The Mediating Role of Resilience and Self-Compassion in the Relationship Between Perceived Stress and Psychological Distress with Marital Adjustment During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the mediating role of resilience and self-compassion in the relationship between perceived stress and psychological distress with marital adjustment among individuals attending counseling centers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This research was conducted using a descriptive-correlational methodology through the structural equation modeling approach. The population included all individuals with marital discord attending private counseling centers in Isfahan during the winter of 2021, who were experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 150 people were selected through convenience sampling and responded to the research instruments. Research Instruments: The instruments included the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (Kessler et al., 2003), the Spanier Marital Adjustment Scale (Spanier, 1976), the Self-Compassion Scale by Neff et al. (2011), the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (Connor & Davidson, 2003), and the Perceived COVID-19 Stress Scale by Campo-Arias et al. (2020). Data were analyzed using PLS software and structural equation modeling. Findings: The results indicated that the effect of stress on resilience was significant (t=7.61), stress on self-compassion (t=3.91), resilience on adjustment (t=9.34), compassion on marital adjustment (t=2.09), psychological distress on resilience (t=5.4), and psychological distress on self-compassion (t=2.56) were significant (p≤0.05), and resilience and self-compassion played mediating roles between the variables. Conclusion: According to the findings of this study, reducing perceived stress and psychological distress impacts increasing resilience and self-compassion, and with the enhancement of self-compassion and resilience, marital adjustment improves.