Prediction of Attitudes Toward Marital Infidelity Based on Thinking Styles and Mindfulness with the Mediating Role of Emotional Attachment in Women
Keywords:
Attitudes toward marital infidelity, thinking styles, mindfulness, emotional attachmentAbstract
Objective: The present study aimed to examine the structural model predicting attitudes toward marital infidelity based on thinking styles and mindfulness with the mediating role of emotional attachment in women.
Methods and Materials: This applied study employed a descriptive–correlational design using structural equation modeling. The statistical population consisted of women attending counseling and psychological service centers in Zanjan in 2025. Based on Klein’s recommendation, a sample size of 260 participants was initially selected using convenience sampling, of which 252 valid questionnaires were analyzed after data screening. Data collection instruments included the Attitudes Toward Infidelity Questionnaire (Whatley, 2008), the Thinking Styles Questionnaire–Short Form (Sternberg & Wagner, 1997), the Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory–Short Form (2006), and the Interpersonal Dependency Inventory (Hirschfeld et al., 1997). Data were analyzed using LISREL (version 8) with structural equation modeling techniques.
Findings: The proposed model demonstrated an acceptable fit (χ² = 178.40, df = 88, RMSEA = 0.043, CFI = 0.921). Thinking styles had a significant negative direct effect on attitudes toward marital infidelity (β = -0.391, p < .01), and mindfulness also showed a significant negative direct effect (β = -0.412, p < .01). Emotional attachment significantly predicted attitudes toward marital infidelity (β = -0.745, p < .01). Furthermore, thinking styles (β = 0.637, p < .01) and mindfulness (β = 0.586, p < .01) had significant positive effects on emotional attachment. The indirect effects of thinking styles (β = -0.656) and mindfulness (β = -0.745) on attitudes toward marital infidelity through emotional attachment were significant, confirming the mediating role of emotional attachment.
Conclusion: The findings indicate that attitudes toward marital infidelity can be effectively predicted through an integrated model involving thinking styles, mindfulness, and emotional attachment, highlighting the importance of cognitive and emotional mechanisms in shaping relational attitudes.
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