The Mediating Role of Relationship Effort in the Link between Marital Centrality, Marital Permanence, and Marital Relationship Quality

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Master's student Family Department of Counseling, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran.

2 Associate Professor, Department of Counseling, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran.

3 Department of Counseling, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran

10.22034/ijwf.2026.22303.2524

Abstract

Objective: The present study aimed to examine the relationship between marital relationship quality and marital salience and marital permanence, and to test the mediating role of relationship effort in these associations.
Method:
This descriptive–correlational study used a structural equation modeling approach. The statistical population included all married men and women in Isfahan, from whom a sample was selected through convenience sampling based on the study’s inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data were collected using Norton’s Marital Quality Questionnaire, the Relationship Effort Scale developed by Halford and colleagues, and the Marital Paradigms Scale by Willoughby and Hall. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficients and structural equation modeling, and indirect effects were examined using bootstrap procedures.
Results: The findings indicated that marital salience directly and positively predicted relationship effort and marital relationship quality. Marital permanence also directly and positively predicted relationship effort and marital relationship quality. In addition, relationship effort directly predicted marital relationship quality. Bootstrap results supported significant indirect effects of both marital salience and marital permanence on marital relationship quality through relationship effort.
Conclusion: Overall, marital salience and marital permanence were associated with higher marital relationship quality both directly and indirectly through increased relationship effort. Therefore, educational and counseling interventions that strengthen positive beliefs about marriage and emphasize sustained commitment and purposeful relationship effort may contribute to improving marital relationship quality.

Keywords

Main Subjects

The Islamic Journal Of Women and The Family

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 30 June 2026

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics