Presenting Causal Model in Explaining the Relationship between Self-differentiation and Forgiveness with Marital Satisfaction based on the Mediating Role of Religious Orientation

Nadereh   Toloo Takmili Torabi; Parivash  Vakili; Azam Fattahi Andebil

doi:10.18502/qjcr.v20i78.6784

Nadereh Toloo Takmili Torabi Ph.D. in Counseling, Rudehen branch, Islamic Azad University, Rudehen, Iran.
Parivash Vakili Assistant professor, Department of Counseling, Rudehen branch, Islamic Azad University, Rudehen, Iran.
Azam Fattahi Andebil Assistant professor, Department of Psychology, Rudehen branch, Islamic Azad University, Rudehen, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/qjcr.v20i78.6784

Keywords: forgiveness, marital satisfaction, religious orientation, self-differentiation

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to explain the relationship between self-differentiation and forgiveness with marital satisfaction based on the mediating role of religious orientation.

Methods: The research method was descriptive-correlational and the statistical population included all married teachers working in the sixth and seventh grade in Tehran's 6th educational district, with a total of 4,080 people, among whom 28 schools and 304 volunteer teachers were randomly selected. To collect research data, the following tools were used: Differentiation of Self Inventory by Skowron, E. A., & Schmitt (2003), Family Forgiveness Scale by Pollard, Anderson, Anderson & Jennings (1998), Religious Orientation Questionnaire by Allport & Ross (1967), and ENRICH Marital Satisfaction Scale by Fournier, Olson & Druckman (1983) were used. After deleting 10 distorted questionnaires and 3 outliers, structural equation modeling was used for data analysis.

Results: In this study, the direct path coefficient between internal religious orientation and marital satisfaction (P<0.01, β=0.337) was positive and significant at the 0.01 level. Indirect path coefficient between self-differentiation and marital satisfaction (β = 0.149, P <0.01) and indirect path coefficient between forgiveness and marital satisfaction (P <0.01, β = 0.129) were positive and significant at 0.01 level.

Conclusion: Since internal religious orientation can be effective in improving relationships and marital satisfaction, it is suggested that in marital counseling, strengthening the religious beliefs of couples be used.