Ostracism, Psychological Capital, and Psychological Distress of Divorced Individuals

Abstract

The present study examines the relationships among ostracism, psychological capital, and psychological distress of divorced individuals. The main objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between ostracism and psychological distress of divorced individuals, with a specific focus on examining the moderating role of total psychological capital and its components (resilience, hope, optimism, and selfefficacy). Additionally, this research explores the impact of various demographic characteristics on ostracism, psychological distress, and psychological capital (including hope, self-efficacy, resilience, and optimism) of divorced individuals The current study utilized a cross-sectional research design and employed a purposive sampling technique The participants of the study were divorced individuals both men and women (N=267). Reliability analyses confirmed satisfactory internal consistency for all scales and subscales. Major findings revealed a positive correlation between ostracism and psychological capital including hope, self-efficacy, resilience and optimism. Moreover, ostracism showed a significant negative correlation with psychological distress. Psychological distress exhibited negative relationships with psychological capital total and its component; hope, self-efficacy, resilience, and optimism of divorced individuals. Furthermore, moderation analysis indicated that total psychological capital, as well as it components self-efficacy, hope, resilience, and optimism individually, negatively moderated the relationship between ostracism and psychological distress of divorced individuals. Additionally, employed divorced individuals demonstrated higher total psychological capital, hope, and self-efficacy compared to the unemployed divorced individuals. Lastly, divorced individuals from lower income groups experiences higher levels of ostracism compared to divorced individuals from higher income groups. Whereas, divorced individuals from higher income groups reported higher psychological distress compared to the divorced individuals from lower income groups. In conclusion, these findings indicate that the perception of ostracism and psychological distress of divorced individuals is influenced by their levels of psychological capital.