Explaining the Relationship Between the Tendency Toward Marital Infidelity Based on Attachment Styles and Early Maladaptive Schemas with the Mediating Role of Marital Relationship Quality

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, University of Kashan

10.22098/jfrs.2025.18315.1262

Abstract

Marital infidelity is one of the issues examined within the domain of family problems as it leads to widespread problems in family cohesion and finally results in divorce. The present study aimed to explain the relationship between the tendency toward marital infidelity and attachment styles and early maladaptive schemas, considering the mediating role of marital quality. This research employed a correlational design, and its statistical population consisted of married men and women attending psychological clinics. From this population, a total of 230 individuals were selected through convenience sampling. The research instruments included the Tendency to Marital Infidelity Questionnaire by Bashirpour, the Adult Attachment Style Questionnaire by Hazan and Shaver, the Young Early Maladaptive Schemas Questionnaire, and the Marital Quality Questionnaire by Busby et al. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS and Smart PLS3 software. The findings indicated a significant correlation between attachment styles and early maladaptive schemas (in the domains of disconnection and rejection, impaired autonomy and performance, and inhibition) and the tendency toward infidelity. Furthermore, the study confirmed the presence of a significant indirect relationship through the mediating variable of marital relationship quality

Keywords

References

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History

  • Receive Date: 13 September 2025
  • Revise Date: 08 October 2025
  • Accept Date: 15 October 2025

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