A new approach to children's education quarterly

A new approach to children's education quarterly

The mediating role of social support in the relationship between attachment styles and quality of life of betrayed women: Presenting a structural model

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 PhD student in General Psychology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology Kharazmi University,Tehran,Iran
3 Associate professor,Department of counseling, Faculty of educational and psychology,Kharazmi university, Tehran,Iran
Abstract
Objective: The present study aimed to examine the mediating role of social support in the relationship between attachment styles and quality of life among women affected by marital infidelity. Additionally, the impact of adverse childhood experiences was assessed as a predictor of quality of life within a structural model.

Method: This descriptive-correlational study employed structural equation modeling (SEM). The statistical population included all women affected by infidelity who referred to counseling centers in District 8 of Tehran in 2024. A total of 300 participants were selected through multi-stage cluster sampling. The instruments used included the WHOQOL-BREF, Adult Attachment Scale (Collins & Read), Phillips Social Support Questionnaire, and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). Data were analyzed using SPSS and AMOS software.

Findings: The results indicated that adverse childhood experiences and insecure attachment styles had significant negative effects on the quality of life in women affected by infidelity. Furthermore, social support played a significant mediating role in the relationship between attachment styles, childhood adversity, and quality of life. Secure attachment was positively associated with higher social support and better quality of life.

Conclusion: The findings highlight the importance of psychological interventions focusing on attachment restructuring and enhancing social support networks to improve the quality of life among women affected by infidelity. These results provide a foundation for designing both individual and community-based interventions in mental health services.
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