Introduction: Heading the family by women is associated with various challenges, facing the challenges constructively can also be the basis for growth and flourishing, which is influenced by various factors; Therefore, the current research was conducted with the aim of the mediating role of existential thinking and mental toughness in the relationship between life orientation with flourishing in female-headed households.
Method: The research design was cross-sectional and structural equation modeling was used for analysis. The statistical population of the present study consisted of female-headed households in Rasht city in 2024 that 211 people were selected by voluntary sampling method and responded to flourishing Scale, existential thinking scale and extended life orientation test. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 23 and AMOS version 23 software.
Results: The results showed that the indirect path of existential thinking was significant in the relationship between optimism and flourishing (P<0.05) and in the relationship between pessimism and flourishing (P<0.05). Also the indirect path of mental toughness was significant in the relationship between optimism and flourishing (P<0.05) and in the relationship between pessimism and flourishing (P<0.05). The direct paths of optimism on flourishing (P<0.001) and pessimism on flourishing (P<0.001) were also significant.
Discussion and conclusion: The results of the study showed that life orientation (optimism and pessimism) affects the flourishing of women heads of households both directly and through strengthening existential thinking and psychological resilience. Existential thinking facilitates the path to flourishing by giving meaning to suffering, and psychological resilience by increasing the ability to cope with pressures. These findings have important practical implications in designing empowerment interventions for this vulnerable group.