Relationship of depression symptoms with emotional maturity and dysfunctional attitudes in married students: The mediating role of emotional divorce

Background and aims: Maladaptive cognitive patterns including negative cognitive style and dysfunctional attitudes are major risk factors for depression. This study aimed to investigate the relationship of depression symptoms with emotional maturity and dysfunctional attitudes mediated by emotional divorce in married students. Methods: The statistical population included all married students at the Islamic Azad University of Ahvaz (Iran) during the academic year ۲۰۲۱–۲۰۲۲. A total of ۳۰۱ students were selected as the research sample based on the research variables. The research instrument included Beck’s Depression Inventory, Emotional Maturity Scale, Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale, and Emotional Divorce Scale. Path analysis was used to evaluate the proposed model in SPSS version ۲۷ and AMOS version ۲۵. Results: The relationship between emotional maturity and emotional divorce was negative and significant (β=-۰.۴۵, P<۰.۰۰۱). The relationship between dysfunctional attitudes and depression symptoms was positive and significant (β=۰.۱۷, P=۰.۰۰۲). There was a positive and significant relationship between dysfunctional attitudes and emotional divorce (β=۰.۳۰, P<۰.۰۰۱) and between emotional divorce and depression symptoms (β=۰.۳۹, P<۰.۰۰۱). There were also significant indirect paths from emotional maturity and dysfunctional attitudes to depression symptoms mediated by emotional divorce (P<۰.۰۰۱). Conclusion: The research results indicated that the proposed model had a good fit. Therefore, it was considered a major step in identifying the factors affecting depression symptoms in married students.