Emotional Expression as a Mediator Between Rumination and Marital Quality: Evidence from a Collectivist Society

Background: Marital quality plays a vital role in psychological well-being. Cognitive patterns such as rumination are associated with poorer interpersonal functioning, whereas emotional expression contributes to intimacy and satisfaction in relationships.Objective: This study aimed to examine whether emotional expression mediates the relationship between rumination and marital quality within the context of Iran's collectivist culture, where emotional restraint is prevalent.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among ۳۸۴ married adults aged ۲۵–۵۵ in Mashhad, Iran, using Persian-validated versions of the Rumination Scale (Nolen-Hoeksema & Morrow, ۱۹۹۱), Marital Relationship Quality Scale (Pierce, ۱۹۹۰), and Emotional Expression Scale (King & Emmons, ۱۹۹۰). Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and bootstrapped mediation analysis (۵,۰۰۰ resamples, ۹۵% CI) were conducted using AMOS v۲۴.Results: Rumination negatively predicted emotional expression (β = –۰.۵۶, p < .۰۰۱) and marital quality (β = –۰.۲۹, p < .۰۰۱). Emotional expression positively predicted marital quality (β = ۰.۴۹, p < .۰۰۱) and partially mediated the relationship between rumination and marital quality. The model demonstrated good fit (CFI = ۰.۹۶; RMSEA = ۰.۰۴۵).Conclusion: Emotional expression partially mediates the adverse effect of rumination on marital quality. These findings underscore the value of culturally sensitive, emotion-focused interventions in collectivist societies like Iran, where emotional suppression is normative. However, due to the study’s cross-sectional design, causal interpretations are limited, and longitudinal research is recommended for future investigations.ابراز هیجان به عنوان میانجی بین نشخوار فکری و کیفیت زناشویی: شواهدی از یک جامعه جمع گرا

کلیدواژه ها:

Rumination ، Emotional expression ، Marital quality ، Mediation ، Collectivist culture ، Iran ، Cross-sectional study