The relationship of mindfulness and difficulties in emotion regulation with emotional divorce through sexual satisfaction among married university students in Ahvaz, Iran

Mindfulness is an important marital predictor that can prevent emotional divorce and improve marital relationships. This study aimed to analyze causal relationships of mindfulness and difficulties in emotion regulation with emotional divorce through sexual satisfaction among married students.

The current study was a causal-correlational field research. Using convenience sampling method, a total of 211 married students were selected from Islamic Azad University of Ahvaz, Iran in the academic year 2018-2019. The research instrument included the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), Emotional Divorce Questionnaire (EDQ), and Sexual Satisfaction Questionnaire (SSQ). Data analysis involved both descriptive and inferential statistics including mean, standard deviation, Pearson correlation, and path analysis. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 24.

A direct and negative relationship was observed between mindfulness and emotional divorce (β= -0.170, P=0.016), between difficulties in emotion regulation and sexual satisfaction (β= -0.378, P=0.001), and between sexual satisfaction and emotional divorce (β= -0.441, P=0.001). There was a direct and positive relationship between mindfulness and sexual satisfaction (β= 0.372, P=0.001). There was no direct and significant relationship between difficulties in emotion regulation and emotional divorce (β=0.072, P=0.332). The path analysis results indicated that sexual satisfaction had a mediating role in the relationship between mindfulness and emotional divorce (β= -0.149, P=0.001), as well as the relationship between difficulties in emotion regulation and emotional divorce (β= -0.080, P=0.002).

The proposed model had goodness of fit. Sexual satisfaction plays an important role in the relationship between mindfulness, difficulties in emotion regulation, and emotional divorce.