The Role of Psychological Flexibility, Resilience, Self-efficacy, and Hope in Predicting Marital Satisfaction of Married Women

Objective: Marital satisfaction plays a crucial role in the longevity and stability of a marriage, as it is achieved when the current state of the relationship aligns with expectations. By enhancing marital satisfaction, couples can safeguard their family from potential harm. This study aimed to explore how psychological flexibility, resilience, self-efficacy, and hope can influence the marital satisfaction of married women in Shahrood City. Methods and Materials: The research method utilized in this study was correlational. All married women residing in Shahrood City formed the statistical population for this study. A group of 300 people were selected using various sampling methods from the population. The research instruments used in this study included the ENRICH Inventory (Fowers and Olson 1989), the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (Connor and Davidson, 2003), Self-efficacy Scale (GSES) (Schwarzer & Jerusalem,1995), the Adult Hope Scale (HS; Snyder et al. 1991), and the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire II (AAQ-II; Bond et al., 2011). The data analysis was performed by the researcher using Pearson's correlation test and the stepwise regression method. Findings: Analysis of the data revealed a noticeable adverse correlation between marital satisfaction and psychological flexibility, as well as a beneficial and noteworthy correlation with resilience, self-efficacy, and hope (p<0.01). Additionally, the regression findings indicated that resilience, hope, psychological flexibility, and self-efficacy could account for 40% of the variability in marital satisfaction. Conclusion: Based on the findings of the study, it is evident that possessing psychological flexibility and effectively meeting each other's desires and requirements, as well as having resilience and a positive outlook towards one another and family situations, contribute to the establishment of satisfaction and harmony in marriage.