The Relationship Between Self-Compassion, Spiritual Well-being, and Marital Satisfaction Among Married University Students: The Mediating Role of Anxiety

Background and Objectives: Married university students frequently face the dual demands of academic pursuits and personal relationships. In this context, understanding the roles of self-compassion and spiritual well-being in relation to marital satisfaction becomes particularly important. This research examines the relationships between self-compassion, spiritual well-being, and marital satisfaction among married university students, investigating the mediating role of anxiety. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study utilized Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to examine the hypothesized relationships among self-compassion, spiritual well-being, anxiety, and marital satisfaction. A stratified random sample of ۳۵۶ married students from Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran, was recruited in ۲۰۲۳. Data were collected using the Marital Satisfaction Scale, Spiritual Well-being Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Self-Compassion Questionnaire-Long Form. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS-۲۶ and AMOS-۲۶ software. Results: Findings revealed that self-compassion (β=-۰.۱۹, P=۰.۰۰۷) and spiritual well-being (β=-۰.۱۱, P=۰.۰۰۸) had significant negative correlations with anxiety. Additionally, self-compassion (β=۰.۲۱, P=۰.۰۰۱), spiritual well-being (β=۰.۱۰, P<۰.۰۲۰), and anxiety (β=-۰.۱۹, P=۰.۰۰۱) were significantly related to marital satisfaction. Bootstrap analyses further confirmed the indirect effects of self-compassion and spiritual well-being on marital satisfaction through anxiety (P= ۰.۰۱۳). Conclusion: This study revealed that self-compassion and spiritual well-being are positively linked to marital satisfaction, likely by reducing anxiety. Encouraging self-compassion and spiritual well-being may improve marital quality.

کلیدواژه ها:

Self-compassion ، Spiritual well-being ، Marital satisfaction ، Anxiety ، Married students ، شفقت به خود ، بهزیستی معنوی ، رضایت زناشویی ، اضطراب ، دانشجویان متاهل