Iranian Social Psychology association Social Psychology Research 2251-8002 16 61 2026 05 22 From ‘Me’ to ‘We’: A Structural Model of Teamwork, Empathy, and Self-Control in Promoting Couples’ Flourishing From ‘Me’ to ‘We’: A Structural Model of Teamwork, Empathy, and Self-Control in Promoting Couples’ Flourishing 17 38 245366 10.22034/spr.2026.521321.2127 FA Majid Sadoughi Associate professor of psychology, University of Kashan 0000-0002-6439-6513 Ahmad Mazhabdar MA in general psychology, University of Kashan 0009-0003-2246-8077 Journal Article 2025 11 09 Introduction: Investigating the factors that influence flourishing in marital life is crucial for reducing family problems, enhancing wellbeing, and improving positive functioning among couples. This study aimed to examine the relationship between teamwork skills, empathy, and self-control with couples’ flourishing, considering the mediating role of we-ness. Method: The statistical population consisted of married men and women aged 25 to 50 in Kashan, Iran, in 2024. A sample of 356 participants was selected using convenience sampling. Participants completed the Flourishing Scale (Butler & Kern, 2016), the Toronto Empathy Questionnaire (2009), the Teamwork Skills Scale (Romero, 2022), the Self-Control Scale (Tangney et al., 2004), and the Weness Scale (TopcuUzer et al., 2021). Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) in Amos24. Results: SEM results indicated that the proposed model had a good fit with the data. Empathy (β = 0.280, p ≤ 0.001), self-control (β = 0.140, p ≤ 0.001), and teamwork (β = 0.269, p ≤ 0.001) directly predicted flourishing. Furthermore, weness significantly mediated the relationships of both empathy (β = 0.128, p ≤ 0.01) and teamwork (β = 0.131, p ≤ 0.01) with flourishing. However, the indirect effect of self-control on flourishing through weness was not significant. Conclusion: Based on these findings, counselors and couple therapists can strengthen teamwork skills and empathy to enhance couples’ sense of we-ness and shared identity, thereby supporting greater flourishing in their relationships. Introduction: Investigating the factors that influence flourishing in marital life is crucial for reducing family problems, enhancing wellbeing, and improving positive functioning among couples. This study aimed to examine the relationship between teamwork skills, empathy, and self-control with couples’ flourishing, considering the mediating role of we-ness. Method: The statistical population consisted of married men and women aged 25 to 50 in Kashan, Iran, in 2024. A sample of 356 participants was selected using convenience sampling. Participants completed the Flourishing Scale (Butler & Kern, 2016), the Toronto Empathy Questionnaire (2009), the Teamwork Skills Scale (Romero, 2022), the Self-Control Scale (Tangney et al., 2004), and the Weness Scale (TopcuUzer et al., 2021). Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) in Amos24. Results: SEM results indicated that the proposed model had a good fit with the data. Empathy (β = 0.280, p ≤ 0.001), self-control (β = 0.140, p ≤ 0.001), and teamwork (β = 0.269, p ≤ 0.001) directly predicted flourishing. Furthermore, weness significantly mediated the relationships of both empathy (β = 0.128, p ≤ 0.01) and teamwork (β = 0.131, p ≤ 0.01) with flourishing. However, the indirect effect of self-control on flourishing through weness was not significant. Conclusion: Based on these findings, counselors and couple therapists can strengthen teamwork skills and empathy to enhance couples’ sense of we-ness and shared identity, thereby supporting greater flourishing in their relationships.

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