Predicting Attitudes toward Marital Infidelity Based on Attachment and Perfectionism Styles

Abstract

The present study aims to predict the attitude towards marital infidelity based on attachment and perfectionism styles. The research method was correlational-descriptive and the statistical population was all married students of Islamic Azad University, Lahijan Branch. A sample of 369 students was selected by convenience sampling method. Attachment Styles (Hazen & Shaw, 1987), Perfectionism (Terry Short et al., 1995), and Attitude to Marital Infidelity (Watley, 2006) Questionnaires were used to collect data. The research hypotheses were examined through Pearson correlation test and multiple regression and found that a significant correlation exists between marital infidelity with ambivalent attachment style (0.450), avoidant attachment style (0.348), safe style (-0.519), positive perfectionism (-0.403) and negative perfectionism (0.433). In addition, the multiple regression model indicated that attachment and perfectionism styles could accurately predict 34% and 25% of the variance of marital infidelity, respectively. The results indicated that creating a secure attachment style and positive perfectionism in individuals is related to reducing marital infidelity and consequently increasing family stability