مطالب

Objective: The present study aimed to determine the model fit based on the relationship between parents' religious orientation and the tendency towards critical thinking and happiness with the mediating role of cognitive flexibility in female high school students. Method: This descriptive correlational study was conducted with a population of teenage girls from public high schools in the city of Chalus. A sample of 319 participants was selected using cluster random sampling. Data collection tools included the Ricketts Critical Thinking Questionnaire (2003), the Dennis and Vander Wal Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (2010), the Allport and Ross Religious Orientation Questionnaire (1967), and the Oxford Happiness Inventory (Argyle et al., 1989). Findings: Results showed a significant positive relationship between religious orientation and critical thinking tendency (r = 0.45, p < 0.05), happiness (r = 0.41, p < 0.05), and cognitive flexibility (r = 0.68, p < 0.05). There was also a significant positive relationship between cognitive flexibility and the tendency towards critical thinking (r = 0.73, p < 0.01) and happiness (r = 0.69, p < 0.01). Conclusions: Based on the results of structural equation modeling, the model based on the relationship between parents' religious orientation and the tendency towards critical thinking and happiness with the mediating role of cognitive flexibility among students is adequately fitted. The application of promoting religious duties and training in cognitive flexibility to enhance happiness and critical thinking tendency in students could be considered in experimental studies by researchers, educational planners, and counselors.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between early maladaptive schemas (EMS), alexithymia, and emotional divorce among married female students, focusing on their predictive roles in marital detachment. Methods: A correlational design was employed with 240 married female students recruited via convenience sampling from Islamic Azad University, Tonekabon Branch (2023–2024 academic year). Participants completed validated self-report measures: the Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form (YSQ-SF; Young, 1995) assessing EMS across five domains (e.g., Impaired Limits, Other-Directedness), the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20; Bagby et al., 1994) measuring alexithymia subscales (Difficulty Identifying Feelings, Difficulty Describing Feelings, Externally Oriented Thinking), and the Gottman Emotional Divorce Questionnaire (GEDQ; Gottman, 1997). Data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation and stepwise regression via SPSS-26, with significance set at *p* < .01. Findings: Significant correlations emerged between EMS domains, alexithymia, and emotional divorce (*r* = 0.18–0.53, *p* < .01). Stepwise regression revealed Impaired Limits as the strongest predictor (β = 0.39, *p* < .01), explaining 15% of variance, followed by incremental contributions from Difficulty Identifying Feelings (ΔR² = 3%, β = 0.23), Other-Directedness (ΔR² = 1%, β = 0.13), Externally Oriented Thinking (ΔR² = 2%, β = 0.18), and Impaired Autonomy (ΔR² = 2%, β = -0.22), cumulatively accounting for 23% of variance (F = 15.16, *p* < .01). Negative β for Impaired Autonomy suggested suppression effects. Conclusion: EMS and alexithymia significantly predict emotional divorce, with Impaired Limits and emotion-regulation deficits being central drivers. Findings underscore the need for schema-focused interventions (e.g., schema therapy) and emotion-regulation training in marital counseling to mitigate detachment. Future research should explore dyadic interactions and cultural moderators to refine predictive models.