Mediating role of sexual assertiveness in the relationship between sexual self-efficacy and emotional divorce

Emotional divorce is one of the most important traumas and causes of family breakdown in most families. The recognition of the variables affecting emotional divorce is considered as important. Knowing how the variables operate and relate in the field of preventing emotional divorce can improve the emotional relationships between couples and prevent legal divorce. The present study aimed to examine the mediating role of sexual assertiveness in the relationship between sexual self-efficacy and emotional divorce. The participants included 295 married women from Gonabad, Sabzevar and Neyshabur, all of whom completed the Hulbert index of sexual assertiveness (HISA), as well as sexual self-efficacy questionnaire (SSQ), and emotional divorce scale (EDS). The results indicated the direct and indirect effectiveness of sexual self-efficacy. In addition, a negative path was obtained between sexual self-efficacy and emotional divorce, while there was a positive path between sexual self-efficacy and sexual assertiveness. Further, the results of path analysis demonstrated the mediating role of sexual assertiveness in the relationship between sexual self-efficacy and emotional divorce. In general, the results confirmed the role of sexual assertiveness and self-efficacy in the occurrence and continuation of emotional divorce. Finally, emotional divorce can partly decrease by providing the necessary training to families for enhancing sexual behaviors among the couples with emotional divorce.