Predictors of infidelity intentions: An examination in terms of attachment injuries in marriage, marital adjustment, and attachment styles

Infidelity in romantic relationships is a significant issue that negatively affects both individuals and relationships. Infidelity can lead to various psychological and physical health consequences among individuals and, from a broader perspective, may also impact societal well-being. This study aims to examine intentions toward infidelity in marital relationships using marital adjustment, attachment injuries in marriage, and attachment styles. The study sample consisted of 415 participants between 18 and 65 years old, including 292 women and 123 men, who were reached through random sampling. The data were collected using the Experiences in Close Relationships Inventory-II, Marital Attachment Injuries Scale, Marital Adjustment Scale, Infidelity Intentions Scale, and Sociodemographic Information Form. The data were analyzed using the IBM SPSS software. First, reliability analyses of the scales were conducted. To investigate whether intentions toward infidelity differed by demographic variables such as gender, duration of marriage, and number of children, independent samples t-tests were performed. Correlation analyses were conducted to explore the relationships between the variables. Last, regression analyses were examined to evaluate the predictive effects of marital adjustment, attachment injuries in marriage, and attachment styles on the intentions toward infidelity. The results indicated that infidelity intentions significantly differed based on having children and duration of marriage but did not differ significantly by gender. Moreover, among married adults, anxious and avoidant attachment styles and attachment injuries were positively correlated with infidelity intentions, while marital adjustment was negatively correlated. Furthermore, regression analyses revealed that anxious attachment style positively predicted infidelity intentions, whereas marital adjustment negatively predicted them. However, avoidant attachment style and attachment injuries did not significantly predict intentions toward infidelity.