Relationship between Gender Role and Marital Instability: The Moderating Role of Sexual Orientation in Women

The aim of this study was to determine Relationship between gender role and marital instability, the role of moderating sexual orientation in women. The method of the present study was correlational. The statistical population of study was women living in Tehran in 2021. The participants were 150 people were selected by accessible sampling method from different parts of Tehran, Iran. Marriage instability, gender roles and sexual orientation questionnaires were used to collect data. The results indicated that sexual orientation, except for communal orientation in the role of femininity in women, has a moderating role in relationship between gender roles and marital instability. In all measured cases of communal orientation in sexual relationship, the increase in communal orientation reduces the instability of marriage in women. In relation to the exchange orientation, its highness increases the instability of marriage in women. Also, in the case of expectation in sexual relationship, except when masculinity is high in women, its increase leads to an increase in marital instability in women. According to the findings, high communal orientation in sexual relationship increases gender roles (masculinity or femininity) and reduces marital instability. Also, when the orientation of expectation and exchange in sex is low, the increase in gender roles (masculinity or femininity) does not change the degree of instability of marriage. In general, the findings of this study can be used to monitor and increase the stability of marriage in Iranian society.