The Role of Alexithymia, Interpersonal Forgiveness, and Marital Satisfaction in Predicting Emotional Divorce

The purpose of the present study was to determine the role of Alexithymia, interpersonal forgiveness, and marital dissatisfaction on the emotional divorce of women referred to family counseling centers.

This study was an applied and correlational research design. All women referred to psychological clinics and counseling centers approved by the Tehran Psychological and Counseling Organization were selected from the statistical population by random cluster sampling method. Data were collected using Gutman Emotional Divorce Scale (2008), Alexithymia of Begby et al. (1994), Interpersonal Forgiveness, Pollard et al. (1998), and Enrich Marital Satisfaction (1989). Data were analyzed using Pearson and OLS models.

The results showed that Alexithymia (t = 4.77 and P≤0/001) directly and interpersonal forgiveness (t = 8.06 and P≤0/001) and marital satisfaction (t = 9.30 and P≤0/001) can predict inversely emotionally divorce.

Alexithymia, interpersonal forgiveness, and marital dissatisfaction have Basic role in predicting of emotional divorce, so improving their functioning can improve family functioning and quality of life.