Background and Objective: Emotional regulation is a cornerstone of marital well-being, with meta-emotions—an individual's feelings about their own emotions—playing a significant role in shaping interpersonal dynamics. This investigation was therefore designed to explore the intricate correlation between negative meta-emotion and divorce propensity among women, with a particular focus on ascertaining the mediating influence of differentiation of self in this relationship.
Materials and Methods: Adopting a correlational research design, the study collected data in 2024 from a convenience sample comprising 350 married women residing in Karaj, Iran. Participants completed a set of standardized self-report instruments, which included the Negative Meta-Emotion Scale, the Differentiation of Self Inventory, and the Divorce Propensity Questionnaire. For statistical analysis, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed to thoroughly assess both the direct and indirect relationships among the variables under investigation.
Results: The analytical findings indicated significant positive direct effects of negative meta-emotion on divorce propensity, as well as a significant negative direct effect of negative meta-emotion on  differentiation of self (P<0.001). Furthermore, differentiation of self was found to be a significant negative predictor of divorce propensity (P<0.001). Crucially, the analysis revealed that differentiation of self emerged as a robust and statistically significant mediator in the relationship between negative meta-emotion and the propensity for divorce.
Conclusion: These findings collectively suggest that negative meta-emotions not only directly contribute to divorce propensity but also do so by leading to a diminished capacity for differentiation of self, which, in turn, increases a woman's susceptibility to marital dissolution.