Structural Model for Predicting Attitude towards Marriage Based on Religiosity and Self-Actualization with the Mediating Role of Hope

Extended Abstract
 
Introduction and Objectives: Marriage is one of the most fundamental social institutions, and the family is considered the most important context for personality development, identity formation, sense of belonging, psychological security, and social cohesion. However, the cultural and social developments of recent decades, along with the increasing age of marriage and the rising divorce rate, have caused people’s attitudes towards marriage to undergo significant changes. Under such circumstances, investigating the variables that can shape individuals’ positive or negative attitudes towards marriage is of great importance from a psychological and social perspective. One of the main concerns of the present study is that hesitation to enter a stable relationship, decreased desire to marry, and increased instability in family relationships are not solely the consequences of economic and social factors, but are also rooted in individual and meaning-related variables. In this context, religiosity as a meaning-making source, self-actualization as an indicator of psychological growth and the realization of individual potentials, and hope as a motivational and forward-looking construct, can play a decisive role in shaping individuals’ attitudes towards marriage. Relying on this theoretical framework, the present article seeks to explain the structural model for predicting attitude towards marriage based on religiosity and self-actualization mediated by hope. The significance of this study lies in the fact that by simultaneously examining these variables, it can provide a more comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing attitude towards marriage and provide a scientific basis for counseling, educational, and preventive interventions in the field of family and marriage.
Method: In terms of purpose, the present study is applied, and in terms of execution method, it is descriptive-correlational, conducted using a structural equation modeling approach. The statistical population of the study consisted of young and middle-aged adults in Tehran, as well as members of active groups in virtual networks. The research sample included 273 individuals selected through convenience sampling. The selection of this sampling method was appropriate to the nature of the research and the researchers’ access to the participants. Four standard tools were used for data collection: Bratton and Rosen’s Attitude Toward Marriage Scale to measure individuals’ attitudes towards marriage, Soleimani et al.’s Self-Actualization Questionnaire to evaluate the level of self-actualization, Clark and Stark’s Religiosity Questionnaire to measure the dimensions of religiosity, and Snyder’s Hope Scale to measure the level of hope. In the data analysis process, first, the psychometric properties and the fit of the measurement model were examined, and then the structural relationships between the variables were tested. Confirmatory factor analysis indices and the structural model were used to evaluate the model. The main goal of the analysis was to determine whether religiosity and self-actualization could directly or indirectly, through hope, predict attitude towards marriage. Thus, the proposed research model was tested based on the causal-structural relationships among the studied variables, and the mediating role of hope in the relationship between the predictor variables and attitude towards marriage was assessed.
Results: The research findings showed that the proposed model has a desirable fit, and the relationships between the variables can be explained within the framework of a structural pattern. The results indicated that self-actualization has a direct and positive effect on hope (β = 0.58, t = 8.12, p < 0.001); meaning that the higher the level of individual growth, realization of talents, and inner satisfaction, the more hope individuals develop towards the future and life. Also, religiosity showed a direct and positive effect on hope (β = 0.42, t = 5.74, p < 0.001); meaning that possessing religious beliefs and orientations can lead to strengthening meaning-seeking, psychological peace, and a positive attitude towards the future. Furthermore, the results showed that hope has a positive and significant effect on attitude towards marriage (β = 0.45, t = 6.34, p < 0.001). This finding confirms that individuals who view the future more hopefully also have a more positive attitude towards starting a shared life and entering a marital relationship. In addition, the analysis of indirect effects showed that self-actualization influences attitude towards marriage through hope (indirect effect = 0.26, 95% CI [0.17, 0.35]). Also, religiosity has an indirect effect on attitude towards marriage through hope (indirect effect = 0.19, 95% CI [0.11, 0.27]). Accordingly, the mediating role of hope in the relationship between self-actualization and attitude towards marriage, as well as in the relationship between religiosity and attitude towards marriage, was confirmed. Overall, the findings indicate that attitude towards marriage is not merely a function of social beliefs or external conditions, but is significantly influenced by psychological and spiritual variables. Therefore, the research model has been able to present a coherent picture of how religiosity and self-actualization affect attitude towards marriage through hope. Fit indices for the structural model were acceptable (χ²/df = 2.51, CFI = 0.93, TLI = 0.92, RMSEA = 0.072, SRMR = 0.058).
Discussion and Conclusion: The results of this study show that religiosity and self-actualization are among the most important factors influencing attitude towards marriage, and this effect is largely exerted through hope. In other words, the more individuals possess meaning, personal growth, and a more hopeful attitude towards the future, the more likely they are to consider marriage a desirable, constructive, and valuable matter. Hence, hope is considered not only an important psychological variable but also a decisive mediating mechanism in shaping a positive attitude towards marriage.
The direct and positive effect of religiosity on attitude towards marriage is consistent with findings from numerous studies such as Hezrati et al. (2019), Alivardi (2020), and Gholami (2022). As noted in the theoretical foundations, Islam and other divine religions consider marriage not merely a social contract but a sacred covenant upon which the survival of humanity and spiritual excellence depend. Therefore, individuals with higher religiosity, relying on religious beliefs and values that emphasize family formation, develop more positive attitudes towards marriage. The belief and emotional dimensions of religiosity can particularly create feelings of peace, responsibility, and greater commitment to entering this institution. The direct and positive effect of self-actualization on attitude towards marriage can be explained within the framework of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Individuals progressing toward self-actualization develop a realistic yet optimistic understanding of life and interpersonal relationships. For such individuals, marriage is not a social obligation or merely a means of satisfying instincts, but a context for further flourishing, establishing deep emotional relationships, and giving meaning to life alongside a life partner.
One of the important findings of this study was the confirmation of the mediating role of hope in the relationship between religiosity, self-actualization, and attitude towards marriage. This finding indicates that part of the positive effect of religiosity and self-actualization on attitude towards marriage occurs through strengthening hope. The direct and significant relationship between self-actualization and religiosity with hope confirms that each independently leads to a significant increase in hope, and increased hope directly improves attitude towards marriage. Thus, the mediating role of hope between the independent variables (self-actualization and religiosity) and the dependent variable (attitude towards marriage) is clearly established.
The direct relationship between religiosity and hope can be explained by theories and research findings. Religious beliefs, by providing a spiritual framework for understanding suffering and life’s challenges, strengthen the individual’s sense of mastery and internal control. Religiosity through creating a sense of meaning and belonging to a comprehensive value system (religion) strengthens hope. Individuals committed to religious beliefs often use a spiritual framework to interpret problems, and this positive interpretation reduces anxiety about the future. Additionally, participation in religious rituals (such as prayer or religious ceremonies) creates a sense of social support and existential security, increasing hopefulness. The relationship between self-actualization and hope is also interconnected. The path to self-actualization requires goal setting, striving for achievement, and belief in one’s abilities for progress. This process is inherently intertwined with agency thinking and pathway thinking—the core components of hope in Snyder’s theory. Individuals undergoing self-actualization are hopeful about the future because they believe in their ability to design pathways (pathway thinking) and the motivation to implement them (agency thinking). This hopefulness reduces fear of an uncertain future—which can be a major obstacle to marriage—and leads individuals toward forming a shared life with a positive outlook.
In the interpretation of descriptive statistics, it is evident that optimistic attitude had the highest mean (24.89), indicating the dominant attitude among the research sample. This finding, despite warnings about the decline in attitudes towards marriage, suggests the existence of positive potential among the studied population. Also, significant negative correlations between pessimistic attitude and all subscales of hope, self-actualization, and religiosity dimensions clearly indicate that strengthening these psychological-religious variables can reduce pessimistic attitudes towards marriage. This underscores the importance of interventions based on strengthening hope, self-actualization, and religiosity in pre-marital counseling programs.
As emphasized in the introduction, this study was conducted with reliance on authentic Iranian-Islamic culture. The findings clearly show that within this cultural framework, religiosity is not only not in opposition to psychological growth (self-actualization), but in interaction with it, can provide a suitable context for strengthening hope and ultimately, forming a positive attitude towards a sacred social institution like marriage. This result is in line with Motahhari’s (2023) view that the satisfaction of instincts is possible in the shadow of chastity and piety; the present model shows how value-based self-actualization (of which religiosity is one pillar) can strengthen the foundations of marriage rather than leading toward deviant alternatives.
Overall, the model presented in this study has good explanatory power for attitude towards marriage and shows that religiosity and self-actualization, both directly and through strengthening hope, play a role in shaping positive, optimistic, and realistic attitudes towards marriage among youth. This underscores the necessity of an integrated and multidimensional view of marriage, with simultaneous emphasis on spiritual dimensions and psychological components (self-actualization and hope). However, due to the cross-sectional design, causal inferences should be made with caution. Also, the use of convenience sampling, limitation of the sample to virtual network users, and focus on young and middle-aged adults limit the generalizability of findings to all adults and other age groups. These findings have multiple applications in counseling, psychotherapy, and even cultural and educational policymaking. By strengthening authentic religious beliefs, helping to cultivate talents in the path of self-actualization, and designing interventions to increase hope, it is possible to contribute to improving positive attitudes towards marriage. For future research, qualitative studies to explore young people’s lived experiences regarding these variables and attitude towards marriage, as well as examining the moderating role of gender, socioeconomic status, and relationship experiences, are recommended.