The mediating role of pyschological flexibility in marital satisfaction and self-disclousure to spouse levels among married individuals

This study examines marital satisfaction, self-disclosure to spouse, and psychological flexibility in married individuals based on demographic variables, and tests the mediating role of psychological flexibility between marital satisfaction and self-disclosure. The participants consist of 344 married individuals (237 women, 107 men) from various provinces across Turkiye. The study uses a descriptive and correlational research model. Data were collected using the Marital Life Scale, Self-Disclosure to Spouse Scale, Acceptance and Commitmend Questionnaire-II, and a Demographic Information Form. T-tests and one-way ANOVA were employed to assess differences in marital satisfaction, self-disclosure to spouse, and psychological flexibility, while Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) tested the mediating role. The findings indicate no significant gender differences in marital satisfaction, self-disclosure to spouse, or psychological flexibility. Individuals aged 21-30 had higher marital satisfaction and self-disclosure, while psychological flexibility did not vary by age. Those married for 1-11 months reported higher marital satisfaction, and those married for 5-10 years had greater psychological flexibility. Childless individuals had higher marital satisfaction and self-disclosure, while psychological flexibility was unaffected by the number of children. A negative relationship was found between marital satisfaction and the self-disclosure subdimensions of realization and openness, and a positive relationship with relationship quality. Psychological flexibility showed a positive relationship with realization and a negative relationship with openness and relationship quality. Finally, psychological flexibility partially mediated the relationship between marital satisfaction and self-disclosure to spouse.