Women's Divorce Tendency Based on Their Irrational Communication Beliefs and Individual Differentiation with the Mediating Role of Sexual Performance and Marital Frustration

Couples' relationships are the most important factor in maintaining a family. The presence of any psychological damage in the couple's relationship increases the likelihood of separation. The aim of this study was to determine the tendency to divorce among women referring to counseling centers in Tehran based on irrational communication beliefs and individual differentiation with the mediating role of sexual function and marital frustration in 2019.

This descriptive-analytic study was conducted with participation of 240 married women who were referred to Tehran counseling centers. The sample size was 240 women who were selected by available sampling method. Data were collected through standardized questionnaires of Eidelson and Epstein's communication beliefs, individual differentiation, Rosen's sexual performance, Niehuis and Bartell's marital frustration, and Roswelt, Jonson, and Moro's divorce tendency questionnaires. Data were analyzed using pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression tests by using SPSS software version 24.

There was a weak direct relationship between irrational communication beliefs and women's divorce tendency (r=0.21). Increased score of women's irrational communication beliefs with a mean (SD) of 150.8 (19.7) was positively associated with divorce tendency score with a mean (SD) 51.0 (10.6), P<0.001. There was a weak indirect relationship between individual differentiation and women's divorce tendency (r= -0.17). Decreased individual differentiation score with a mean (SD) of 198.5 (35.1) was associated with divorce tendency score, P<0.01. There was a weak indirect relationship between sexual performance and women's divorce tendency (r=-0.23). Decreased sexual performance score with a mean (SD) of 71.7 (20.1) was associated with higher divorce tendency, P<0.001. There was a strong direct relationship between marital frustration with divorce tendency (r=0.73). Increased marital frustration score with a mean (SD) of 57.7 (12.2), was associated with increased divorce tendency, P<0.001. Hence, irrational communication beliefs and individual differentiation with the mediating role of sexual performance and marital frustration may predict 59% of women's divorce tendency.

The study showed that the tendency to divorce increased with increasing irrational communication beliefs and decreasing individual differentiation. In addition, the tendency to divorce increased with decreasing sexual function and increasing marital frustration.