Causal modeling of marital conflicts based on acceptance and action, beliefs and thoughts of couples: The mediating role of mindfulness

Marital conflict is a growing phenomenon that causes great harm to societies. This study aimed to model marital conflicts based on the acceptance and action and beliefs and thoughts of couples mediated by mindfulness. The present study was descriptive-correlational and structural equation modeling. A total of 270 married women referring to counseling centers in Ardabil were selected by simple random sampling method and were asked to use the Marital Conflict Questionnaire (MCQ), Acceptance and Action Questionnaire - Second Edition (AAQ-II), Couples Beliefs Scale (CBT), and Five-Dimensional Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ). The collected data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The results showed that the variables of acceptance and action and beliefs and thoughts of couples have a negative and significant direct effect on marital conflicts. Mindfulness has a direct negative and significant effect on marital conflicts. Also, acceptance and action and beliefs and thoughts of couples in addition to direct impact, have a negative and significant indirect effect on marital conflicts through mindfulness which was observed according to the obtained result for VAF statistics. 37.4% of the effect of couples' beliefs and thoughts on marital conflict and 29% of the effect of acceptance and action on marital conflict can be explained through mindfulness. The findings of this study showed that mindfulness as a mediating variable can explain the relationship between marital conflicts, acceptance and action, and the beliefs and thoughts of couples, and acceptance and action, beliefs and thoughts of couples reduce marital conflicts. According to the obtained results, family experts can reduce the rate of marital conflicts by emphasizing the increase of competencies related to acceptance and practice, couples 'beliefs, and mindfulness, and consequently lead to a sustainable continuation of couples' lives.