1- Department of Psychology, Marvdasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Marvdasht, Iran 2- Department of Psychology, Marvdasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Marvdasht, Iran , nazanin48@gmail.com
Abstract: (15 Views)
Introduction: Marital instability may be influenced by self-silencing and covert threats, with perceived stress potentially mediating these associations among women affected by domestic violence in Fasa. Method: This descriptive-correlational study employed Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The statistical population comprised all women affected by domestic violence during 2025–2026 (1404–1405), totaling 1,329 individuals. Based on Kline’s (2023) recommendation that at least 10 participants per free parameter or a minimum sample size of 200 is required to obtain stable parameter estimates, a sample of 440 women aged 20–45 years was selected through convenience sampling. Participants completed the Domestic Violence Against Women Questionnaire (Mohseni Tabrizi et al., 2012), Marital Instability Index (Booth et al., 1987), Silencing the Self Scale (Jack, 1991), Relational Aggression in Couples Scale (Nelson & Carroll, 2006), and Perceived Stress Scale (Cohen et al., 1983). Data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with SPSS version 26 and AMOS version 24. Results: The findings indicated that self-silencing (β = 0.602, p < 0.0001), covert threats (β = 0.687, p < 0.0001), and perceived stress (β = 0.243, p < 0.0001) had significant direct effects on marital instability. Moreover, self-silencing (β = 0.343, p = 0.004) and covert threats (β = 0.432, p < 0.0001) had significant direct effects on perceived stress. Furthermore, self-silencing (β = 0.265, p < 0.0001) and covert threats (β = 0.154, p < 0.0001) had significant indirect effects on marital instability through perceived stress. Conclusion: Self-silencing and covert threats increase marital instability through perceived stress.
