Marital Self-Regulation

Objective: The study aimed to investigate the predictive roles of self-compassion and marital self-regulation on marital adjustment among married women attending counseling centers in Tehran in 2023. It sought to enrich the understanding of how these psychological constructs contribute to marital satisfaction and stability. Methods and Materials: A cross-sectional design was employed with a sample of 350 married women selected through available sampling from various counseling centers in Tehran. Measures included the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) to assess marital adjustment, the Self-Compassion Scale developed by Neff (2003) for evaluating self-compassion levels, and a 16-item scale by Wilson et al. (2005) for measuring marital self-regulation. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 27, with linear regression analyses performed to explore the relationships between the constructs. Findings: The findings revealed that both self-compassion and marital self-regulation significantly predicted marital adjustment among the participants. Specifically, higher levels of self-compassion and marital self-regulation were associated with better marital adjustment. The regression model explained 37% of the variance in marital adjustment scores, highlighting the substantial impact of these factors on marital satisfaction. Conclusion: This study underscores the critical importance of self-compassion and marital self-regulation in fostering marital adjustment. The findings suggest that interventions aimed at enhancing these psychological resources could contribute significantly to improving marital satisfaction and relationship stability among couples, particularly those seeking counseling services.

Objective: The present study aimed to predict marital burnout in individuals married for 5 to 10 years based on attachment styles, with the mediating roles of marital self-regulation and marital intimacy. Methods and Materials: This study was analytical-correlational in nature, employing path analysis. The sample consisted of 384 married individuals (164 men and 220 women) who were selected through convenience sampling. The participants were aged between 25 and 45, with a marriage duration of 5 to 10 years. Data were collected using validated questionnaires, including the Marital Burnout Scale (Kayser, 1996), the Revised Adult Attachment Scale (Collins & Read, 1990), the Behavioral Self-Regulation for Effective Relationships Scale (Wilson et al., 2005), and the Intimacy Scale (Walker & Thompson, 1983). SPSS and Amos software were used for data analysis, applying structural equation modeling (SEM) to examine direct and indirect effects. Findings: The results indicated that marital self-regulation and intimacy mediated the relationship between attachment styles and marital burnout. Avoidant and anxious attachment styles positively predicted marital burnout, while secure attachment negatively predicted it. Additionally, self-regulation and intimacy were significant mediators, with higher levels of self-regulation and intimacy associated with lower marital burnout. Avoidant and anxious attachment styles negatively influenced self-regulation and intimacy, which in turn increased marital burnout. Conclusion: The study concluded that attachment styles significantly impact marital burnout, with self-regulation and intimacy playing crucial mediating roles. Individuals with insecure attachment styles (avoidant and anxious) are more prone to marital burnout, whereas secure attachment leads to lower burnout. Interventions aimed at improving self-regulation and intimacy in couples may help mitigate the effects of insecure attachment styles on marital burnout.