Emotional Divorce and Its Relationship to Social Exclusion Among University Professors

Abstract

This study aims to determine the level of emotional divorce and social isolation among university professors, compare them according to the variables of gender and years of marriage, and uncover the nature of the relationship between them. The study population consisted of (2,609) married professors at Salahaddin University - Erbil for the academic year (2025–2026), from which a simple random sample of (100) professors was selected, comprising (50 males and 50 females). The researcher adopted the descriptive method and utilized two scientific instruments: the Emotional Divorce Scale (35 items) and the Social Isolation Scale (28 items), which demonstrated high reliability rates of (0.94) and (0.84), respectively. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) through t-tests, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Pearson’s correlation coefficient. The results revealed that the levels of both emotional divorce and social isolation among university professors were low, attributed to their high level of awareness, academic status, and the interactive nature of their profession. Furthermore, no statistically significant differences were found between males and females or across years of marriage in either variable. Finally, a statistically significant positive correlation ( ) was proven between emotional divorce and social isolation, indicating that marital emotional apathy increases the inclination toward isolation. The study concluded with several important recommendations.