The Role of Mediatory Factors of Hope and Forgiveness in Personality Traits Effect on Marital Satisfaction of Couples on the Verge of Divorce

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to investigate the role of mediatory factors of personality traits, hope and forgiveness in marital satisfaction of couples on the verge of divorce. The methodology used in this study was correlation method and the statistical sample included married couples on the verge of divorce in Mashhad, Iran, which 180 couples from counseling centers were selected in random. For data collection purpose, four questionnaires were used, including Five Factor Model of NEO Personality Inventory Revised (60-question form), Enrich Marital Satisfaction Scale (47-question form), Family Forgiveness Scale, by Pollard et al. and Schneider’s Hope scale (1991). Data analysis was performed by applying the statistical method of analysis with recursive models. Results confirmed the desired evaluation of the investigation model. They also revealed that sense of duty has a positive and significant effect and neuroticism has a negative and significant impact on the marital satisfaction. Also, hope and forgiveness have mediatory roles in this relationship. Moreover, results showed the positive and significant effect of experientialism on the marital satisfaction but hope and forgiveness, as personality traits, have no mediatory roles in this relation. therefore consequence, neuroticism and sense of duty have effect on the marital satisfaction through hope and forgiveness, as personality traits. each of three variables including personality traits, hope and forgiveness can result in increasing the marital satisfaction of married couples on the verge of divorce.

Keywords

• personality traits
• forgiveness
• hope
• marital satisfaction