Investigating the structural model of loneliness and marital commitment with an attitude toward extra-marital relationships with the mediation of identity styles

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the structural model of loneliness and marital commitment with an attitude toward extra-marital relationships, with the mediation of identity styles in married women and men. Methods: For the research design, we used correlation and structural equation modeling. Statistical population including all married women and men of Ramsar City, among whom 230 individuals were selected through convenience sampling and responded to the Loneliness Scale Russell et al., (1980), Marital Commitment Questionnaire Adams Jones (1997), Extra-marital Relationships Attitudes Questionnaire Wheatley’s, (2008), and Identity Styles Scale Berzonsky (1989). All data were analyzed using SPSS 26, AMOS 24, and Macro Preacher Hayes’ (2008) program. Results: The findings indicated that loneliness and diffuse-avoidant identity styles have a significant and positive effect on the attitude toward extra-marital relationships, while marital commitment and commitment identity style have a significant and negative effect on the attitude toward extra-marital relationships. Bootstrapping results showed that information identity style, diffuse-avoidant identity styles, and commitment identity style play a mediating role in the relationships between loneliness and the attitude toward extra-marital relationships. Marital commitment indirectly affects the attitude toward extra-marital relationships through information identity style and commitment identity style. Conclusion: The research findings, by confirming the influential role of loneliness, marital commitment, and identity styles on extra-marital relationships, provide appropriate implications for work in the field of extra-marital relationships for practitioners in the family domain.