To examine the mediating role of forgiveness flexibility in the relationship between attachment injuries and marital satisfaction of married individuals

The aim of this study is to examine the mediating role of forgiveness flexibility in the relationship between attachment injuries and marital satisfaction of married individuals. In addition, marital satisfaction, attachment injuries and forgiveness flexibility were examined in terms of various demographic variables. In this study, in which relational survey method was used, the participants were determined by convenient sampling method. In addition, the study sample consisted of a total of 462 people, 351 (76%) women and 111 (24%) men, who have been married for at least one year. The data were collected using the Demographic Information Form, Marital Attachment Injury Scale, Marital Life Satisfaction Scale and Flexibility of Forgiveness Scale. Data analysis was performed with SPSS.24 package program. Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient, independent sample t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to analyze the demographic variables of the study. In addition, hierarchical regression analysis was conducted to test the hypotheses of the study. Regression analysis based on the bootstrap method was used with 5000 resampling options. As a result of the analysis, it was determined that forgiveness flexibility mediated the relationship between attachment injury and marital satisfaction. There was a difference in the variables according to the status of being hurt and employment status. No significant difference was found in attachment injury and marital satisfaction according to gender, but it was found that women engaged in more forgiving behaviors. No significant difference was found in the variables according to age, number of children, and duration of marriage. In addition, it was determined that there was a significant negative relationship between attachment injury and both marital satisfaction and forgiveness flexibility, and a significant positive relationship between marital satisfaction and forgiveness flexibility. In addition, it was determined that forgiveness flexibility played a mediating role between attachment injury and marital satisfaction. The findings were discussed within the scope of the literature and suggestions were made for those working in this field. Keywords: marital satisfaction, attachment injuries, forgiveness flexibility, demographic variables, mediating role