The mediating role of rumination between boredom proneness and life satisfaction in married couples: a dyadic study

Married couples invariably impact one another during their shared time. Prolonged interactions may influence their perceptions of one another. This study sought to investigate the mediating effect of rumination on the relationship between boredom proneness and life satisfaction among married couples. A total of 529 married couples (n = 1058) participated in the study, which employed the Brief Boredom Proneness Scale, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, and the Rumination Scale on Interpersonal Errors. Data were gathered via online questionnaires and analyzed employing the Actor-Dependency Mediation Model. Research indicated that susceptibility to boredom adversely impacted both personal life satisfaction and that of partners via rumination. Dyadic analysis demonstrated the interdependence of couples’ emotional and cognitive processes. The findings indicate that rumination is a significant factor to consider in interventions designed to enhance marital satisfaction. The study is expected to enrich the literature on the complexity of psychological processes in marital relationships.