Structural Equation Modeling of Attitudes toward Marriage Based on Emotional Regulation and Schema Mode

The present study aimed to investigate the attitude towards marriage based on schema mentalities with emphasis on the mediating role of interpersonal emotional regulation in students.

TThis cross-sectional study was conducted using structural equation modeling (SEM). The statistical population of the study consisted of all undergraduate students of Islamic Azad University, Najafabad Branch, Najafabad, Iran, in 2019, which included 13254 people. Based on the theory of Muller, 320 people were selected from the community using convenience sampling and completed the Schematic Mindset Questionnaire (SMQ), Braaten and Rosen Marriage Attitude Scale (MAS), and the Interpersonal Emotional Regulation Questionnaire (IERQ). Data were analyzed using SEM and maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) method in AMOS software.

TSchema mentalities including childish mentality, dysfunctional coping mentality, dysfunctional parenting mentality, and healthy adult mentality had a direct effect on attitudes towards marriage (P < 0.05). The results of this study also showed that interpersonal emotional regulation played a mediating role in the relationship between childish mentality, dysfunctional coping mentality, and dysfunctional parenting mentality with attitude towards marriage (P < 0.05). However, it did not mediate the relationship between healthy adult mentality and attitude towards marriage.

Based on the results obtained, to improve the attitude towards marriage, protocols based on changing schema mentalities and interpersonal emotional regulation can be used.