Designing a Model of Marital Relationship Stability Based on Marital Future Orientation with the Mediating Role of Emotional Maturity
Keywords:
Marital Stability, Marital Future Orientation, Emotional Maturity, Structural Equation Modeling, CouplesAbstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to design a model of marital relationship stability based on marital future orientation with the mediating role of emotional maturity among couples in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province. Methods and Materials: This survey-based study employed a structural equation modeling (SEM) approach. The statistical population included all married couples in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, from which a sample of 400 couples was selected using multi-stage cluster sampling. Data were collected using standardized instruments including the Marital Instability Index (MII), the Marital Future Orientation Questionnaire (Khakbazan & Rafiei-Honar, 2019), and the Emotional Maturity Scale (EMS). Data were analyzed using SPSS and PLS software. Findings: Path analysis in the SEM model indicated that marital future orientation had a significant direct positive effect on marital stability (β = 0.38, p < 0.001), and also an indirect effect through emotional maturity (β = 0.14, p < 0.001). Model fit indices such as RMSEA = 0.045 and CFI = 0.94 confirmed the adequacy of the proposed conceptual model. Conclusion: The findings suggest that marital future orientation enhances marital stability both directly and indirectly via emotional maturity. Therefore, enhancing future-oriented thinking and emotional maturity can serve as effective strategies in premarital counseling and marital quality improvement programs.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Ahmad Raisi Sheykhvisi (Author); Seyed Feyzollah Afrasizadeh; Ali Reza Maredpour (Author)

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