Preventing Relationship Conflict: Investigating How Social Cognition Mediates the Link Between Marital Satisfaction and Attachment Styles in Couples

Abstract

Background: Communication problems and relational distress are among the primary predictors of marital dissatisfaction and instability. Marital satisfaction is a key component of mental health and family stability and is influenced by various psychological factors. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the mediating role of social cognition in the relationship between marital satisfaction and attachment styles. Methods: In this descriptive-correlational study based on structural equation modeling, a total of 220 individuals (153 women and 67 men) were selected from among married people in Zahedan, Iran. The ENRICH Marital Satisfaction (EMS) Questionnaire, Attachment Styles Questionnaire (ASQ), and the “Reading the Mind in the Eyes” and “Recognition of Emotional Facial Expressions” tests were used for data collection. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 25 software, and mediation analysis was performed with the Hayes PROCESS tool. Results: Secure attachment style and social cognition demonstrated a positive and significant relationship with marital satisfaction, while insecure preoccupied, fearful, and dismissing attachment styles showed a significant negative relationship with marital satisfaction (P < 0.001). Additionally, according to the results from hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis, the research variables explained more than 45% of the variance in marital satisfaction (R2 = 0.453). Conclusions: The mediation path analysis suggested a significant indirect effect of secure and insecure attachment styles on marital satisfaction. Furthermore, the social cognition model of marital satisfaction, with emphasis on attachment styles, was found to be a good fit for the studied sample. Therefore, it is recommended to address the importance of social cognition and parent-child relationships in the early years of life.