Research and Practice in Couple Therapy

This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of hypervigilance in the relationship between post-traumatic stress and marital insecurity among married adults. A descriptive correlational design was employed with a sample of 409 married individuals from Kenya, selected based on Morgan and Krejcie’s sample size table. Participants completed standardized self-report instruments measuring post-traumatic stress, hypervigilance, and marital insecurity. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation via SPSS-27 and structural equation modeling (SEM) via AMOS-24 to assess the direct, indirect, and total effects among variables. Model fit indices were calculated to evaluate the adequacy of the hypothesized model. Pearson correlations revealed significant positive associations among post-traumatic stress, hypervigilance, and marital insecurity (p < .001). Structural equation modeling results indicated that post-traumatic stress significantly predicted hypervigilance (β = .58, p < .001), which in turn significantly predicted marital insecurity (β = .53, p < .001). A direct effect of post-traumatic stress on marital insecurity was also observed (β = .27, p < .001), alongside a significant indirect effect via hypervigilance (β = .31, p < .001), supporting partial mediation. The model demonstrated good fit indices (χ²/df = 2.44, CFI = 0.96, TLI = 0.95, RMSEA = 0.058). These findings suggest that hypervigilance serves as a critical psychological mechanism linking post-traumatic stress to marital insecurity. Addressing hypervigilant thought patterns in trauma-exposed individuals may be essential for improving relational stability and emotional security within intimate partnerships.

This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of cognitive flexibility in the relationship between core beliefs about love and communication effectiveness in romantic relationships. The research employed a descriptive correlational design with a sample of 385 adult participants from Iraq, selected based on Morgan and Krejcie’s sample size table. Participants completed three standardized instruments: the Love Attitudes Scale (LAS), the Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (CFI), and the Communication Patterns Questionnaire (CPQ). Data were analyzed using SPSS-27 for descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation coefficients, and AMOS-24 for Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). Model fit was assessed using indices such as CFI, TLI, RMSEA, GFI, and χ²/df. Results indicated a significant negative correlation between core beliefs about love and communication effectiveness (r = -0.47, p < .001), and between core beliefs and cognitive flexibility (r = -0.42, p < .001). A significant positive correlation was found between cognitive flexibility and communication effectiveness (r = 0.52, p < .001). SEM results showed an acceptable model fit (χ²/df = 2.02, CFI = 0.96, RMSEA = 0.052). Path analysis revealed that core beliefs significantly predicted both cognitive flexibility (β = -0.42, p < .001) and communication effectiveness directly (β = -0.29, p < .001), as well as indirectly through cognitive flexibility (indirect effect B = -0.32, p < .001). The total effect of core beliefs on communication effectiveness was β = -0.52. The findings support the mediating role of cognitive flexibility in the association between core beliefs about love and communication effectiveness. Enhancing cognitive flexibility may mitigate the adverse effects of rigid love schemas and improve relational communication, particularly in culturally conservative contexts.

This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of perceived injustice in the relationship between co-parenting disagreement and marital detachment among married individuals actively involved in childrearing. A descriptive correlational research design was employed, involving a sample of 405 married participants from Hungary, selected using Krejcie and Morgan’s sample size determination table. Data were collected using standard questionnaires: the Co-Parenting Relationship Scale (Disagreement subscale), the Injustice Experience Questionnaire (IEQ), and the Marital Disaffection Scale. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS-27 for descriptive and Pearson correlation statistics and AMOS-24 for structural equation modeling (SEM). Model fit was evaluated using multiple indices, and the significance of mediation was tested using the bootstrap method. Pearson correlation results indicated that co-parenting disagreement was significantly and positively associated with both perceived injustice (r = .53, p < .001) and marital detachment (r = .48, p < .001), while perceived injustice was also positively correlated with marital detachment (r = .56, p < .001). SEM results showed that the model had an acceptable fit (χ²/df = 2.04, CFI = 0.96, RMSEA = 0.051). Co-parenting disagreement significantly predicted perceived injustice (β = 0.53, p < .001), and perceived injustice significantly predicted marital detachment (β = 0.56, p < .001). A significant partial mediation effect was observed, with an indirect path from co-parenting disagreement to marital detachment through perceived injustice (β = 0.30, p < .001), and a total effect of β = 0.66 (p < .001). The results highlight the central role of perceived injustice as a cognitive mechanism that links co-parenting conflict to emotional detachment in marriage. Addressing justice appraisals in couple and family interventions may be critical in mitigating relational disengagement.

This study aimed to examine the mediating role of fear of intimacy in the relationship between sexual shame and emotional disconnection in romantic relationships. A descriptive correlational design was employed involving 378 adult participants from Georgia, selected based on the Morgan and Krejcie sample size table. Participants completed standardized self-report questionnaires measuring sexual shame, fear of intimacy, and emotional disconnection. Data were analyzed using SPSS-27 for Pearson correlation and AMOS-24 for structural equation modeling (SEM). The assumptions of normality, linearity, and multicollinearity were checked and confirmed prior to inferential analysis. Pearson correlation analysis revealed that sexual shame was positively correlated with both fear of intimacy (r = .63, p < .001) and emotional disconnection (r = .59, p < .001), and that fear of intimacy was strongly correlated with emotional disconnection (r = .68, p < .001). The SEM analysis indicated an acceptable model fit (χ² = 186.73, df = 84, χ²/df = 2.22, CFI = 0.96, TLI = 0.95, RMSEA = 0.056). Path analysis showed that sexual shame had a significant direct effect on fear of intimacy (β = 0.63, p < .001) and emotional disconnection (β = 0.28, p < .001). Furthermore, fear of intimacy significantly predicted emotional disconnection (β = 0.58, p < .001) and partially mediated the relationship between sexual shame and emotional disconnection. The indirect effect was also significant (β = 0.37, p < .001), with the total effect of sexual shame on emotional disconnection estimated at β = 0.65 (p < .001). The findings underscore the significant mediating role of fear of intimacy in the link between sexual shame and emotional disconnection, highlighting the importance of addressing intimacy-related fears in clinical interventions aimed at reducing emotional disengagement in relationships.

This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of emotional loneliness in the relationship between stonewalling and sexual disengagement in romantic relationships. A descriptive correlational research design was used with a sample of 415 adult participants from Mexico, selected based on the Morgan and Krejcie table. Standardized instruments were employed to assess stonewalling, emotional loneliness, and sexual disengagement. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27 for descriptive and Pearson correlation analyses, and AMOS version 24 for structural equation modeling (SEM). Model fit was evaluated using common goodness-of-fit indices, and direct, indirect, and total effects were calculated to assess mediation. Pearson correlation coefficients indicated significant positive relationships between stonewalling and emotional loneliness (r = .51, p < .001), stonewalling and sexual disengagement (r = .43, p < .001), and emotional loneliness and sexual disengagement (r = .56, p < .001). The structural model demonstrated good fit indices (χ²/df = 1.96, CFI = 0.96, RMSEA = 0.047). Stonewalling significantly predicted emotional loneliness (β = 0.51, p < .001) and sexual disengagement (β = 0.23, p < .01). Emotional loneliness significantly predicted sexual disengagement (β = 0.56, p < .001), and the indirect effect of stonewalling on sexual disengagement through emotional loneliness was also significant (β = 0.28, p < .001), confirming partial mediation. The results suggest that emotional loneliness serves as a critical mediating factor in the association between stonewalling and sexual disengagement. These findings underscore the importance of addressing emotional disconnection in therapeutic interventions aimed at enhancing intimacy and relational satisfaction in couples.

This study aimed to examine the mediating role of internalized shame in the relationship between perceived criticism and intimacy avoidance in romantic couples. The study utilized a descriptive correlational design involving 400 adult participants from India, selected based on the Krejcie and Morgan (1970) sample size table. Standardized instruments were used to measure perceived criticism (Perceived Criticism Measure), shame (Experience of Shame Scale), and intimacy avoidance (ECR-R Avoidance Subscale). Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation in SPSS-27 and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) in AMOS-24 to evaluate the proposed mediational model. Assumptions of normality, linearity, multicollinearity, and homoscedasticity were confirmed prior to analysis. Model fit was assessed using key indices including χ²/df, GFI, AGFI, CFI, RMSEA, and TLI. Pearson correlation analysis showed that perceived criticism was significantly correlated with shame (r = .47, p < .001) and intimacy avoidance (r = .42, p < .001). Shame also showed a strong correlation with intimacy avoidance (r = .53, p < .001). SEM analysis indicated that the model had good fit (χ²/df = 1.74, GFI = 0.94, CFI = 0.96, RMSEA = 0.043). Perceived criticism significantly predicted shame (β = .47, p < .001) and intimacy avoidance directly (β = .21, p = .004). Shame also significantly predicted intimacy avoidance (β = .48, p < .001) and partially mediated the relationship between perceived criticism and intimacy avoidance (indirect β = .23, p < .001). The findings suggest that shame is a key emotional mechanism through which perceived criticism affects intimacy avoidance. Interventions targeting shame regulation may be beneficial for improving relational closeness in couples.