KMAN Publication Inc. (KMANPUB) Applied Family Therapy Journal (AFTJ) 3041-8798 5 Serial Number 23 (Special Issue on Women Studies) 2024 08 01 Examining the Relationship Between Early Maladaptive Schemas and Alexithymia with Emotional Divorce Among Married Female Students Examining the Relationship Between Early Maladaptive Schemas and Alexithymia with Emotional Divorce Among Married Female Students 228 234 10.61838/kman.aftj.5.4.26 EN Journal Article 2024 05 07 <p><strong>Objective:</strong> This study aimed to investigate the relationship between early maladaptive schemas (EMS), alexithymia, and emotional divorce among married female students, focusing on their predictive roles in marital detachment.</p> <p><strong>Methods: </strong>A correlational design was employed with 240 married female students recruited via convenience sampling from Islamic Azad University, Tonekabon Branch (2023–2024 academic year). Participants completed validated self-report measures: the Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form (YSQ-SF; Young, 1995) assessing EMS across five domains (e.g., Impaired Limits, Other-Directedness), the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20; Bagby et al., 1994) measuring alexithymia subscales (Difficulty Identifying Feelings, Difficulty Describing Feelings, Externally Oriented Thinking), and the Gottman Emotional Divorce Questionnaire (GEDQ; Gottman, 1997). Data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation and stepwise regression via SPSS-26, with significance set at *p* &lt; .01.</p> <p><strong>Findings: </strong>Significant correlations emerged between EMS domains, alexithymia, and emotional divorce (*r* = 0.18–0.53, *p* &lt; .01). Stepwise regression revealed Impaired Limits as the strongest predictor (β = 0.39, *p* &lt; .01), explaining 15% of variance, followed by incremental contributions from Difficulty Identifying Feelings (ΔR² = 3%, β = 0.23), Other-Directedness (ΔR² = 1%, β = 0.13), Externally Oriented Thinking (ΔR² = 2%, β = 0.18), and Impaired Autonomy (ΔR² = 2%, β = -0.22), cumulatively accounting for 23% of variance (F = 15.16, *p* &lt; .01). Negative β for Impaired Autonomy suggested suppression effects.</p> <p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>EMS and alexithymia significantly predict emotional divorce, with Impaired Limits and emotion-regulation deficits being central drivers. Findings underscore the need for schema-focused interventions (e.g., schema therapy) and emotion-regulation training in marital counseling to mitigate detachment. Future research should explore dyadic interactions and cultural moderators to refine predictive models.</p> https://journals.kmanpub.com/index.php/aftj/article/download/4085/7028