Network Analysis of Couples’ Communication Patterns in Predicting Emotional Divorce
Keywords:
Emotional divorce, communication patterns, network analysis, couple relationships, emotional intimacyAbstract
This study aimed to model couples’ communication patterns using network analysis and examine their predictive role in emotional divorce among couples in Tehran This quantitative correlational study was conducted on 380 married couples selected through multistage cluster sampling from Tehran. Data were collected using standardized questionnaires assessing couples’ communication patterns, emotional intimacy, emotional support, and emotional divorce. Network analysis and network-based regression models were applied to estimate centrality indices and model fit. Results indicated that the communication network significantly predicted emotional divorce. Emotional intimacy, emotional support, and constructive dialogue showed significant negative effects on emotional divorce, whereas emotional distance, demand–withdraw pattern, hostile communication, and communication avoidance exhibited significant positive effects. The network model explained over 60% of the variance in emotional divorce, demonstrating strong predictive accuracy and model fit. Network analysis provides a robust framework for capturing the complex dynamics of couples’ relationships and offers substantial potential for early detection and prevention of emotional divorce.
Downloads
References
Al-Dmour, S. M., & Arabiyat, A. A. h. (2024). The Predictive Ability of Marital Distress in Emotional Divorce Among Married Teachers in Karak Governorate. Jordanian Educational Journal, 9(2), 343-368. https://doi.org/10.46515/jaes.v9i2.710
Bachmann, J., Krüger, B., Keck, J., Munzert, J., & Zabicki, A. (2020). When the Timing Is Right: The Link Between Temporal Coupling in Dyadic Interactions and Emotion Recognition. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/rkg3j
Boiger, M., Kirchner‐Häusler, A., Schouten, A., Uchida, Y., & Mesquita, B. (2022). Different Bumps in the Road: The Emotional Dynamics of Couple Disagreements in Belgium and Japan. Emotion, 22(5), 805-819. https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0000910
Bouchard, K., Gareau, A., McKee, K., Lalande, K., Greenman, P. S., & Tulloch, H. (2023). Dyadic Patterns of Mental Health and Quality of Life Change in Partners and Patients During Three Months of Cardiac Rehabilitation. Journal of Family Psychology, 37(8), 1315-1321. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000898
Brandão, T. (2024). Perceived Emotional Invalidation, Psychological Distress and Relationship Satisfaction in Couples: An Actor–Partner Interdependence Mediation Analysis. Psychological Reports. https://doi.org/10.1177/00332941241279372
Bulling, L. J., Hilpert, P., Bertschi, I., Ivic, A., & Bodenmann, G. (2023). Associations Between Vocal Arousal and Dyadic Coping During Couple Interactions After a Stress Induction. International Journal of Applied Positive Psychology, 8(S2), 187-204. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41042-023-00087-5
Carlson, R. G., Gao, R., Gordon, R., Go, J., Taylor, D. D., & Barden, S. M. (2023). Examining Intervention Hours Attended for Couples Randomly Assigned to Receive Relationship Education. Journal of marital and family therapy, 49(3), 561-580. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12644
Deng, J., Wang, M., Mu, W., Li, S., Zhu, N., Luo, X. J., Yi, L., Wu, Y., Wang, K., & Zhou, M. (2024). The Relationship Between Addictive Use of Short-Video Platforms and Marital Satisfaction in Older Chinese Couples: An Asymmetrical Dyadic Process. Behavioral Sciences, 14(5), 364. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14050364
Don, B. P., Eller, J., Simpson, J. A., Fredrickson, B. L., Algoe, S. B., Rholes, W. S., & Mickelson, K. D. (2022). New Parental Positivity: The Role of Positive Emotions in Promoting Relational Adjustment During the Transition to Parenthood. Journal of personality and social psychology, 123(1), 84-106. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspi0000371
Fischer, M. S., Baucom, D. H., Abramowitz, J. S., & Baucom, B. (2023). Interpersonal Emotion Dynamics in Obsessive–compulsive Disorder: Associations With Symptom Severity, Accommodation, and Treatment Outcome. Couple and Family Psychology Research and Practice, 12(4), 278-286. https://doi.org/10.1037/cfp0000218
Hilpert, P., Brick, T. R., Flückiger, C., Vowels, M. J., Ceulemans, E., Kuppens, P., & Sels, L. (2020). What Can Be Learned From Couple Research: Examining Emotional Co-Regulation Processes in Face-to-Face Interactions. Journal of counseling psychology, 67(4), 475-487. https://doi.org/10.1037/cou0000416
Hilpert, P., Vowels, M. J., Mestdagh, M., & Sels, L. (2023). Emotion Dynamic Patterns Between Intimate Relationship Partners Predict Their Separation Two Years Later: A Machine Learning Approach. PLoS One, 18(7), e0288048. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0288048
Horvat, K., & Šipek, T. (2023). Ljubavna Mržnja: Psihodinamika Odnosa Visokokonfliktnih Parova U Razvodu. Annual of Social Work, 29(2), 305-325. https://doi.org/10.3935/ljsr.v29i2.476
Khorami, Z. M., Dokaneifard, F., & Khakpour, R. (2021). Providing a Model for Predicting Emotional Divorce Based on Attachment Style, and Sexual Function Components in Women: The Mediating Role of Emotional Intelligence. Aftj, 2(3), 25-50. https://doi.org/10.61838/kman.aftj.2.3.2
Kordoutis, P., & Moschos, M. (2024). The Interplay Between Alexithymia and Insecure Attachment on Relationship Quality. Aftj, 5(5), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.61838/kman.aftj.5.5.1
Kreuzer, M., & Gollwitzer, M. (2021). Neuroticism and Satisfaction in Romantic Relationships: A Systematic Investigation of Intra- And Interpersonal Processes With a Longitudinal Approach. European Journal of Personality, 36(2), 149-179. https://doi.org/10.1177/08902070211001258
Lee, K. D. M., Rodriguez, L. M., Edwards, K. M., & Neal, A. M. (2020). Emotional Dysregulation and Intimate Partner Violence: A Dyadic Perspective. Psychology of violence, 10(2), 162-171. https://doi.org/10.1037/vio0000248
Lee, Y. E. (2022). Relations Between Childhood Emotional Insecurity, Self‐esteem, and Adulthood Marital Conflict in South Korea. Family Relations, 72(4), 1926-1941. https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12743
Li, S., Solomon, D. H., & Brisini, K. S. (2023). Relational Turbulence and Couples’ Convergence and Divergence in Weekly Highs and Lows During Three Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 41(4), 771-793. https://doi.org/10.1177/02654075231215270
Manvelian, A., Fivecoat, H. C., Milek, A., & Lawrence, E. (2021). Ending the Silo Effect: A Test of the Relational Domain Spillover Model. Family Process, 61(3), 1229-1247. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12728
Masumoto, K., Harada, K., & Shiozaki, M. (2021). Effect of Emotion Regulation on Mental Health of Couples in Long‐Term Marriages: One‐Year Follow‐up Study. Japanese Psychological Research, 64(3), 360-368. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpr.12325
Petrocchi, S., Filipponi, C., & Schulz, P. J. (2021). A Longitudinal Application of the Actor Partner Interdependence Model Extended Mediations to the Health Effects of Dyadic Support. PLoS One, 16(7), e0254716. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0254716
Relvas, A. P., Lacomba‐Trejo, L., Portugal, A., Chiarolanza, C., Major, S., Rosa, C., Sotero, L., & Randall, A. K. (2023). YES, WE COPE: Dyadic Coping as a Mediator Between Perceived Relationship Quality and Emotional Representation of COVID-19. Cognitive therapy and research, 47(4), 563-573. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-023-10379-4
Richter, M., Kouri, G., Meuwly, N., & Schoebi, D. (2024). Rejection in Romantic Relationships: Does Rejection Sensitivity Modulate Emotional Responses to Perceptions of Negative Interactions? BMC psychology, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-01864-w
Salayani, F., Ebrahimabad, M. J. A., Beshārat, M. A., Mahram, B., & Kouhbanani, S. S. (2024). Factors Influencing Relationship Disengagement in Married Couples: A Qualitative Study. Journal of Qualitative Research in Health Sciences, 13(2), 80-89. https://doi.org/10.34172/jqr.2024.12
Schouten, A., Boiger, M., Kirchner‐Häusler, A., Uchida, Y., & Mesquita, B. (2020). Cultural Differences in Emotion Suppression in Belgian and Japanese Couples: A Social Functional Model. Frontiers in psychology, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01048
Sels, L., Cabrieto, J., Butler, E. A., Reis, H. T., Ceulemans, E., & Kuppens, P. (2020). The Occurrence and Correlates of Emotional Interdependence in Romantic Relationships. Journal of personality and social psychology, 119(1), 136-158. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspi0000212
Taşkale, N., Babcock, J. C., & Gottman, J. M. (2024). A Dyadic Analysis of the Relationships Between Antisocial and Borderline Personality and Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration. Journal of interpersonal violence, 40(7-8), 1959-1974. https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605241271378
Weber, D. M., Fischer, M. S., Baucom, D. H., Baucom, B., Engl, J., Thurmaier, F., Wojda, A. K., & Hahlweg, K. (2020). Escalation and Regulation of Emotional Arousal in Couples Predicts Relationship Satisfaction Concurrently and 25 Years Later. Family Process, 60(1), 251-269. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12597
Downloads
Published
Submitted
Revised
Accepted
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Seyed Ali Darbani (Corresponding author); Farzaneh Mardani (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.