Zahra Nazemi - Department of Psychology, Tehran Center Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
Mojgan Sepahmansour - Department of Psychology, Tehran Center Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
Parvaneh Mohammadkhani - Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Rehabilitation and Welfare University, Tehran, Iran.
Sadegh Tagiloo - Department of Psychology, School of Rehabilitation, Astara Branch, Islamic Azad University, Rasht, Iran.

Objective: Given the prevalence of divorce and the growing trend of marital problems, it is necessary to investigate the factors that affect the interpersonal relationships of couples. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the mediating role of self-compassion in explaining the causal relationship between communication skills and emotional expression with empathy in divorce applicants. Methods: This was a descriptive-correlational study with path analysis. The statistical population consisted of all men and women who applied for a divorce (age range: ۳۰-۵۰) and were referred to the counseling centers of the Judiciary in Tehran City, Iran, during ۲۰۲۰-۲۰۲۱. The sample size included ۳۹۶ cases and it was selected via the convenience sampling method. To collect the data, standard questionnaires of self-compassion, communication skills, couple empathy, and emotional expression were used. The data were analyzed using the SPSS software, v. ۲۱, and AMOS v. ۲۴. Results: The results showed the fitness of the model (comparative fit index=۰.۹۵۳, goodness of fit index=۰.۹۵۴, adjusted goodness of fit index=۰.۸۹۵ and root mean square error of approximation=۰.۰۸۲). The model explained about ۳۴% of the variance of a couple’s empathy in divorce applicants. Conclusion: Based on these findings, the relationship between a couple’s empathy with communication skills and emotional expression is not a direct relationship and various factors, such as marital empathy can strengthen or weaken this relationship.

Emotion, Empathy, Self-compassion, Communication skills, Divorce