Investigating 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. Understanding the roles of self-compassion and spiritual well-being in marital satisfaction becomes particularly important in this context. This study examines the...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Bahareh Bahadori, Parviz Asgari, Farah Naderi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Qom University of Medical Sciences 2025-02-01
Series:Health, Spirituality and Medical Ethics
Subjects:
Online Access:http://jhsme.muq.ac.ir/article-1-599-en.pdf
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849470630071631872
author Bahareh Bahadori
Parviz Asgari
Farah Naderi
author_facet Bahareh Bahadori
Parviz Asgari
Farah Naderi
author_sort Bahareh Bahadori
collection DOAJ
description Background and Objectives: Married university students frequently face the dual demands of academic pursuits and personal relationships. Understanding the roles of self-compassion and spiritual well-being in marital satisfaction becomes particularly important in this context. This study 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 356 married students from Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran, was recruited in 2023. The data were collected using the marital satisfaction scale (MSS), spiritual well-being scale (SWBS), state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI), and self-compassion questionnaire-long form. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS software, version 26 and AMOS software, version 26. Results: Self-compassion (β=-0.19, P=0.007) and spiritual well-being (β=-0.11, P=0.008) had significant negative correlations with anxiety. Additionally, self-compassion (β=0.21, P=0.001), spiritual well-being (β=0.10, P<0.020), and anxiety (β=-0.19, P=0.001) 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=0.013). Conclusion: 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.
format Article
id doaj-art-33037545e1fa4e339ccf3c182de2af42
institution Kabale University
issn 2322-4304
2383-3610
language English
publishDate 2025-02-01
publisher Qom University of Medical Sciences
record_format Article
series Health, Spirituality and Medical Ethics
spelling doaj-art-33037545e1fa4e339ccf3c182de2af422025-08-20T03:25:07ZengQom University of Medical SciencesHealth, Spirituality and Medical Ethics2322-43042383-36102025-02-011212736Investigating the Relationship Between Self-compassion, Spiritual Well-being, and Marital Satisfaction Among Married University Students: The Mediating Role of AnxietyBahareh Bahadori0Parviz Asgari1Farah Naderi2 Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran. Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran. Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran. Background and Objectives: Married university students frequently face the dual demands of academic pursuits and personal relationships. Understanding the roles of self-compassion and spiritual well-being in marital satisfaction becomes particularly important in this context. This study 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 356 married students from Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran, was recruited in 2023. The data were collected using the marital satisfaction scale (MSS), spiritual well-being scale (SWBS), state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI), and self-compassion questionnaire-long form. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS software, version 26 and AMOS software, version 26. Results: Self-compassion (β=-0.19, P=0.007) and spiritual well-being (β=-0.11, P=0.008) had significant negative correlations with anxiety. Additionally, self-compassion (β=0.21, P=0.001), spiritual well-being (β=0.10, P<0.020), and anxiety (β=-0.19, P=0.001) 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=0.013). Conclusion: 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.http://jhsme.muq.ac.ir/article-1-599-en.pdfself-compassionpsychological well-beingspiritual therapiesmarriageanxietystudents
spellingShingle Bahareh Bahadori
Parviz Asgari
Farah Naderi
Investigating the Relationship Between Self-compassion, Spiritual Well-being, and Marital Satisfaction Among Married University Students: The Mediating Role of Anxiety
Health, Spirituality and Medical Ethics
self-compassion
psychological well-being
spiritual therapies
marriage
anxiety
students
title Investigating the Relationship Between Self-compassion, Spiritual Well-being, and Marital Satisfaction Among Married University Students: The Mediating Role of Anxiety
title_full Investigating the Relationship Between Self-compassion, Spiritual Well-being, and Marital Satisfaction Among Married University Students: The Mediating Role of Anxiety
title_fullStr Investigating the Relationship Between Self-compassion, Spiritual Well-being, and Marital Satisfaction Among Married University Students: The Mediating Role of Anxiety
title_full_unstemmed Investigating the Relationship Between Self-compassion, Spiritual Well-being, and Marital Satisfaction Among Married University Students: The Mediating Role of Anxiety
title_short Investigating the Relationship Between Self-compassion, Spiritual Well-being, and Marital Satisfaction Among Married University Students: The Mediating Role of Anxiety
title_sort investigating the relationship between self compassion spiritual well being and marital satisfaction among married university students the mediating role of anxiety
topic self-compassion
psychological well-being
spiritual therapies
marriage
anxiety
students
url http://jhsme.muq.ac.ir/article-1-599-en.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT baharehbahadori investigatingtherelationshipbetweenselfcompassionspiritualwellbeingandmaritalsatisfactionamongmarrieduniversitystudentsthemediatingroleofanxiety
AT parvizasgari investigatingtherelationshipbetweenselfcompassionspiritualwellbeingandmaritalsatisfactionamongmarrieduniversitystudentsthemediatingroleofanxiety
AT farahnaderi investigatingtherelationshipbetweenselfcompassionspiritualwellbeingandmaritalsatisfactionamongmarrieduniversitystudentsthemediatingroleofanxiety