The Correlation between Emotional Empathy and Communication Schemas in Women affected by Partner Infidelity

The Role of Empathy in Shaping Communication Patterns After Infidelity

Öz

Background: In today's world, the issues and challenges of human relationships, especially couple relationships, are one of the most important areas of psychological and social research. One of the most important problems that can disrupt couple relationships is infidelity. Infidelity in marital relationships, as an emotional, psychological, and social crisis, can have devastating effects on individuals' individual and shared lives.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to examine the correlation between emotional empathy and communication schemas in women affected by partner infidelity, 2025.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 380 women affected by partner infidelity that referred to Mashhad Health Centers. The research instrument consisted of Sociodemographic characteristics, attitudes towards extramarital affairs, couple relationship schemas, empathy, and perceived self-compassion - short form questionnaire. The data was analyzed using the SPSS V.26, and Amos-24 software and descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data, and structural equations with path analysis method.

Result: The mean age of participants was 29.62±6.61 years. The results of the study showed that perceived self-compassion plays a mediating role in the relationship between emotional empathy and attitudes towards extramarital affairs in participants. Also, couples' communication schemas and emotional empathy have a significant relationship with attitudes towards extramarital affairs. In addition, perceived self-compassion plays a significant mediating role in the interaction with couples' communication schemas in relation to attitudes towards extramarital affairs.

Conclusion: These findings indicate the importance of paying attention to psychological components such as self-compassion and empathy in psychological interventions for women affected by infidelity in order to reduce negative attitudes towards extramarital affairs and strengthen couple relationships.