Explaining the Structural Model of Marital Satisfaction Based on Spirituality with the Mediating Role of Happiness in Married Women
Keywords:
marital satisfaction, married women, spirituality, happinessAbstract
Objective: The present study aimed to explain the structural model of marital satisfaction based on spirituality with the mediating role of happiness in married women.
Methods: The research method was descriptive-correlational of the structural equation modeling (SEM) type. The statistical population included all married women employed in schools in Tehran. The total number was 41,656 in the 2022–2023 academic year. The sample size was calculated based on the PLS method proposed by Barclay et al. (1995), which required a minimum of 70 participants. However, due to the potential risk of participant attrition, a larger sample of approximately 120 individuals was examined. The sampling method used in this study was convenience sampling. The measurement instruments included the Enrich Marital Satisfaction Questionnaire (1989), the Parsian and Dunning Spirituality Questionnaire (2009), and the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (1989). The assumptions were analyzed using SPSS 26 and SMART-PLS statistical software.
Findings: The results of this study indicated that the structural model of marital satisfaction based on spirituality, with happiness as a mediator, demonstrated a good and acceptable fit, with a significance level of 0.05. Therefore, it is predicted that the structural model of marital satisfaction based on spirituality with the mediating role of happiness applies to married women. Consequently, spirituality, mediated by happiness, enhances marital satisfaction.
Conclusion: Thus, by increasing the level of spirituality among couples, with happiness as a mediator, a higher level of marital satisfaction can be anticipated.
Downloads
References
Abedi, M., & Doosti, M. (2023). The Role of Sport Tourism in Spirituality. Journal of Tourism Planning and Development, 45(12), 131-151. https://ensani.ir/file/download/article/655e01aeb2229-10647-45-6.pdf
Abidi, S. A., & Majeed, M. T. (2019). Happiness and spirituality: An empirical analysis using divine perspectives in Pakistan. Empirical Economic Review, 2(1), 117-151. https://doi.org/10.29145/eer/21/020105
Ahmadi, S., Barghei, S., & Abbasi, Z. (2016). Comparison of the Effect of Attachment Narrative Therapy and Spirituality Therapy on Marital Conflicts. Islam and Psychological Research, 2(4), 99-112. https://www.sid.ir/paper/356386/en
Akbari, M., Shokhmgar, Z., Thanago, A., Nasiri, A., Anghi, A., Khalqi, H., Mohammadpour, M., & Vakrami, A. (2021). Comparing the effectiveness of schema therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy on communication and problem solving skills and mental health in couples with extramarital experience. Journal of psychiatric nursing, 9(1), 1-10. https://ijpn.ir/article-1-1476-en.html
Aman, J., Abbas, J., Lela, U., & Shi, G. (2021). Religious affiliation, daily spirituals, and private religious factors promote marital commitment among married couples: does religiosity help people amid the COVID-19 crisis? Frontiers in psychology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.657400
Aman, J., Abbas, J., Nurunnabi, M., & Bano, S. (2019). The relationship of religiosity and marital satisfaction: The role of religious commitment and practices on marital satisfaction among Pakistani respondents. Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland), 9(3), 30. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs9030030
Aminaei, M., Asghari Ibrahimabad, M. J., Azadi, M., & Soltani Shall, R. (2014). Examining the validity and reliability of the Persian version of Parsian and Donning's Spirituality Questionnaire. Journal of Principles of Mental Health, 17(3), 129-134. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/302962685_Reliability_and_Validity_of_Farsi_Version_of_Parsian_and_Dunning_Spirituality_Questionnaire
Amir Arjmandi, Z., Hashemian, K., & Niknam, M. (2014). The Effectiveness of Group Spirituality Training in Reducing Depression and Increasing Marital Satisfaction in Married Women in District 5 of Tehran. Journal of Educational Psychology, 35(11), 131-148. https://jep.atu.ac.ir/article_1581.html?lang=en
Amiruddin, A., Qorib, M., & Zailani, Z. (2021). A study of the role of Islamic spirituality in happiness of Muslim citizens. HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies, 77(4), 5. https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v77i4.6655
Anaeche, C. I. (2020). Marital Satisfaction of Couples in Heterosexual Relationships Where There Are Differences in Spirituality Antioch University]. https://aura.antioch.edu/etds/625/
Arab Alidosti, A., Nakhai, N., & Khanjani, N. (2015). Reliability and validity of shortened Kansas and Enrich Marital Satisfaction Questionnaires in Farsi language. Journal of Health and Development, 4(2), 158-167. https://www.sid.ir/paper/233606/en
Bahrai, J., Hosseini al-Madani, S. A., & Basri, A. (2020). Modeling family resilience based on marital happiness, basic psychological needs and spirituality with the mediating role of emotion regulation. Health-Oriented Lifestyle Quarterly, 4(4), 112-124. https://www.sid.ir/paper/985783/en
Baker, A. M. (2019). Marital stability and spiritual growth: A phenomenological study on Christian premarital counseling. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/213463750.pdf
Balmer, T. D., Watkins, V., Asselt, K. W., Walker, C., & Roberts Kemedy, B. (2012). A Phenomenological Study Of Spiritual Values in Secular-Based Marriage and Family Therapists. Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health, 14(4), 242-258. https://doi.org/10.1080/19349637.2012.730466
Bawa, B. Y. (2018). The role of premarital counseling for marriage stability: A pastoral examination of the interface between the Christian and Alago Indigenous Epawoza concept of marriage preparation University of KwaZulu-Natal]. https://ukzn dspace.ukzn.ac.za/bitstream/handle/10413/16364/Bawa_Bitrus_Yusuf_2017.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
Bezhabadi, F., Bidokhti, A., Shaghaghi, F., Primi, A., Kamali, Z., & Gholami, M. (2020). The relationship between religious orientation and the promotion of sexual satisfaction and marital satisfaction in women of reproductive age. Health Education and Development, 9(1), 53. https://doi.org/10.4103/jehp.jehp_129_19
Çelik, E., Çelik, B., Yavaş, Ş., & Süler, M. (2022). Investigation of marital satisfaction in terms of proactive personality, meaning in life, offense-specific forgiveness. International Journal of Psychology and Educational Studies, 9(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.52380/ijpes.2022.9.1.348
Defanti, R. (2025). The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Moderating the Relationship Between Perceived Interparental Conflict and Marital Satisfaction Among Married Individuals. Jurnal Ilmu Keluarga Dan Konsumen, 18(1), 53-65. https://doi.org/10.24156/jikk.2025.18.1.53
Ebrahimi, L. (2018). The Effectiveness of Marital Counseling Based on Human Validation Patterns in Reducing Conflict and Increasing Marital Satisfaction of Veterans' Couples. Quarterly Journal of Women and Society, 8(32), 247-264. https://jzvj.marvdasht.iau.ir/article_2752.html
Ebrahimi, M. E., Shiripour, O., Zamani, N., & Sahebi, A. (2020). Predicting students' suicidal tendencies based on spirituality and satisfaction of basic needs and maladaptive schemas. Journal of Islam and Health, 4(1), 13-19. http://iahj.ir/browse.php?a_id=129&sid=1&slc_lang=en
Emami Kalesar, L., & Rasouli, M. (2017). The relationship between beliefs and relational documents with marital happiness. Scientific Quarterly Journal of Applied Psychology, 3(43), 393-410. https://apsy.sbu.ac.ir/article_96920.html?lang=en
Eslami, S., Pooladi, K., & Sardari nejad, M. (2023). Enlightenment and the Problem of Spirituality: A Study of the Role of Enlightenment in the Emergence of Modern Spirituality. Contemporary Political Studies, 47(14), 1-24. https://politicalstudy.ihcs.ac.ir/article_7862.html?lang=en
Fonseca, A. L., Koyama, J., & Butler, E. A. (2018). The role of family of origin in current lifestyle choices: A qualitative secondary data analysis of interracial and same-race couples. Family & community health, 41(3), 146-158. https://doi.org/10.1097/FCH.0000000000000188
Gharadaghi, A., & Masoumi Ala, S. (2022). Investigating the Role of Emotional Self-Awareness, Cognitive Emotion Regulation and Social Adequacy in Predicting Marital Satisfaction. Human Relations Studies, 2(4), 32-39. https://jhrs.uma.ac.ir/article_1439.html
Gharibi eti kendi, I. (2019). The relationship between existential anxiety, spirituality and religious orientation with death anxiety in the elderly of Tabriz city Shahid Madani University of Azerbaijan]. http://pajouhesh.azaruniv.ac.ir/_Pages/ResearchEN.aspx?ID=29390
Hakimi Dezfuli, Z. S., & Ibrahimpour, Q. (2023). The role of psychological flexibility, emotional empathy and spiritual experiences in predicting marital satisfaction of married women. Islamic Studies and Psychology. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/386051631_The_Role_of_Psychological_Flexibility_Emotional_Empathy_and_Spiritual_Experiences_in_the_Prediction_of_Marital_Satisfaction_of_Married_Women
Hojjatkhah, S. M., Taroq Tayeb, M., Rahmani Nik, S., Karimi Taleghani, M., Sattari, H., & Ehsanpour, F. (2021). The role of forgiveness and spirituality in predicting the happiness of couples. Journal of Religion and Health Research, 7(3), 111-123. https://www.sid.ir/paper/413209/en
Hwang, W., Yoon, J., Silverstein, M., & Brown, M. T. (2019). Husband-wife religious discordance, marital satisfaction, and risk of marital dissolution in two generations. Journal of Family Issues, 40(9), 1201-1223. https://doi.org/10.1177/0192513X19835871
Javadi, B. S., Afrooz, G. A., Hosseinian, S., Azerbaijani, M., & Lavasani, G. A. (2015). The effectiveness of teaching communication skills and emotional interactions with the approach of religious values on marital satisfaction. Journal of Family Psychology, 2(2), 3-14. https://www.ijfpjournal.ir/article_245481.html?lang=en
Karami, M., Ahmadi, S., & Ghobadi, S. (2021). Prediction of Marital Satisfaction Based on Happiness and Quality of Life in Couples in Tehran. Knowledge & Research in Applied Psychology, 22(1), 93-102. https://www.sid.ir/paper/383577/en
Karbalai Saleh, S., & Dasht Borgi, Z. (2020). Effectiveness of positive group training on marital happiness, resilience and life satisfaction of parents of children with special needs. 8(1), 60-71. https://www.sid.ir/paper/383418/en
Karimi, R., Bakhtiyari, M., & Arani, A. M. (2019). Protective factors of marital stability in long-term marriage globally: A systematic review. Epidemiology and Health, 41, e2019023. https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2019023
Khalili Baseri, E., Suleiman Nejad, H., Safara, M., & Ahmadi, V. (2023). The mediating role of adjustment styles in the relationship between spiritual health and marital satisfaction of nurses. Iranian Journal of Nursing Research, 18(5), 1-11. https://ijnr.ir/browse.php?a_id=2833&slc_lang=en&sid=1&printcase=1&hbnr=1&hmb=1
Khosravi, Z., & Farrokhzad, P. (2020). The role of spirituality and self-efficacy in predicting happiness and mental health: a cross-sectional study. Islam and Health Journal, 5(2), 42-49. http://iahj.ir/article-1-204-en.pdf
MacLeod, R., Wilson, D. M., Crandall, J., & Austin, P. (2019). Death anxiety among New Zealanders: The predictive roles of religion, spirituality, and family connection. OMEGA-Journal of Death and Dying, 80(1), 3-19. https://doi.org/10.1177/0030222817724307
Mahipalan, M., & Sheena, S. (2019). Workplace spirituality and subjective happiness among high school teachers: Gratitude as a moderator. EXPLORE, 15(2), 107-114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2018.07.002
McIntosh, T. M. (2022). African American Spirituality, Marital Satisfaction, and Internalized Racial Oppression Liberty University]. https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/3374/
Murphy, J. S., Nalbone, D. P., Wetchler, J. L., & Edwards, A. B. (2015). Caring for aging parents: The influence of family coping, spirituality/religiosity, and hope on the marital satisfaction of family caregivers. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 43(3), 238-250. https://doi.org/10.1080/01926187.2015.1034636
Narimani, P., Porzoor, P., Atadokht, A., & Abbasi, M. (2015). The role of spiritual well-being and religious adherence in predicting nurses' marital satisfaction. Clinical Journal of Nursing and Midwifery, 4(2), 1-10. https://www.magiran.com/paper/1424079/the-role-of-spiritual-well-being-and-religious-adherence-in-predicting-marital-satisfaction-among-nurses?lang=en
Nikjo, R., Mohammadi, R., Farzaneh Farzipour, S., & Etebari Asal, Z. (2018). Relationship between spiritual health and happiness in students. Medical Ethics, 12(43), 1-10.
Okur, S., Ümmet, D., Satıcı, S. A., & Kütük, H. (2025). Relations Among Family Communication, Cognitive Flexibility, and Happiness in Turkish Adults: A Longitudinal Mediation Model. Current Psychology, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-024-07224-6
Qasemi Moghadam, K., Shafieabadi, A., & Sharifi, A. (2020). Marital conflicts and basic needs: The mediating role of spirituality. Clinical Psychology and Personality, 18(2), 55-65. https://cpap.shahed.ac.ir/article_3224_en.html
Salmani, N., Zadeh Mahani, S., Shahbazi, S., Ostovar, V., & Ganji, L. (2016). Comparison of attribution styles, spiritual experiences and resilience of women with breast cancer and healthy women. Scientific-Research Quarterly of Health Psychology, 5(20), 5-20. https://hpj.journals.pnu.ac.ir/article_3362.html?lang=en
Sayin, M., Demir, İ. H., & Füsun, E. K. Ş. İ. (2019). The relationship of marital satisfaction and life satisfaction with spiritual orientation: the mediating role of sacrifice and sensitivity. Spiritual Psychology and Counseling, 4(3), 237-256. https://doi.org/10.37898/spc.2019.4.3.083
Sediqi, M., Abipour, J., Nazerian, Y., & Iraqi, M. (2013). The effect of the relationship between spirituality and happiness with marital satisfaction among married students of Yazd University. The 6th National Congress of Family Pathology, Family Research Institute of Shahid Beheshti University,
Sefidi, F., Grossi, F., Rahimi, R., Taher Khani, Z., Shamsai, R., Sefidi, F., & Grossi, F. (2015). Religiosity and marital satisfaction in college students. Contemporary psychology, 10(Special Issue), 786-788. https://www.sid.ir/paper/829005/fa#downloadbottom
Seifi, Y., & Taqavi, M. R. (2019). The relationship between spiritual well-being and marital satisfaction: the mediating role of psychological toughness. Contemporary Psychology, Biannual Journal of the Iranian Psychological Association, 14(1), 31-41. https://doi.org/10.29252/bjcp.14.1.31
Sepherian Azar, F., Mohammadi, N., Badalpour, Z., & Nowruzzadeh, V. (2016). The relationship of hope and happiness with marital satisfaction. Health and Care, 18(1), 37-44. https://www.magiran.com/paper/1550224/the-relationship-between-hope-and-happiness-with-marital-satisfaction?lang=en
Shearin, N. S. (2016). Religiosity and the decreased likelihood to divorce among married Christians in the United States Grand Canyon University]. https://search.proquest.com/openview/b6527fdd9b414a58c2a581104a874b74/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750&diss=y
Singh, K., Junnarkar, M., Singh, D., Suchday, S., Mitra, S., & Dayal, P. (2019). Associations Between Religious/Spiritual Practices and Well-Being in Indian Elderly Rural Women. Journal of religion and health. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-019-00877-9
Soleimani, B., Rahimi, A., Baisty, Z., & Abul Qasemi, A. (2015). The relationship between happiness and thrill seeking with marital satisfaction. https://elmnet.ir/doc/20576539-31197
Taghani, R., Ashrafizaveh, A., Ghanbari, M., Elham Azmoude, E., & Tatari, M. (2019). Marital satisfaction and its associated factors at reproductive age women referred to health centers. Journal of education and health promotion, 8(1), 1-5. https://doi.org/10.4103/jehp.jehp_172_18
Tajvidi, M., Bahrami, T., Zaghimi Mohammadi, S., & Taleghani, M. (2017). Relationship between spiritual health and marital satisfaction in married women referring to Karaj health centers. Scientific Research Journal of Alborz University of Medical Sciences, 6(2), 123-129. https://doi.org/10.18869/acadpub.aums.6.2.123
Targhee Jah, S., Bahadri Khosroshahi, J., & Khanjani, Z. (2016). Predicting women's marital satisfaction with personality traits and religiosity. Journal of Family Counseling and Psychotherapy, 6(2), 107-127. https://fcp.uok.ac.ir/article_44542.html
Thomas, K. F. (2023). The Influence of Religion on Marital Crisis: A Qualitative Study https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/4535/
Wade, J. B., Hayes, R. B., Wade, J. H., Bekenstein, J. W., Williams, K. D., & Bajaj, J. S. (2018). Associations between religiosity, spirituality, and happiness among adults living with neurological illness. Geriatrics, 3(3), 35. https://doi.org/10.3390/geriatrics3030035
Ying, J., & Parsakia, K. (2024). Behavioral Activation Therapy: Boosting Happiness and Creativity Among College Students. KMAN Counseling & Psychology Nexus, 2(2), 57-65. https://doi.org/10.61838/kman.psynexus.2.2.9
Yousefi Afarashteh, M., & Rezaei, S. (2021). Spirituality and quality of life in the elderly: the mediating role of self-compassion and sense of coherence. Psychology of Aging, 7(2), 137-151. https://jap.razi.ac.ir/article_1808.html?lang=en
Downloads
Additional Files
Published
Submitted
Revised
Accepted
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Maede Zarei (Author); Masoumeh Zhian Bagheri (Corresponding Author); MohammadReza Belyad, Tahereh Ranjbaripour (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
