Predicting Emotional Divorce Based on Early Maladaptive Schemas and Frustration Tolerance in Married Women: The Mediating Role of Cognitive Flexibility

Mahsa  Izadi; Elham Zohrabnia; Zahra Atarandovom; Mozhgan  Maghsoodi

Authors

Mahsa Izadi Department of Counseling, ST.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. Author https://orcid.org/0009-0000-1837-6426
Elham Zohrabnia Department of Counseling, ST.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. Corresponding Author https://orcid.org/0009-0000-1837-6426
Zahra Atarandovom Department of Counseling, ST.C, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. Author https://orcid.org/0009-0006-1728-6713
Mozhgan Maghsoodi Department of Counseling, ST.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. Author https://orcid.org/0009-0004-8796-0051

Keywords:

Emotional Divorce, Early Maladaptive Schemas, Frustration Tolerance, Cognitive Flexibility, Married Women, Structural Equation Modeling

Abstract

This study aimed to predict emotional divorce based on early maladaptive schemas and frustration tolerance in married women, with cognitive flexibility examined as a mediating variable. The present study was applied in purpose and descriptive-correlational in design, using partial least squares structural equation modeling. The statistical population consisted of married women aged 20–50 years residing in District 5 of Tehran, Iran, who had been married for at least two years. Using purposive sampling, 350 women were included in the final analysis. Data were collected using the Emotional Divorce Questionnaire, Young Schema Questionnaire–Short Form, Cognitive Flexibility Inventory, and Frustration Tolerance Questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlations were analyzed in SPSS version 26, while the measurement and structural models were evaluated using SmartPLS version 4. The mediating effects were tested through bootstrapping with 5,000 resamples and 95% confidence intervals. Early maladaptive schemas significantly and positively predicted emotional divorce (β = .199, t = 6.038, p = .001), whereas frustration tolerance significantly and negatively predicted emotional divorce (β = −.115, t = 2.309, p = .021). Early maladaptive schemas significantly and negatively predicted cognitive flexibility (β = −.643, t = 12.376, p = .001), while frustration tolerance significantly and positively predicted cognitive flexibility (β = .243, t = 2.749, p = .006). Cognitive flexibility significantly predicted emotional divorce (β = .112, t = 3.299, p = .001). The indirect effect of early maladaptive schemas on emotional divorce through cognitive flexibility was significant (β = −.072, t = 3.312, p = .001), as was the indirect effect of frustration tolerance through cognitive flexibility (β = .027, t = 2.178, p = .029). The findings indicate that early maladaptive schemas and frustration tolerance are significant predictors of emotional divorce and that cognitive flexibility plays a meaningful mediating role in these relationships, highlighting the importance of targeting cognitive rigidity and frustration management in marital counseling interventions.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Al-Shahrani, H. F., & Ahmed Hammad, M. (2023). Relationship between Emotional Divorce and Alexithymia among Married Women in Saudi Arabia. BMC psychology, 11(1), 217. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-023-01236-w

Alipour, F. (2024). A Meta-Analysis of Educational and Therapeutic Psychological Interventions on Cognitive Flexibility of Iranian Children and Adolescents. Social Cognition, 13(25), 1-18.

Askari, A., & Ghasemifard, M. (2024). Predicting Emotional Divorce Based on Family Communication Patterns and Self-Differentiation with the Mediating Role of Early Maladaptive Schemas. Family and Health, 14(2), 211-230.

Deng, W., Cannon, T. D., & Joormann, J. (2023). Social Impression Formation and Depression: Examining Cognitive Flexibility and Bias. Cognition & Emotion, 37(1), 137-146.

Ekinci, B., & Canpolat, M. (2025). Romantic Relationship Satisfaction and Marriage Attitudes in Young Adults: The Mediating Role of Cognitive Flexibility.

Güler, K., & Özer, E. (2025). The Mediating Role of Early Maladaptive Schemas in the Relationship between Intimate Relationship Experiences and Sexual Satisfaction in Women. Kıbrıs Türk Psikiyatri ve Psikoloji Dergisi, 7(2), 177-185.

Joiner, R. J., Bradbury, T. N., Lavner, J. A., Meltzer, A. L., McNulty, J. K., Neff, L. A., & Karney, B. R. (2024). Are Changes in Marital Satisfaction Sustained and Steady, or Sporadic and Dramatic? American psychologist, 79(2), 225-240. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0001237

Karimi, N., & Parandin, S. (2025). The Role of Couples' Interaction Patterns in Marital Burnout and Emotional Divorce with the Mediation of Emotional Maturity among Divorce-Seeking Clients. Psychological Research and Behavioral Science Studies, 3(3), 84-104.

Karimi, Z., Dortaj, F., & Sadipour, E. (2026). The Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Cognitive Flexibility and Cognitive Emotion Regulation in Anxious Female Students. Journal of Applied Psychological Research.

Kover, L., Szollosi, G. J., Frecska, E., Bugan, A., Berecz, R., & Egerhazi, A. (2024). The Association between Early Maladaptive Schemas and Romantic Relationship Satisfaction. Frontiers in psychology, 15, 1460723. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1460723

Laing, C. (2026). Emotional Schema: A Systematic Review of Measures and Development of a New Measure.

Marvi, M., Sadeghi, E., & Samkhaniani, E. (2026). The Relationship between Body Image, Emotional Maturity, and Rejection Sensitivity with Emotional Divorce in Women on the Verge of Divorce. Mental Health and Lifestyle Journal, 4(1), 1-14.

Masoumi, T., Manshei, G., & Farhadi, H. (2025). Comparing the Effectiveness of Combined Virtual Reality and Mindfulness Therapy with a Brief Mindfulness Intervention on Cognitive Flexibility in Individuals with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Journal of Psychological Science, 24(150), 275-291.

Mirahmadi, L., & Amini, M. (2025). Exploring the Efficacy of Schema Therapy-Based Training on Enhancing Self-Compassion and Cognitive Flexibility among Divorced Women. The Family Journal, 33(3), 399-406. https://doi.org/10.1177/1066480724134567

Najafi Tavana, A., & Jamshidi, M. (2023). A Criminological Examination of Domestic Violence against Women and Its Impact on Divorce. Judicial Legal Perspectives, 28(101), 225-250.

Nallepalli, V., & Murugesan, S. K. (2025). Enhancing Marital Resilience through Psychological Flexibility: An Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-Based Case Study. IAPS Journal of Practice in Mental Health, 3(1), 25-32.

Ostovar, N. (2024). A Meta-Analysis of the Role of Early Maladaptive Schemas in Indicators of Couple Relationships. Quarterly Journal of New Psychological Research, 19(74), 133-145.

Özdemir, A., & Yıldırım, M. (2024). Cognitive Flexibility Moderates the Association between Social Anxiety and Depression in Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Studies. Journal of affective disorders, 348, 143-152.

Parseh, A., Rezaei Mehr, F., & Forouzesh, H. R. (2025). Predicting Tendency toward Emotional Divorce Based on Distress Tolerance and the Mediating Role of the Experience of Emotional Failure in Married Women in Yasuj Seventh National Conference on Professional Research in Psychology and Counseling with a Teacher-Perspective Approach, Minab.

Pourmoghadad, S., Dokaneyi Fard, F., & Behboudi, M. (2024). Predicting Marital Relationship Quality and Marital Adjustment Based on Early Maladaptive Schemas and Resilience in Married Women. Rooyesh-e-Ravanshenasi, 13(7), 81-90.

Pourrahimi, J., Zeinali, A., & Shaker Doulgh, A. (2025). The Effectiveness of Emotion-Focused Couple Therapy on Marital Burnout and Dysfunctional Attitudes in Couples Experiencing Emotional Divorce. Journal of Psychological Science, 24(148), 137-152.

Prasko, J., Gecaite-Stonciene, J., Abeltina, M., Ociskova, M., Vanek, J., Krone, I., & Juskiene, A. (2026). Integrating Existential Perspectives into Schema Therapy: A Conceptual Framework with Clinical Illustrations. Psychology research and behavior management, 595379.

Rajaei, Y., Yarmohammadi Vasel, S., Zoughi Paydar, M., & Haghtalab, T. (2024). The Role of Early Maladaptive Schemas in the Disconnection and Rejection Domain in Predicting Psychological Maltreatment in Childhood. Quarterly Journal of New Psychological Research, 19(75), 125-133.

Rezapur Chors, F., Nokati, M., & Mayeli, M. (2024). Comparison of Enmeshed Family Boundaries in Students with and without Early Maladaptive Schemas. Journal of Psychological Science, 23(143), 265-279.

Sadeghi, P., Nikamal, M., & Poursaleh Nobideh, M. (2024). Structural Equation Modeling of Sexual Satisfaction Based on Early Maladaptive Schemas with the Mediating Role of Irrational Beliefs in Women with Marital Conflicts. Quarterly Journal of New Psychological Research, 19(76), 274-287.

Sheikh Bahaei, S., & Ghamarani, A. (2024). The Effectiveness of a Cognitive-Behavioral-Spiritual Intervention on Hope among Children from Families Experiencing Emotional Divorce. Quarterly Journal of Iranian Islamic Family Studies, 4(1), 49-64.

Shoaa Kazemi, M., Hamamra, B., Hosseini, S., Bdier, D., & Mahamid, F. (2026). Predicting Marital Infidelity Based on Incompatible Mental Schemas and Emotional Divorce in Women Referring to Counseling Centers in Iran. Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse, 1-17.

Thimm, J. C. (2024). Predicting Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration from Early Maladaptive Schemas and DSM-5 and ICD-11 Personality Traits. Current Psychology, 43(24), 21083-21095. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-024-05984-4

Yıldırım, A., & Özkamalı, E. (2025). Emotion Regulation, Conflict Resolution, and Marital Satisfaction: The Mediating Role of Distress Tolerance and Cognitive Flexibility. Journal of Teacher Education and Lifelong Learning, 7(2), 305-318.