The role of relationship satisfaction and relationship commitment in the relationship between early maladaptive schemas and infidelity proneness: Mediation and moderated- mediation model proposal

The aims of the current study are to examine (1) the relations among early maladaptive schemas, relationship satisfaction, relationship commitment and infidelity proneness; (2) the mediating role of relationship satisfaction in the relationship between schema domains and infidelity proneness; (3) the moderating role of relationship commitment in the indirect relationship between schema domains and infidelity proneness through satisfaction. The sample of the study consists of 295 individuals between the ages of 20-60 in an ongoing romantic relationship for at least six months. The data was collected through Demographic Form, Young Schema Questionnaire, Relationship Assessment Scale, Relationship Stability Scale and Infidelity Proneness Scale. The results of the statistical analysis revealed (1) significant correlations among the variables of the study; (2) satisfaction significantly mediates the relationship between the schema domains of disconnection, impaired autonomy, impaired limits and other-directedness and infidelity proneness; (3) commitment significantly moderates the indirect relationship of disconnection and impaired autonomy schema domains with infidelity proneness through satisfaction. When the mediating role of relationship satisfaction is examined more closely, it is seen that all schema domains with the exception of unrelenting standards (disconnection, impaired autonomy, impaired limits and other directedness) increase infidelity proneness by decreasing the satisfaction. When the moderated mediation effect is examined in more detail, the indirect effect of disconnection schema domain and impaired autonomy schema domain on infidelity proneness through satisfaction is increased under the condition of low commitment. The findings were discussed in the light of the relevant literature; the importance of the research for literature and clinical practice was emphasized, and finally suggestions were made for future research by examining the limitations of the current research. Keywords: Infidelity Proneness, Early Maladaptive Schemas, Relationship Satisfaction, Relationship Commitment