The indirect effect of rejection sensitivity in the relationship between body image quality of life and motivation for infidelity

The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential indirect effect of rejection sensitivity in the relationship between body image quality of life and motivation for infidelity. This research included 431 participants from Romania, with 49.2% female and 50.8% male, ranging in age from 18 to 60 years (M = 25.63; SD = 7.81). The participants completed instruments that assessed rejection sensitivity, body image quality of life, motivation for infidelity and socio-demographic data. Our findings indicate that rejection sensitivity has an indirect effect on the relationship between body image quality of life and motivation for infidelity. Meanwhile, there is no direct effect of body image quality of life on the motivation for infidelity. This study contributes to advancing knowledge in the existing literature regarding the motivation for infidelity, as well as the role of rejection sensitivity and body image quality of life. Moreover, the results obtained may inform premarital counseling, couple therapy interventions, and psychoeducational programs addressing relational expectations and validation processes associated with motivation for infidelity, and may also contribute to raising awareness of factors associated with motivation for infidelity in couple relationships.