This research proposes a study to investigate the factors influencing marital satisfaction among married women in Tehran. The primary objective is to predict marital satisfaction based on the psychological construct of **self-differentiation**, while examining the potential mediating roles of **perceived parental bonding** and **secure attachment**.



Marital satisfaction is recognized as a cornerstone of individual mental health and family stability. The study highlights two key psychological variables: self-differentiation, defined as the ability to balance rational thought and emotions, and early life experiences, which include one's perception of their childhood relationship with parents (parental bonding) and the subsequent development of a secure attachment style in adulthood. Theories suggest these early experiences form the foundation for an individual's relational patterns later in life.



While extensive research has been conducted on marital satisfaction, the precise mechanisms linking self-differentiation to marital satisfaction through the mediating roles of parental bonding and adult attachment remain unclear, especially for Iranian women. This research aims to fill this gap. It is an applied, correlational study that will utilize structural equation modeling (SEM). The sample will consist of 140-210 married women from Tehran with at least three years of marital experience. Data will be collected using standardized questionnaires measuring marital satisfaction, self-differentiation, parental bonding, and adult attachment styles. The data will be analyzed using SPSS and AMOS/LISREL software to test the direct and indirect relationships within the proposed conceptual model, ultimately aiming to clarify the complex pathways that contribute to marital well-being.