Developing a Model of Post-Traumatic Growth in Women Affected by Marital Infidelity Based on Emotional Self-Awareness with the Mediating Role of Sense of Psychological Coherence and Emotional Adjustment
Keywords:
Post-traumatic growth, marital infidelity, emotional self-awareness, sense of psychological coherence, emotional adjustmentAbstract
Purpose: The present study aimed to develop a structural model of post-traumatic growth in women affected by marital infidelity based on emotional self-awareness with the mediating roles of sense of psychological coherence and emotional adjustment.
Methods and Materials: This applied study employed a descriptive-correlational design using structural equation modeling (SEM). The statistical population consisted of women affected by marital infidelity who referred to licensed counseling and psychotherapy centers or psychiatrists in Tehran during the first quarter of 2023. Based on the formula proposed by Tabachnick and Fidell (2013), 230 participants were selected through convenience sampling. Data collection instruments included the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory developed by Tedeschi and Calhoun (1996), the Emotional Self-Awareness Questionnaire developed by Rieffe et al. (2008), the Sense of Coherence Scale developed by Antonovsky (1993), and the Emotional Adjustment Questionnaire developed by Rabeau et al. (2007). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27 and SmartPLS version 3 at descriptive and inferential levels.
Findings: The findings demonstrated that emotional self-awareness had a significant positive direct effect on post-traumatic growth (β = 0.426, p < 0.01), sense of psychological coherence (β = 0.516, p < 0.01), and emotional adjustment (β = 0.580, p < 0.01). Sense of psychological coherence also had a significant positive direct effect on post-traumatic growth (β = 0.360, p < 0.01). Furthermore, emotional self-awareness indirectly predicted post-traumatic growth through the mediating role of sense of psychological coherence (β = 0.186, p < 0.01). However, emotional adjustment did not significantly predict post-traumatic growth (β = -0.071, p > 0.05), and its mediating role in the relationship between emotional self-awareness and post-traumatic growth was not significant (β = -0.041, p > 0.05). The overall model demonstrated acceptable fit and predictive power.
Conclusion: The findings indicate that emotional self-awareness and sense of psychological coherence play significant roles in facilitating post-traumatic growth among women affected by marital infidelity. Emotional self-awareness contributes to positive psychological transformation both directly and indirectly through strengthening individuals’ sense of coherence.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Nasim Moazami (Author); Mehrnaz Azad Yekta; Farhad Jomehri (Author)
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