Investigating the structural relationship between attachment styles and childhood trauma with a tendency to extramarital relationships: The mediating role of emotional schemas

The aim of this study was to investigate the mediating role of emotional schemas in the relationship between attachment styles and childhood trauma with a tendency to extramarital relationships. The research method was descriptive-correlational. The statistical population of the present study consisted of all married students of Guilan University in the academic year 1399-1400, which included 2061 people, and 246 of them entered the study by the available sampling method. Research instruments included the Revised Adult Attachment Scale (RAAS, Collins and Reid, 1996), abbreviated childhood trauma Questionnaire (CTQ, Bernstein et al, 2003), Attitudes Towards Extramarital Relationships Scale (ATERS, Watley, 2006), and Emotional Schemas Scale (LESS, Leahy, 2002). A structural equation modeling method in the form of path analysis was used for data analysis. The results showed that the proposed research model has a good fit. Bootstrap results also showed that the indirect path of secure attachment style with a tendency towards extramarital relationships through adaptive and maladaptive emotional schemas was significant (P<0/05). The indirect path of ambivalent-anxious attachment style with a tendency towards extramarital relationships through adaptive and maladaptive emotional schemas was significant (P<0/01). The indirect path of childhood trauma with a tendency towards extramarital relationships through adaptive emotional schemas was significant (P<0/05). From the above findings, it can be concluded that emotional schemas play a mediating role between attachment styles and childhood trauma with a tendency towards extramarital relationships,  and it is necessary to pay attention to these factors in prevention and counseling programs.