Self-criticism, internal religious orientation, depression, and feeling of loneliness with mediation of silencing the self among students involved in romantic relationships: A path analysis model

Developing a model based on research literature for people who have failed and experienced frustration in romantic relationships can be a solution to their problems and confusions in different areas of life. This study was done with the aim of investigating self-criticism, inner religious orientation, depression, and feeling of loneliness with mediation of silencing the self among Shahid Chamran University students involved in romantic relationships in the academic year of 2012-2013. In this path analysis study,272 students (88 men and 184 women) involved in romantic relationship were selected through snowball sampling method. They completed the Self-Criticism Scale, Inner Religious Orientation Questionnaire, Beck Depression Questionnaire, Feeling of Loneliness Scale, and Silencing the Self Questionnaire. The data of the proposed model were analyzed using path analysis by Amos and SPSS-21 software. Data indicated that there are significant positive path coefficients of self-criticism with silencing the self (P< 0.001), self-criticism with depression (P<0.001), negative path coefficients of inner religious orientation with depression (P<0.005), and indirect path coefficients of self-criticism with depression with mediation of silencing the self (P<0.050). Despite the linear and direct relationship between self-criticism and depression, silencing the self has an important role between these two variables and causes harm to one's self-esteem and identity. Further, among those involved in a romantic relationship, people with more inner religious orientation would experience less depression.