Determining the model of gamophobia based on existential anxiety with the mediation of psychological hardiness

Marriage is seen as the initial step in starting a family, but nowadays there seems to be a fear or avoidance of this commitment among young people, particularly those who are educated. The purpose of this research was to determine the model of gamophobia among young people based on existential anxiety with the mediation of psychological hardiness.

The current study is applied in terms of purpose, and descriptive correlational data collection method was used. The statistical population of the research included all students of the Islamic Azad University, Sardasht branch. The research sample was 358 students who participated in the research online and through available sampling method. Data collection tools included Richard's Gamophobia Questionnaire (2007), Good and Good Existential Anxiety Questionnaire (1974) and Ahvaz Psychological Hardiness Questionnaire (2017). Data were analyzed using Pearson's correlation method and path analysis through Smart-pls3 software.

The results indicated that the direct effect of existential anxiety was 0.609 and its indirect effect through psychological hardiness was 0.498 and the direct effect of existential anxiety on psychological hardiness was 0.309 and the direct effect of psychological hardiness on gamophobia was 0.320 significant (P˂ 0.01).

Therefore, psychological hardiness can play a mediating role between existential anxiety and gamophobia. In this context, counseling and psychology specialists can consider this issue in pre-marriage counseling and even formulate interventions to reduce the gamophobia.