Hubungan Antara Kepercayaan Interpersonal (Trust) dan Kesiapan Membangun Hubungan Baru Pada Pria Korban Perselingkuhan Serius

This study is motivated by the lack of attention to the experiences of men as victims of infidelity, despite the significant impact of relational betrayal on interpersonal trust and readiness to build new relationships. This study aims to explore the meaning of interpersonal trust and readiness to build new relationships in male victims of serious infidelity. A qualitative phenomenological approach was employed with one male participant aged 21 years, selected purposively. The primary instrument was the researcher herself, using a semi-structured interview guide. Data analysis was conducted through thematic coding, including raw code collection, code refinement, and grouping into main themes. The findings identified three main themes. First, the fragility of relational foundations amidst routine and family expectations, where the participant remained in a cooling relationship due to family involvement. Second, profound psychological impact and self-recovery strategies, including shock, overthinking, loss of focus, and recovery efforts through physical and recreational activities. Third, reconstruction of trust and ambivalent readiness toward new relationships, demonstrating a shift from naive trust to selective and evidence-based trust, yet still shadowed by fear of repeated betrayal. This study concludes that infidelity fundamentally transforms how men perceive trust and relationships, and that recovery is a personal, lengthy, and non-linear process.