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran

2 Department of Psychology, Abdanan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Abdanan, Iran

3 Department of Psychology, Shiraz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran

Abstract

Background: Understanding the factors that influence divorce can help individuals and couples make informed decisions about their relationships and seek appropriate support. The study aimed to investigate the correlation between self-differentiation and emotional experiences towards the spouse and the probability of divorce among married female students.
Methods: This study used a descriptive-correlational design to examine the relationship between divorce probability, selfdifferentiation, and emotional experiences in married female students at Islamic Azad University of Ahvaz, Iran in 2023. A convenience sample of 304 participants was selected. Data were collected using the Divorce Probability Questionnaire (DPQ), Differentiation of Self Inventory (DSI), and Experiences of Emotions Towards Spouse Questionnaire (EETSQ). Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 27. Correlation coefficients and regression were employed to examine the correlations between the variables.
Results: The results revealed a significant negative correlation between self-differentiation and the probability of divorce (r=- 35, P=0.001). Additionally, emotional experiences towards the spouse were negatively and significantly correlated with the probability of divorce (r=-33, P=0.001).
Conclusions: The findings suggested that self-differentiation and emotional experiences towards the spouse are significantly correlated with the probability of divorce among married female students. By understanding the importance of self-differentiation and positive emotional experiences, interventions can be developed to help couples strengthen their relationships and reduce the risk of divorce.

Highlights

Hamdollah Jayervand: (Google Scholar)

Keywords

References

  1. Kumar A, Saha S, Mondal J, Mitra A, Avijit K, Chaudhuri AK. Prediction of the Probability of Divorce Using Machine Learning Algorithms. International Journal of Engineering Technology and Management Sciences. 2023;7(2):195-209. doi: 10.46647/ijetms.2023.v07i02.024. ##
  2. Birditt KS, Wan WH, Orbuch TL, Antonucci TC. The development of marital tension: Implications for divorce among married couples. Dev Psychol. 2017;53(10):1995-2006. doi: 10.1037/dev0000379. PubMed PMID: 28805435; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5644348. ##
  3. Malmir M, Ebrahimi M. Typology of Power Structure in The Iranian Family. Women's Strategic Studies. 2020;22(87):7-32. doi: 10.22095/jwss.2020.220454.2273. Persian. ##
  4. Naderi Moghaddam N, Panah Ali A, Aghdasi AN, Hejazi M. The Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Marital Conflict and Emotional Divorce of Women Facing Divorce. Women Health Bull. 2023;10(2):122-132. doi: 10.30476/whb.2023.97237.1204. ##
  5. Habibalahzadeh H, Shafiabady A, Ghamari M. A Comparison of the Effectiveness of Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Self-Regulated Couple Therapy on Reducing Emotional Divorce in Couples. Women Studies. 2020;11(31):43-63. doi: 10.30465/ws.2020.5104. Persian. ##
  6. Eslami M, Yazdanpanah M, Andalib P, Rahimi A, Safizadeh M, Dadvar A, et al. Marital satisfaction and emotional divorce among Iranian married individuals: A survey of hospital visitors of nine provinces. J Educ Health Promot. 2020;9:83. doi: 10.4103/jehp.jehp_570_19. PubMed PMID: 32509891; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7271926. ##
  7. Finzi-Dottan R, Schiff M. Couple relationship satisfaction: The role of recollection of parental acceptance, self-differentiation, and spousal caregiving. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships. 2021;39(2):179-197. doi: 10.1177/02654075211033029. ##
  8. Mohammadi M, Alibakhshi SZ. The Effectiveness of the Self-differentiation Training Based on the Bowen Theory on Marital Satisfaction. J Research Health. 2021;11(5):333-340. doi: 10.32598/JRH.11.5.1574.1. ##
  9. Rodríguez-González M, Bell CA, Pereyra SB, Martínez-Díaz MP, Schweer-Collins M, Bean RA. Differentiation of self and relationship attachment, quality, and stability: A path analysis of dyadic and longitudinal data from Spanish and U.S. couples. PLoS One. 2023;18(3):e0282482. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282482. PubMed PMID: 36862686; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC9980780. ##
  10. Dolz-Del-Castellar B, Oliver J. Relationship between family functioning, differentiation of self and anxiety in Spanish young adults. PLoS One. 2021;16(3):e0246875. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0246875. PubMed PMID: 33657141; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7928452. ##
  11. Süloğlu D, Güler ÇY. Predicting perceived stress and resilience: the role of differentiation of self. Curr Issues Personal Psychol. 2021;9(4):289-298. doi: 10.5114/cipp.2021.106140. PubMed PMID: 38014407; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10655777. ##
  12. Mohammadi M, Alibakhshi Z, Sedighi M. The effect of Self-differentiation Training Based on Bowen Theory on Women's Self-differentiation and Marital Satisfaction. Journal of Midwifery and Reproductive Health. 2019;7(4):1914-1921. doi: 10.22038/jmrh.2019.36432.1398. ##
  13. Hosseini-Ghidari A, Goudarzi M, Ahmadian H, Yarahmadi Y. Women's Divorce Tendency Based on Their Irrational Communication Beliefs and Individual Differentiation with the Mediating Role of Sexual Performance and Marital Frustration. SALĀMAT-I IJTIMĀĪ (Community Health). 2022;9(3):67-79. doi: 10.22037/ch.v9i3.31199. Persian. ##
  14. Abreu-Afonso J, Ramos MM, Queiroz-Garcia I, Leal I. How Couple's Relationship Lasts Over Time? A Model for Marital Satisfaction. Psychol Rep. 2022;125(3):1601-1627. doi: 10.1177/00332941211000651. PubMed PMID: 33736540; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC9136471. ##
  15. Al-Shahrani HF, Hammad MA. Relationship between emotional divorce and alexithymia among married women in Saudi Arabia. BMC Psychol. 2023;11(1):217. doi: 10.1186/s40359-023-01236-w. PubMed PMID: 37533120; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10398916. ##
  16. Tahvilian M, Foroozandeh E, Banitaba SM. Comparing the Effects of Psychodrama with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Psychological Well-being of Women with Marital Conflicts. Women Health Bull. 2023;10(1):23-31. doi: 10.30476/whb.2023.97031.1202. ##
  17. Kupferberg A, Hasler G. The social cost of depression: Investigating the impact of impaired social emotion regulation, social cognition, and interpersonal behavior on social functioning. Journal of Affective Disorders Reports. 2023;14:100631. doi: 10.1016/j.jadr.2023.100631. ##
  18. Kiecolt-Glaser JK, Wilson SJ. Lovesick: How Couples' Relationships Influence Health. Annu Rev Clin Psychol. 2017;13:421-443. doi: 10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-032816-045111. PubMed PMID: 28301763; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5549103. ##
  19. Rodriguez LM, DiBello AM, Øverup CS, Neighbors C. The Price of Distrust: Trust, Anxious Attachment, Jealousy, and Partner Abuse. Partner Abuse. 2015;6(3):298-319. doi: 10.1891/1946-6560.6.3.298. PubMed PMID: 28386379; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5380380. ##
  20. Rusbult CE, Johnson DJ, Morrow GD. Predicting Satisfaction and Commitment in Adult Romantic Involvements: An Assessment of the Generalizability of the Investment Model. Social Psychology Quarterly. 1986;49(1):81-89. doi: 10.2307/2786859. ##
  21. Skowron EA, Friedlander ML. The Differentiation of Self Inventory: Development and Initial Validation. Journal of Counseling Psychology. 1998;45(3):235–246. doi: 10.1037/0022-0167.45.3.235. ##
  22. Ghavibazou E, Abdollahi A, Hosseinian S. Validity of the Persian translation of the differentiation of self inventory (DSI) among Iranian adults. Heliyon. 2022;8(7):e09834. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09834. PubMed PMID: 35815155; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC9260298. ##
  23. Javanbakht S, Yousefi Z. Investigate the Validity, Reliability and Standardization of Family Executive Function Scale among Married People. Journal of Applied Family Therapy. 2022;3(4):556-584. doi: 10.22034/aftj.2022.316602.1276. Persian. ##
  24. Alavi SMA, Mahoor H. The relationship between differentiation and the Desire for virtual space cyberspace with the tendency to divorce due to the mediating role of the main family health in divorce applicants. Women and Family Studies. 2023;59(16):27-46. doi: 10.30495/jwsf.2022.1947744.1640. Persian. ##
  25. Rashidi F, Monirpour N, Dokaneifard F. The model of emotional divorce based on differentiation with the mediating role of personality structure and experience of usness. Journal of Applied Family Therapy. 2022;3(2):85-116. doi: 10.22034/aftj.2022.303667.1188. ##
  26. Telli A, Yavuz Güler Ç. Differentiation of Self, Forgiveness, Jealousy, and Conflict Resolution Responses among Married Individuals: The Mediating Role of Relationship Satisfaction, Relationship Adjustment, and Emotional Dependency. Contemporary Family Therapy. 2023;45(2):157-171. doi: 10.1007/s10591-021-09603-8. ##
  27. Koppejan-Luitze HS, van der Wal RC, Kluwer ES, Visser MM, Finkenauer C. Are intense negative emotions a risk for complex divorces? An examination of the role of emotions in divorced parents and co-parenting concerns. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships. 2020;38(2):765-782. doi: 10.1177/0265407520972189. ##
  28. Zareh Zardini S, Jafari A, Ghamari M. Prediction of Marital Burnout Based on Feelings of Loneliness and Emotional Divorce in Infertile Women. J Research Health. 2021;11(5):323-332. doi: 10.32598/JRH.11.5.1854.1. ##
  29. Liu M, Li L, Xiao Y, Wang X, Ye B, Wang X, et al. The psychological mechanism underlying neuroticism on divorce proneness: The chain mediating roles of negative partner support and couple burnout and the moderating role of economic level. J Affect Disord. 2023;327:279-284. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.01.092. PubMed PMID: 36720406. ##

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics