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Volume 24, Issue 155 (12-2025)
Journal of Psychological Science 2025, 24(155): 251-271 |
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amani N, hajiheydari M. (2025). Developing a structural model of the tendency toward marital infidelity based on emotional dysregulation and childhood trauma with the mediating role of sexual function. Journal of Psychological Science. 24(155), 251-271. doi:10.61186/jps.24.155.16
URL: http://psychologicalscience.ir/article-1-2846-en.html
URL: http://psychologicalscience.ir/article-1-2846-en.html
Department of Counseling, Feizoleslam Non-profit Higher Education Institute, Khomeinishahr, Iran. , M.hajiheidari@fei.ac.ir
Abstract: (783 Views)
Background: Marital infidelity, as one of the major challenges in marital relationships, can be influenced by psychological factors and past experiences. Emotional dysregulation, defined as the inability to identify and express emotions, and childhood trauma, as adverse childhood experiences, can directly or indirectly increase the tendency toward marital infidelity by affecting sexual function. However, previous research has less frequently examined the relationship between these variables and the mediating role of sexual function.
Aims: The aim of this study was to develop a structural model to predict the tendency toward marital infidelity based on childhood trauma and emotional dysregulation, with the mediating role of women's sexual function.
Methods: This descriptive study employed a correlational and structural equation modeling approach. The statistical population included all women visiting healthcare centers in Shahrekord in 2023, from which 220 participants were selected using convenience sampling. Participants completed the Attitudes Toward Infidelity Scale (Mark Whatley, 2006), the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (Bernstein et al., 2003), the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (Taylor et al., 1994), and the Female Sexual Function Index (Rosen et al., 2000). Data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and structural equation modeling in SPSS version 25 and AMOS version 22.
Results: The results indicated that the proposed model had appropriate fit indices for explaining the relationships among the study variables. The structural model confirmed the mediating role of women's sexual function in predicting the tendency toward marital infidelity based on childhood trauma and emotional dysregulation (P< 0.05). Additionally, the mediating role of women's sexual function in predicting the tendency toward marital infidelity based on childhood trauma and emotional dysregulation was confirmed (P< 0.05).
Conclusion: The findings of this study can assist family and couples therapy specialists in designing targeted interventions by identifying psychological factors and childhood experiences that influence marital infidelity. Improving sexual function and enhancing individuals' ability to manage emotions can reduce the tendency toward infidelity and strengthen the foundations of marital relationships.
Aims: The aim of this study was to develop a structural model to predict the tendency toward marital infidelity based on childhood trauma and emotional dysregulation, with the mediating role of women's sexual function.
Methods: This descriptive study employed a correlational and structural equation modeling approach. The statistical population included all women visiting healthcare centers in Shahrekord in 2023, from which 220 participants were selected using convenience sampling. Participants completed the Attitudes Toward Infidelity Scale (Mark Whatley, 2006), the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (Bernstein et al., 2003), the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (Taylor et al., 1994), and the Female Sexual Function Index (Rosen et al., 2000). Data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and structural equation modeling in SPSS version 25 and AMOS version 22.
Results: The results indicated that the proposed model had appropriate fit indices for explaining the relationships among the study variables. The structural model confirmed the mediating role of women's sexual function in predicting the tendency toward marital infidelity based on childhood trauma and emotional dysregulation (P< 0.05). Additionally, the mediating role of women's sexual function in predicting the tendency toward marital infidelity based on childhood trauma and emotional dysregulation was confirmed (P< 0.05).
Conclusion: The findings of this study can assist family and couples therapy specialists in designing targeted interventions by identifying psychological factors and childhood experiences that influence marital infidelity. Improving sexual function and enhancing individuals' ability to manage emotions can reduce the tendency toward infidelity and strengthen the foundations of marital relationships.
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2025/02/25 | Accepted: 2025/04/30 | Published: 2025/12/26
Received: 2025/02/25 | Accepted: 2025/04/30 | Published: 2025/12/26
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This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)