Betrayal trauma and dyadic trust. The mediating role of emotional intelligence
According to the Betrayal Trauma Theory, some traumatic experiences have an important interpersonal aspect. Previous studies have linked betrayal trauma to various adverse effects on romantic relationships. Among these, betrayal trauma can lead to a decrease in trust, especially when intimate relationships are concerned. However, the specific mechanisms linking trauma and trust received less attention. This study explores a possible mediator variable, namely emotional intelligence. 314 participants (Mage = 30.28, SDage = 11.01, 58.3 % women) completed an online survey containing the Brief Betrayal Trauma Survey, Trust in Close Relationships scale and The Assessing Emotions Scale. The results show that emotional intelligence mediates the association between betrayal trauma and dyadic trust. The results, as well as their theoretical and practical implications, are discussed.
Betrayal trauma, Dyadic trust, Emotional intelligence, Mediation
Octav-Sorin Candel: Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iaşi, Romania: email: octav.candel@uaic.ro
Sorin-Alexandra Covaș: Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iaşi, Romania
