The Relationship Between Anger Rumination and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation whit Marital Status Among Married Individuals

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the relationship of anger rumination and difficulties in emotion regulation with marital status among married individuals in Rasht. This applied study used a descriptive-correlational design based on structural equation modeling. The statistical population consisted of all married women and men residing in Rasht, Iran, in 2025. Using Cochran’s formula for an unlimited population, 384 participants were selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using the Golombok Rust Inventory of Marital State, the Anger Rumination Scale, and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale. Pearson correlation coefficients and structural equation modeling were used for data analysis. Preliminary and correlational analyses were performed using SPSS version 26, while structural modeling was conducted using AMOS. Anger rumination was positively and significantly correlated with marital-status scores (r=0.494, p<0.01). Difficulties in emotion regulation were also positively and significantly associated with marital-status scores (r=0.540, p<0.01). A significant positive correlation was additionally found between anger rumination and difficulties in emotion regulation (r=0.375, p<0.01). Structural modeling showed that anger rumination had a significant positive direct effect on marital status (β=0.323, C.R.=5.452, p<0.001). Difficulties in emotion regulation also had a significant positive direct effect on marital status (β=0.396, C.R.=6.487, p<0.001). Because higher marital-status scores indicated greater marital deterioration, these positive coefficients reflected an association between higher levels of the predictors and poorer marital functioning. Higher levels of anger rumination and difficulties in emotion regulation were associated with poorer marital functioning. These findings suggest that emotional-regulation difficulties and persistent anger-related cognitive processing are important psychological correlates of marital problems and may deserve attention in marital assessment and intervention.