Structural equation modeling of the relationship between cognitive insight, sacrifice in the relationship, ambivalence over emotional expression and attitude towards marital infidelity

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between cognitive insight, sacrifice in the relationship, ambivalence over emotional expression and attitude towards marital infidelity in male and femail married. This is an applied and correlational study. The population included all the married students of Isafahan Universitues in 2021. A total of 310 participants were selected using available sampling method. The data were ghathered using cognitive insight questionnaires (Beck et al., 2004), sacrifice in the relationship (Vanlong et al., 1997) and ambivalence in emotional expression (King & Emmons., 1990) and attitude toward marital infidelity scale (Whatley, 2008) and were analyzed using structural equation modeling via Amos-24, SPSS-26 software. The findings showed that ambivalence in expressing emotion had a significant positive relationship with a positive attitude towards marital infidelity and a significant negative correlation with sacrifice (p<.01). Cognitive insight and sacrifice had a significant negative relationship with the positive attitude towards marital infidelity. Sacrifice in the relationship also had a negative correlation with the positive attitude towards marital infidelity. The results of the path analysis showed that ambivalence in expressing emotion and self-sacrifice in the relationship had a significant mediating role between cognitive insight and sacrifice (P<.01). These findings show that when people achieve cognitive insight, they examine and correct their behavior, attitudes and emotions. Therefore, they express their emotions in the right way and at the right time; for their marital relations, they ignore and sacrifice their desires for the benefit of their spouse, which results in a negative attitude towards infidelity.