Explaining a Model of Marital Adjustment Based on Irrational Beliefs and Conflict Resolution Strategies: The Mediating Role of Cognitive Flexibility and the Moderating Role of Marital Duration

Objective: The present study aimed to explain a model of marital adjustment based on irrational beliefs and conflict resolution strategies, with the mediating role of cognitive flexibility and the moderating role of marital duration. Methods and Materials: The research method was applied in terms of objective, and descriptive-correlational in terms of data collection strategy. The statistical population included all married couples residing in Tehran in 2024. The sample size consisted of 453 men and 453 women, selected through cluster random sampling. The instruments used in this study included a researcher-made demographic questionnaire, the Dyadic Adjustment Scale by Spanier (1986), the Irrational Beliefs Test by Jones (1986), the Conflict Resolution Questionnaire by Weeks (1994), and the Cognitive Flexibility Inventory by Dennis and Vander Wal (2010). Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling through SPSS version 21 and AMOS version 7. Findings: The results of the data analysis indicated that the model fit indices were acceptable, and the structural model was deemed valid. Furthermore, a significant inverse relationship was found between irrational beliefs and marital adjustment at the 95% confidence level, indicating that irrational beliefs negatively impact marital adjustment. A significant positive relationship was observed between conflict resolution strategies and marital adjustment at the 95% confidence level, suggesting that these strategies have a positive effect on marital adjustment. Additionally, irrational beliefs were significantly and negatively related to cognitive flexibility at the 95% confidence level, meaning that irrational beliefs reduce cognitive flexibility. Moreover, irrational beliefs affected marital adjustment through cognitive flexibility at a statistically significant level (95% confidence), indicating a mediating role of cognitive flexibility in this relationship. Conflict resolution strategies were also found to affect marital adjustment through cognitive flexibility at the 95% confidence level, implying the mediating effect of cognitive flexibility. Finally, marital duration moderated the relationship between irrational beliefs and marital adjustment but did not moderate the relationship between conflict resolution strategies and marital adjustment. Conclusion: Therefore, enhancing cognitive flexibility and modifying irrational beliefs may improve marital adjustment, particularly over time, as the impact of these psychological factors on relational dynamics can become more pronounced with marital duration.