The causal relationship between time perspective and the marital instability based on the mediator role of communication patterns in married women and men

The aim of this research was to determine the causal relationship between time perspective and marital instability considering the mediation role of communication patterns.

The research method was correlational descriptive. Statistical population of six thousands married men and women at least three years after their marriage who referred to counseling centers located in District 2 of Tehran city between May and September 2018. 11 centers were randomly selected among the above centers and According to Howit & Cramer, 2004, 308 qualified volunteers were selected as the sample through convenient method. Instruments: were marital instability questionnaires by Edwards, Johnson and Booth 1980, communication patterns by Christensen and Sallavy 1984 and time perspective by Zimbardo and Boyd 1999. Data were analyzed applying path analysis.

showed that negative past dimension (β= 0.272, P= 0.001) prospects marital instability positively meanwhile, future dimensions (β= -0.33, P= 0.001), positive past dimension (β= -0.245, P= 0.001), Hedonistic present (β= -0.095, P= 0.005), and mutual constructive communication pattern (β= -0.240, P= 0.001) predict it negatively. Also indirect path’s coefficients showed a positive relationship between negative past dimension and marital instability (β= 0.51, P= 0.001), and a negative relationship between future dimensions (β= -0.090, P= 0.001), Hedonistic present (β= -0.035, P= 0.005), and marital instability. It is clear that the communication patterns mediate between the dimensions of negative past, future, and Hedonistic present and marital
instability.

Based on findings of the present research, it is suggested that family counselors in order to develop and improve marital stability, consider a shift in couples’ time perspective and also train
constructive communication patterns to couples in their counseling sessions.