The Relationship between Hostile Attribution and Divorce Proneness: Investigating the Mediating Role of Self-Differentiation in Women
Advances in Nursing & Midwifery,
Vol. 34 No. 1 (2025),
15 Dey 2025
,
Page 44-50
https://doi.org/10.22037/anm.v34i1.49069
Abstract
Introduction: Hostile attribution, interpreting a partner's ambiguous actions as
malicious, significantly contributes to marital conflict by perpetuating negative
interaction cycles and eroding trust. This investigation aimed to explore the
association between hostile attribution and divorce proneness in women, specifically
examining the mediating influence of self-differentiation.
Methods: This study adopted a cross-sectional correlational design. Data were
gathered from a convenience sample of 350 married women residing in Karaj, Iran,
during 2024. Participants completed a battery of standardized self-report measures,
specifically the Hostile Attribution Scale, the differentiation of Self Inventory, and the
Divorce Propensity Questionnaire. The collected data underwent statistical analysis
using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to thoroughly assess the hypothesized
direct and indirect relationships among the variables.
Results: Findings indicated a significant positive correlation between hostile
attribution and divorce proneness (r=0.40, P<0.001). Additionally, hostile attribution
was negatively correlated with self-differentiation (r=-0.30, P<0.001). Furthermore,
self-differentiation was negatively correlated with divorce proneness (r=-0.50,
P<0.001). Crucially, self-differentiation emerged as a statistically significant mediator
in the relationship between hostile attribution and divorce proneness. The structural
model demonstrated good fit (χ²/df=1.78, CFI=0.94, RMSEA=0.045).
Conclusions: These results suggest that hostile attribution contributes to a
diminished capacity for self-differentiation, which, in turn, increases a woman's
predisposition to divorce. Understanding this psychological pathway is vital for
developing targeted interventions aimed at fostering healthier relational cognitions
and enhancing marital resilience.
- Hostile attribution
- Divorce proneness
- Self-differentiation
- Marital conflict
- Women's health
How to Cite
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