Structural Relationships Between Metacognitive Beliefs and Willingness to Marry: The Mediating Roles of Interpersonal Communication Skills and Cognitive Flexibility

Niloofar Abasi; Fatemeh Alijani; Vahideh Babakhani; Jafar  Pouyamanesh

Authors

Niloofar Abasi Department of Counseling, Ab.C., Islamic Azad University, Abhar, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0009-0005-6027-9722
Fatemeh Alijani Department of Counseling, Ab.C., Islamic Azad University, Abhar, Iran Corresponding Author https://orcid.org/0009-0002-0017-4011
Vahideh Babakhani Department of Counseling, Ab.C., Islamic Azad University, Abhar, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9071-0871
Jafar Pouyamanesh Department of Psychology, Ab.C., Islamic Azad University, Abhar, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7616-3442

Keywords:

metacognitive beliefs, interpersonal communication skills, cognitive flexibility

Abstract

Marriage, as one of the most fundamental social institutions, plays a central role in individuals’ physical, psychological, and social health. The present study aimed to test a structural model of willingness to marry based on metacognitive beliefs, with interpersonal communication skills and cognitive flexibility as mediating variables among unmarried young adults. In terms of purpose, this was an applied study, and in terms of data collection, it employed a correlational design based on structural equation modeling. The statistical population consisted of all unmarried male and female students at the West Tehran Branch of Islamic Azad University during 2025–2026, from whom 350 participants were selected using convenience sampling. The research instruments included the Marriage Willingness Questionnaire (Heidari, Mazaheri, & Pour-Etemad, 2003), the Metacognitions Questionnaire (Wells & Cartwright-Hatton, 2004), the Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (Dennis & Vander Wal, 2010), and the Communication Skills Questionnaire (Queendom, 2004). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26 and PLS version 3. The results indicated that metacognitive beliefs had significant positive direct effects on interpersonal communication skills, cognitive flexibility, and willingness to marry (p < .05). Interpersonal communication skills also had a significant positive direct effect on willingness to marry (p < .05), whereas the direct effect of cognitive flexibility on willingness to marry was not significant (p > .05). Interpersonal communication skills significantly mediated the relationship between metacognitive beliefs and willingness to marry (p < .05), whereas cognitive flexibility did not demonstrate a significant mediating role (p > .05). The model-fit indices, including SRMR, d_ULS, d_G, and NFI, were all within acceptable ranges and supported the satisfactory fit of the model. Based on these findings, marriage and family counselors and specialists are recommended to focus on modifying dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs and enhancing clients’ interpersonal communication skills in premarital interventions, thereby increasing their willingness to marry.

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