The relationship between self-esteem, attachment styles and existential anxiety with fear of marriage; the mediating role of psychological hardiness
Subject Areas : PsychologyAmir Panahali 1 , Somayye Abbasi 2 , Alinaghi Aghdasi 3 , Marziye Alivandi Vafa 4
1 -
2 - PhD student in Counseling, Counseling Department, Islamic Azad University, Research Sciences Branch, Tabriz, Iran
3 - Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology and Counseling, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran
4 - Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology and Counseling, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran
Keywords: Self-esteem, attachment styles, psychological hardiness, fear of marriage, students,
Abstract :
Background and Objective: Therefore, the present study was conducted with the aim of determining the relationship between self-esteem and secure style with fear of marriage in students mediated by psychological hardiness.
Methods: The present study was descriptive-correlational. The statistical population was all male and female students of Islamic Azad University, Sardasht Branch, 670 of whom were selected through purposive sampling. Rosenberg's self-esteem questionnaire , Hazan and Shaver's attachment styles, Ahvaz psychological hardiness, and Richard's fear of marriage were used to collect data. Data analysis was also performed using Spearman's correlation tests and structural equation modeling in SPSS and AMOS version 24 software.
Findings: Self-esteem had an inverse and significant effect on fear of marriage (β=-0.330, P<0.001). Safe style also had a significant and inverse effect on fear of marriage (β=-0.210, P<0.001). Psychological hardiness also had a significant effect on fear of marriage (β=-0.20, P<0.001). The indirect effect of self-esteem on fear of marriage through psychological hardiness was also significant (β=-0.054, P<0.001). At the same time, the indirect effect of safe style on fear of marriage through psychological hardiness was also significant (β=-0.062, P<0.001).
Conclusion: Self-esteem, safe style, and psychological hardiness had a significant inverse effect on fear of marriage, which emphasizes their reducing role in this phenomenon. Specifically, it was found that self-esteem and a secure style reduced fear of marriage not only directly.
Abbasi, S., Panah Ali, A., Aghdasi, A. N., & Aliwandi Wafa, M. (2023). Explaining the relationship of fear of marriage based on existential anxiety with the mediation of psychological toughness. Iranian Journal of Family Studies, 3(1), 113-133. (Full text in Persian)
Adhikari, P. (2017). Attitudes of present generation towards marriage: A survey of marriageable college students. Tribhuvan University Journal, 31, 167-184. https://doi.org/10.3126/tuj.v31i1-2.25353
Aghajani Saifollah, & Samadi Fard, H. (2018). Correlation of spiritual well-being with spiritual intelligence and emotional intelligence in students of Ardabil University. Health Promotion Management, 8(4), 1-7. (Full text in Persian)
Ahmadi, A., Zainalipour, H., & Rahmani, M. (2013). Studying the role of academic hardiness in academic achievement of students of Islamic Azad University, Bandar Abbas Branch. Journal of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, 3(6), 418-423. (Full text in Persian)
Alipour, S., & Zoghibi Qanad, S. (2016). Investigating the relationship between mindfulness and psychological well-being: The role of regulating strategic commitment and self-esteem. Research Papers in Positive Psychology, 3(2), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.22108/ppls.2017.103132.1071. (Full text in Persian)
Bandura, A. (1977). Self-efficacy: Toward a unifying theory of behavioral change. Psychological Review, 84(2), 191–215.
Banks, R. R. (2007). The aftermath of Loving v. Virginia: Sex asymmetry in African American intermarriage. Wisconsin Law Review, 533.
Baron, R. M., & Kenny, D. A. (1986). The moderator-mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51(6), 1173-1182.
Batool, S. S., & Khalid, R. (2017). Self-esteem, resilience, and social trust as mediators in the relationship between emotional intelligence and life satisfaction: A multivariate analysis. Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, 67(6), 854-858.
Becerra, M. B., Arias, D., Cha, L., & Becerra, B. J. (2021). Self-esteem among college students: The intersectionality of psychological distress, discrimination, and gender. Journal of Public Mental Health, 20(1), 15-23.
Behrouzi, N., Haghighi, J., Yousefi, N., & Beshlideh, K. (2011). Examining the factor structure of the Rosenberg self-esteem scale with three forms of positive and negative word processing and half positive and half negative items in students of Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz. Educational Psychology Studies, 9(15), 41-66. (Full text in Persian)
Bowlby, J. (1988). A Secure Base: Parent-Child Attachment and Healthy Human Development. Basic Books.
Emmons, R. A. (2000). Is spirituality an intelligence? Motivation, cognition, and the psychology of ultimate concern. International Journal of Psychology and Religion, 10(1), 3-26.
Emram, G. (2015). The multidimensional nature of secure attachment style: Effects on life decisions. Journal of Psychological Research, 34(3), 567-584.
Ercan, M., Koçak, O., & Ercan, F. Z. (2022). An investigation of the relationship between gender roles attitudes and self-esteem of married individuals. İçtimaiyat, 6(2), 704-716. https://doi.org/10.33709/ictimaiyat.1187299.Arkan, G., Koçak, E., & Arkan, B. (2016). Gender roles, self-esteem, and marital expectations. Journal of Psychology and Behavioral Science, 14(2), 34-45.
Gettens, C. M., & Fowler, C. A. (2018). Social support and academic engagement in college students: The importance of the relationship with faculty. Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice, 20(1), 51-63.
Ghafouri Varnosfadrani, M., Kamali, M., & Nouri, A. (2008). The relationship between progress motivation and psychological toughness with thrill seeking and responsibility. Knowledge Research in Applied Psychology, 10(35-36), 165-188. (Full text in Persian)
Greenberger, E., Chen, C., Dmitrieva, J., & Farruggia, S. P. (2003). Item wording and the dimensionality of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale: Do they matter? Journal of Personality and Individual Differences, 35(6), 1241-1254.
Hayes, A. F. (2018). Introduction to Mediation, Moderation, and Conditional Process Analysis: A Regression-Based Approach (2nd ed.). The Guilford Press.
King, D. B. (2008). Rethinking claims of spiritual intelligence: A definition, model, & measure (Thesis). Trent University, Ontario, Canada.
Kiyamrsie, A., Najarian, B., & Mehrabizadeh, M. (1998). Construction and validation of a scale to measure psychological hardiness. Psychological Journal, 2(3), 271-284. (Full text in Persian)
Lifebroar, A., & Rijken, F. (2017). Religious beliefs and marriage attitudes in young adults. Journal of Social Psychology, 28(4), 477-489.
Lyons-Ruth, K. (2015). Dissociation and the parent–infant dialogue: A longitudinal perspective from attachment research. Attachment, 9(3), 253-276.
Maddi, S. R. (2017). Resilience at Work: How to Succeed No Matter What Life Throws at You. McGraw-Hill Education.
Mikulincer, M., & Shaver, P. R. (2007). Attachment in Adulthood: Structure, Dynamics, and Change. Guilford Press.
Miller, D. L., Whitaker, T. R., & Bradford, P. G. (2015). Positive self-regard and romantic relationships: The role of self-esteem. Psychological Science, 25(7), 2030-2041.
Mohammadi, S., Kazemi Rezaei, S. A., Gasemi Argene, H., Kazemi Rezaei, S. V., & Mousavi, S. A. (2017). The relationship between personality dimensions with attachment styles and identity styles in students with hearing impairment. Journal of Clinical Mental Health, 4(1), 88-98.
Moradi, K., Asadzadeh, H., Karami, A., & Najafi, M. (2019). Modeling the academic achievements based on academic emotions and academic engagement with the mediating role of positive development youth. Educational Psychology, 15(51), 147-173. (Full text in Persian)
Pahlavani, M., et al. (2015). The role of self-esteem and self-efficacy in emotional well-being. Journal of Psychological and Behavioral Studies, 3(2), 56-63. (Full text in Persian)
Rosenberg, M. (2011). Society and the adolescent self-image. Princeton University Press.
Sadat Raqib, M., Siadat, S. A., Hakimini Nia, B., & Ahmadi, S. J. (2010). Validation of King's Spiritual Intelligence Scale (SISRI-24) in Isfahan University students. Psychological Achievements, 17(1), 141-164. (Full text in Persian)
Safari, H., Jenaabadi, H., Salmabadi, M., & Abasi, A. (2016). Prediction of academic aspiration based on spiritual intelligence and tenacity. Educational Strategies in Medical Sciences, 8(6), 7-12. (Full text in Persian)
Senmar, M., Azimian, J., Noorian, S., Aliakbari, M., & Chegini, N. (2023). Relationship between spiritual intelligence and lifestyle with life satisfaction among students of medical sciences. BMC Medical Education, 23, 520. (Full text in Persian)
Smith, K. (2016). Changing marriage patterns: The role of education. Marriage and Family Review, 42(5), 437-448.
Thompson, R. S., Garcia, M. E., & Peterson, L. M. (2017). Psychological hardiness and its relationship to anxiety and marriage. Journal of Marriage and Family Therapy, 29(2), 108-117.
Wright, M. D. (2016). Spirituality as a coping mechanism. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 41(3), 354-369.
Yoon, K. L., & Zinbarg, R. E. (2007). Generalized anxiety disorder and entry into marriage or a marriage-like relationship. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 21(7), 955-965. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2006.10.006
Yoon, M., Shim, S., & Jong, H. (2018). Self-esteem and its effects on relationships and marriage. Journal of Family Studies, 19(3), 267-278.
Zohar, D., & Marshall, I. N. (2000). SQ: Spiritual Intelligence, the Ultimate Intelligence. Bloomsbury Publishing.
Makhubela, M., & Mashegoane, S. (2017). Psychological validation of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) in South Africa: Method effects and dimensionality in black African and white university students. Journal of Psychology in Africa, 27(3), 277-281.
