تبیین رابطه همدلی زناشویی و صمیمیت هیجانی با واسطه‌گری خودمتمایزسازی در زوجین مراجعه‌کننده به مراکز مشاوره

مریم  ذنوبی; اکبر محمدی; نسرین  باقری

Authors

Maryam Zonoubi Department of Psychology, Ro.C., Islamic Azad University, Roudehen, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0009-0006-8971-4115
Akbar Mohammadi Department of Psychology, Ga.C., Islamic Azad University, Garmsar, Iran Corresponding author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9378-5737
Nasrin Bagheri Department of Psychology, Ro.C., Islamic Azad University, Roudehen, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5919-2591

Keywords:

Marital empathy, emotional intimacy, self, differentiation, couples, marital conflict

Abstract

This study aimed to explain the relationship between marital empathy and emotional intimacy by examining the mediating role of self-differentiation among couples with marital conflict referring to counseling centers. This applied study employed a descriptive-correlational design based on structural equation modeling. The statistical population consisted of all couples with marital conflict referring to counseling centers in Karaj in 2025. Using simple random sampling, 220 participants were initially selected, of whom 200 were included in the final analysis after incomplete or invalid questionnaires were excluded. Data were collected using the Bagarozzi Marital Intimacy Needs Questionnaire, Jolliffe and Farrington Basic Empathy Scale, and Skowron and Friedlander Differentiation of Self Inventory-Revised. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation and structural equation modeling with SPSS-27 and SmartPLS 3.3. Marital empathy had significant positive direct effects on self-differentiation (β=0.571) and emotional intimacy (β=0.567). Self-differentiation also had a significant positive direct effect on emotional intimacy (β=0.325). The indirect effect of marital empathy on emotional intimacy through self-differentiation was 0.186, whereas its total effect was 0.753. The coefficients of determination were R²=0.326 for self-differentiation and R²=0.635 for emotional intimacy. Furthermore, GOF=0.536, NFI=0.975, and Q² values of 0.250 for self-differentiation and 0.350 for emotional intimacy indicated adequate model fit and predictive relevance. Self-differentiation plays an important mediating role in the association between marital empathy and emotional intimacy; therefore, interventions simultaneously targeting empathy, emotional regulation, psychological boundaries, and emotional autonomy may contribute to greater emotional intimacy among couples experiencing marital conflict.

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