The relationship between marital functioning with adaptability and alexithymia in incompatible couples: the mediating role of emotional empathy

Family stability is integral to individual well-being and social cohesion. Rising divorce rates globally and in Iran highlight the need to examine factors affecting marital health. This study explored the mediating role of emotional empathy in the relationship between marital functioning, adaptability, and alexithymia among 150 incompatible couples referred to divorce centers in Yazd, Iran, in 2023. Results showed significant correlations among marital functioning, empathy, adaptability, and alexithymia. Emotional empathy mediated the link between marital functioning and both adaptability and alexithymia, indicating its protective role against relational discord. These findings emphasize empathy’s importance in promoting marital resilience and suggest that targeted interventions enhancing empathy and marital functioning may reduce conflict intensity in high-risk relationships..