No full-text available
To read the full-text of this research,
you can request a copy directly from the authors.
Relationship problems and extradyadic romantic and sexual activity in a web-sample of Norwegian men and women
Abstract
Traeen, B. & Thuen, F. (2012). Relationship problems and extradyadic romantic and sexual activity in a web-sample of Norwegian men and women. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology. The purpose of this paper is to describe the prevalence of self-reported types of extradyadic romantic and sexual activity among adult Norwegians and to explore the role of infidelity in breaking up a permanent relationship. The results are based on 1,001 web interviews with persons ranging in age from 18 to 67 years. The majority of respondents reported having engaged in some kind of extradyadic romantic and/or sexual activity. Forty-five percent of the women and 39% of the men claimed they had experienced a previous breakup from a marriage or cohabiting relationship. Among those aged 50 years or older, the most important reasons for breaking up a previous relationship were infidelity (38%) and lost love (38%). More men (44%) than women (33%) reported infidelity. Respondents younger than 50 years were more motivated by boredom. Among respondents below the age of 50 years, the most frequently reported reasons for considering termination of a present relationship were quarreling (37%), poor sex life (29%), and "other" reasons (25%). Accordingly, infidelity was not identified as an essential factor for considering a breakup from the present relationship.
... Penggunaan internet di kota Ambon telah meningkat dari tahun ke tahun. Peningkatan internet ini dapat menjadi wadah bagi masyarakat Ambon untuk membangun hubungan menjadi lebih dekat maupun memungkinkan terjadinya konflik dalam suatu hubungan mulai dari kecanduan internet yang membuat kualitas hubungan menurun, merahasiakan kegiatan melalui internet, lebih tertarik berinteraksi terkait hal-hal seksual dengan pihak lain yang bukan pasangan di internet sampai dengan perpisahan (Vossler & Moller, 2020), (Mileham, 2007), (Abbasi, 2019), (Eichenberg, Huss, & Küsel, 2017), (Traeen & Thuen, 2013). Mileham (2007) telah melakukan eksplorasi etnografi dan menemukan adanya penyalahgunaan chatroom online oleh orang yang telah menikah untuk tindakan tidak terpuji seperti perbincangan tentang seks menggunakan anonim. ...
... Perilaku tidak setia termasuk salah satu dari berbagai alasan berakhirnya suatu hubungan entah pacaran maupun pernikahan (Traeen & Thuen, 2013 2 yang masih bertahan setelah perilaku tidak setia tersebut. Bahkan dengan adanya pengalaman dari tindakan tidak setia yang dia lakukan membuat dia lebih dapat menerima tindaka setia dari orang lain dengan jenis kelamin yang sama (Sharpe, Walters, & Goren, 2013). ...
This study aims to investigate empirically the difference in the perception of internet infidelity between married people and those who are still dating. There were 62 respondents who had filled out the research questionnaire, but only 58 of them were eligible to be processed. Hypothesis testing using the Manova test. Based on the results of quantitative data processing using SPSS, it can be seen that this study failed to confirm the difference in the perception of internet infidelity between married people and those who were still dating.
Keywords: Internet Infidelity, Intimate Action, Non-Intimate Action, Marital Status.
... A few participants noted a sense of sexual entitlement by their husbands that disregarded their own feelings, and some felt that their own sexual needs were not being met in the marriage. Prior research has identified sexual concerns as contributing to wives' infidelity (Apostolou, 2019;Messripour et al., 2016;Traeen & Thuen, 2013). Although the themes here have been discussed separately, that separation is not likely experienced by participants. ...
This phenomenological study investigated the lived experien�ces of Iranian women who had engaged in an extramarital
affair. Seventeen women participated in semi-structured inter�views at a residential center for women in Ahvaz Iran.
Questions focused on the circumstances and marital experien�ces that participants felt contributed to their infidelity, as well
as information about how the affair began and was main�tained. Six main themes emerged: wives’ emotional issues, cul�tural and social factors, substance abuse, husbands’
psychological issues, financial concerns, and sexual concerns.
Findings may be useful in designing education for couples
and families that may help prevent the occurrence of mari�tal infidelit
... A few participants noted a sense of sexual entitlement by their husbands that disregarded their own feelings, and some felt that their own sexual needs were not being met in the marriage. Prior research has identified sexual concerns as contributing to wives' infidelity (Apostolou, 2019;Messripour et al., 2016;Traeen & Thuen, 2013). Although the themes here have been discussed separately, that separation is not likely experienced by participants. ...
This phenomenological study investigated the lived experiences of Iranian women who had engaged in an extramarital affair. Seventeen women participated in semi-structured interviews at a residential center for women in Ahvaz Iran. Questions focused on the circumstances and marital experiences that participants felt contributed to their infidelity, as well as information about how the affair began and was maintained. Six main themes emerged: wives’ emotional issues, cultural and social factors, substance abuse, husbands’ psychological issues, financial concerns, and sexual concerns. Findings may be useful in designing education for couples and families that may help prevent the occurrence of marital infidelity.
... The minimum investment of a man in reproduction is considerably smaller than that of women's (i.e., 1 ejaculation vs. 9 months' pregnancy plus breastfeeding and costly maternal caregiving). Hence, the biological evidence that men have considerably less to lose by employing short-term mating strategies suggests that men are genetically more likely to be unfaithful than females [30][31][32][33]. Interestingly, a recent study has correlated male infidelity with the chronotype, also known as "morningness/eveningness." ...
Introduction:
One of the never-ending debates in the developing field of sexual medicine is the extent to which genetics and experiences (i.e., "nature and nurture") contribute to sexuality. The debate continues despite the fact that these two sides have different abilities to create a scientific environment to support their cause. Contemporary genetics has produced plenty of recent evidence, however, not always confirmed or sufficiently robust. On the other hand, the more traditional social theorists, frequently without direct evidence confirming their positions, criticize, sometimes with good arguments, the methods and results of the other side.
Aim:
The aim of this article is to critically evaluate existent evidence that used genetic approaches to understand human sexuality.
Methods:
An expert in sexual medicine (E.A.J.), an expert in medical genetics (G.N.), and two experts in genetic epidemiology and quantitative genetics, with particular scientific experience in female sexual dysfunction (A.B.) and in premature ejaculation (P.J.), contributed to this review.
Main outcome measure:
Expert opinion supported by critical review of the currently available literature.
Results:
The existing literature on human sexuality provides evidence that many sexuality-related behaviors previously considered to be the result of cultural influences (such as mating strategies, attractiveness and sex appeal, propensity to fidelity or infidelity, and sexual orientation) or dysfunctions (such as premature ejaculation or female sexual dysfunction) seem to have a genetic component.
Conclusions:
Current evidence from genetic epidemiologic studies underlines the existence of biological and congenital factors regulating male and female sexuality. However, these relatively recent findings ask for replication in methodologically more elaborated studies. Clearly, increased research efforts are needed to further improve understanding the genetics of human sexuality. Jannini EA, Burri A, Jern P, and Novelli G. Genetics of human sexual behavior: Where we are, where we are going. Sex Med Rev 2015;3:65-77.
Wann haben Sie sich zuletzt verliebt? Wie häufig hatten Sie schon Liebeskummer? Hand aufs Herz: Über wen haben Sie sich in den vergangenen Wochen am meisten aufgeregt, über Ihren Freund/Ihre Freundin, einen Mitbewohner oder Ihre Eltern? Oder auch einen Dozenten, einen Sporttrainer oder einen Kommilitonen? Ob Liebes-, Arbeits-, Wohnbeziehung – soziale Beziehungen bestimmen unseren Alltag. Denn wir verbringen ihn mit Menschen, mit denen uns, ob gewollt oder nicht gewollt, Beziehungen verbinden: Wir haben Freunde, Verwandte, Vorgesetzte, Partner, manchmal auch Geliebte und zuweilen auch ein paar Feinde. In diesem Kapitel erfahren Sie, was Beziehungen unterschiedlicher Art aus sozialpsychologischer Sicht charakterisiert und welche Bedeutung Beziehungen für unser Wohlbefinden und unsere Gesundheit haben (Abschn. 1.1). Anschließend lesen Sie, welche Faktoren die Aufnahme einer Beziehung wahrscheinlicher machen (Abschn. 1.2). Sie lernen darüber hinaus die sozialpsychologische Sicht auf die Thematik „Liebe“ kennen sowie typische Verläufe von Paarbeziehungen, Forschung zum Umgang mit Krisen in der Partnerschaft und zu Auswirkungen von Trennungen (Abschn. 1.3).
HIV and AIDS continue to pose a global health and development challenge, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. South Africa has one of the largest numbers of people living with HIV in the world. Despite accelerated efforts to combat the HIV and AIDS epidemic there remains an unabated challenge, i.e. continuing new infections, particularly among young African adults. Studies suggest that risky sexual behaviours, including multiple sexual partnerships, are responsible for the spread of HIV. This study sought, among other objectives, to identify underlying socio-economic factors fuelling multiple sexual relationships occurring in the context of casual sexual partnerships known as “ukujola”. A generic qualitative study approach was used, drawing on in-depth interviews (n = 20), focus groups (n = 4) and key-informant interviews (n = 8) conducted with IsiZulu-speaking participants (aged 21–34) from KwaZulu-Natal. The study found that there are various socio-economic factors, including poverty and high levels of unemployment, sexual desire and the need for social approval, which promote multiple sexual relationships. In order to curb the further spread of HIV and AIDS, prevention efforts must target the reduction of partner concurrency.
Romantic love has been explored for centuries revealing multiple emotions and feelings related to this phenomenon. Romantic relationship, a widespread feature of human society, is one of the most influential factors in daily life. Love is a complex emotion. It is never a single feeling, an ambition, moral commitment, a private dynamic struggle, a deal, and a stop sign to psychological inquiry. A systematic approach to the study of the development of romantic relationships might enhance our understanding of the nature of social relationships, and the links between social relationships and individual psychosocial functioning. Is romantic love described in the Bible? The Biblical texts were examined and verses that describe love between a man and a woman were studied closely from a contemporary perspective.
Romantic breakups are common among youths. Yet “why” they occur is not well understood. In adolescence and emerging adulthood, unique characteristics of romantic participation call for investigation of breakups from a developmental perspective. Our principal objective was to map out breakup reasons of adolescents and emerging adults, accounting for relevant theory and research on both age-groups. We considered the role of age, gender, and dating stage (casual vs. serious) on youths’ breakup reasons. Results revealed a five-factor scale with affiliation, intimacy, autonomy, infidelity, and status as unique factors. Consistent with theory and research, we found similarities and differences in how youths of different age, dating stage, and gender endorse these reasons. These findings are consistent with the notion that breakups stem from a failure of romantic relationships to meet youths’ emerging romantic needs, and that there is considerable continuity in these relational dimensions from adolescence into emerging adulthood.
Marital infidelity is a behavior that characterizes humans. What is the epidemiology of extramarital sexual relations? What is the history of such relations? What are the attitudes to adultery? Is there any risk from such behavior? Are there any diseases associated with unprotected sexual contact? If so, what is a contemporary approach to these diseases?
Biblical texts are examined and verses which describe unprotected sexual relations and adulterous behavior are studied closely from a contemporary viewpoint.
Introduction: The notion of sexual boredom is a potentially useful and interesting construct in the
field of human sexuality Objective: The aim of the present study was to validate the Portuguese version of the Sexual Boredom Scale (SBS), a scale that assesses sexual boredom among men and women. Material
and methods: A total of 298 participants completed the Portuguese version of the SBS. Results: The main psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the SBS were assessed. Discussion: The Portuguese version of the SBS revealed a unidimensional factor structure and three items were eliminated due to low loadings. Good values were obtained in terms of internal consistency, convergent validity, divergent validity and concurrent validity. Conclusions: The use of the Portuguese adaptation of the SBS is justified since it has sound psychometric properties.
A motivational/individual differences model of infidelity is proposed in the course of empirically evaluating the traditional dichotomy between emotional and sexual motives. A scale assessing motivations for infidelity was developed and administered to 432 college students, 120 of whom reported past dating infidelity. Four motivations were identified and were associated as predicted with Big Five and other trait constructs; Sex was predicted by male gender, lower age, and unrestricted sociosexual orientation (SO); Dissatisfaction was predicted by female gender and Extraversion; Neglect was predicted by Neuroticism; and Anger by Neuroticism and low Agreeableness. As predicted, a two-factor model provides a poorer fit with the data than a multi-factor model. Unrestricted SO partially mediates the gender difference in endorsement of a sex motive for infidelity.
This research sought to identify cues to a long-term partner's sexual infidelity and emotional infidelity. In Study 1, 204 participants nominated acts that evoke suspicions of sexual or emotional infidelity. In Study 2, 230 participants evaluated these acts on how diagnostic each was of sexual and emotional infidelity. Factor analysis revealed 14 factors of cues, including Anger and Argumentativeness, Exaggerated Affection, Sexual Boredom, and Relationship Dissatisfaction. Twelve factors were differentially diagnostic of sexual versus emotional infidelity. Sexual Boredom, for example, was more diagnostic of sexual infidelity, whereas Relationship Dissatisfaction was more diagnostic of emotional infidelity. Men and women provided higher diagnosticity ratings for acts performed by an opposite-sex versus same-sex target. For ratings collapsed across sex of target, however, women provided higher diagnosticity ratings than did men. Discussion integrates results with previous research on infidelity and suggests important directions for future research on the cues to infidelity.
Extramarital involvement (EMI) occurs with high prevalence among couples in clinical and community settings, frequently resulting in considerable distress both to participants and their spouses. The field lacks a synthesized review of this literature. Without such a synthesis, it has been difficult for researchers and clinicians to have an understanding of what is and is not known about EMI. This article reviews the large and scattered EMI literature using a framework that encompasses multiple source domains across the temporal process of engaging in and responding to EMI. In addition, this review delineates conceptual and methodological limitations to previous work in this area and articulates directions for further research.
Young men are more distressed by a partner’s sexual infidelity, whereas young women are more distressed by a partner’s emotional
infidelity. The present research investigated (a) whether the sex difference in jealousy replicates in an older sample, and (b) whether younger people differ from older people in their selection of the more distressing infidelity scenario. We presented
forced-choice dilemmas to 202 older people (mean age = 67 years) and to 234 younger people (mean age = 20 years). The sex
difference replicated in the older sample. In addition, older women were less likely than younger women to select a partner’s
emotional infidelity as more distressing than a partner’s sexual infidelity. Discussion offers directions for future work
on sex differences and age differences in jealousy.
The purpose of this study was to explore extradyadic sexual activity (ESA) in Norwegian heterosexual couples and to identify factors connected to each of the parties that may predict ESA. The study comprised a representative sample of 399 couples (798 individuals) between 22 to 67 years of age. The data were collected by means of self-administered postal questionnaires. In 6% of couples the female partner had had a concurrent sex partner, in 13% of couples the male partner had had a parallel sex partner and in 4% of couples both had engaged in ESA. A man with experience of ESA experienced negative work-to-home interference, was preoccupied with sex, and frequently thought of others during sex with his wife. The male partner of a woman with experience of ESA was reported being self-confident and she perceived him as easy to talk to about sex. Furthermore, his attitude was that two persons who love each other should not have secrets from each other. The woman with experience of ESA, on the other hand, reported having secrets from her partner and to think of others during intercourse.
Infidelity is a common phenomenon in marriages but is poorly understood. The current study examined variables related to extramarital sex using data from the 1991-1996 General Social Surveys. Predictor variables were entered into a logistic regression with presence of extramarital sex as the dependent variable. Results demonstrated that divorce, education, age when first married, and 2 "opportunity" variables--respondent's income and work status--significantly affected the likelihood of having engaged in infidelity. Also, there were 3 significant interactions related to infidelity: (a) between age and gender, (b) between marital satisfaction and religious behavior, and (c) between past divorce and educational level. Implications of these findings and directions for future research are discussed.
The purpose of this research was to study the occurrence of extradyadic sexual relationships among Norwegians. We examined what background factors were associated with this type of relationship, and to what extent condoms were used. In 2002, a random sample of 9,852 Norwegians between the ages of 18 and 49 were asked to participate in an anonymous self-administered questionnaire survey on sexual behavior. A total of 3387 persons responded (1386 men, 1993 women, and 8 who did not indicate their gender), yielding a response rate of 34%. Of the 2807 participants who had ever been married or cohabited, 29% of the men and 23% of the women reported experience with extradyadic sexual relationships at some point during their lives. Sixteen percent of the men and 11% of the women reported extradyadic sex during their current marriage/cohabiting relationship. Women were more emotionally attached to the extradyadic partner than men. Factors that predicted occurrence of extradyadic sexual relationships were age, number of years married/cohabiting, number of sex partners, and sexual orientation. In addition, there was a correlation between low self-esteem and extradyadic sexual experience. About 50% of the participants reported no use of contraception during the most recent intercourse with an extradyadic partner. In conclusion, men's extradyadic partner seems most often to be a casual partner, whereas women prefer someone they already know. The choice of extradyadic partner is most likely associated with use of STI protection.
Infidelity is a common phenomenon in marriages but is poorly understood. The current study examined variables related to extramarital sex using data from the 1991-1996 General Social Surveys. Predictor variables were entered into a logistic regression with presence of extramarital sex as the dependent variable. Results demonstrated that divorce, education, age when first married, and 2 "opportunity" variables - respondent's income and work status - significantly affected the likelihood of having engaged in infidelity. Also, there were 3 significant interactions related to infidelity: (a) between age and gender, (b) between marital satisfaction and religious behavior, and (c) between past divorce and educational level. Implications of these findings and directions for future research are discussed.
Extramarital involvement (EMI) occurs with high prevalence among couples in clinical and community settings, frequently resulting in considerable distress both to participants and their spouses. The field lacks a synthesized review of this literature. Without such a synthesis, it has been difficult for researchers and clinicians to have an understanding of what is and is not known about EMI. This article reviews the large and scattered EMI literature using a framework that encompasses multiple source domains across the temporal process of engaging in and responding to EMI. In addition, this review delineates conceptual and methodological limitations to previous work in this area and articulates directions for further research.
This study investigated the extent to which reports of marital problems in 1980 predicted divorce between 1980 and 1992, the extent to which these problems mediated the impact of demographic and life course variables on divorce, and gender differences in reports of particular marital problems and in the extent to which these reports predicted divorce. Wives reported more marital problems than husbands did, although this was due to husbands' tendency to report relatively few problems caused by their spouses. A variety of marital problems predicted divorce up to 12 years in the future. A parsimonious set of marital problems involving infidelity, spending money foolishly, drinking or drug use or both, jealousy, moodiness, and irritating habits mediated moderate proportions of the associations between demographic and life course variables and divorce.
The purpose of the paper is to describe and analyse the prevalence of parallel sexual relationships among adult Norwegians in terms of social background variables, possibility factors and motivational factors. Data stem from two cross-sectional, postal questionnaire surveys in 1987 and 1992 on two separate representative samples of 10,000 Norwegians aged between 18 and 60. The results showed that 16% of the respondents reported one or more parallel sexual relationships. The prevalence of parallel sexual relationships increased with possibility factors, such as the number of travelling days and population density. Among motivational factors, parallel sexual relationships increased with the number of years married/cohabiting, except for those married the longest. It decreased with increasing age of first intercourse, and increased with the number of partners before the last partnership. Of those not satisfied with coital frequency with their permanent partner, 22% had parallel sexual relationship experience compared to 12% among those who were satisfied. Furthermore, more men than women reported parallel sexual relationships; respondents with higher levels of education more often reported parallel sexual activity than those with lower level of education; and subjects born between 1937 and 1956 reported more parallel sexual activity than the other cohorts. When controlled for the number of years married/cohabiting, the predicted trend suggests that for the cohorts born up to 1970, men and women with lower and higher levels of education have become more similar as regards parallel sexual behaviour. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Divorce is a complex event that can be viewed from multiple perspectives. For example, sociological research has focused primarily on structural and life course predictors of marital disruption, such as social class, race, and age at first marriage (Bumpass, Martin, & Sweet, 1991; White, 1991). Psychological research, in contrast, has focused on dimensions of marital interaction, such as conflict management (Gottman, 1994), or on person- ality characteristics, such as antisocial behavior or chronic negative affect (Leonard & Roberts, 1998). One limitation of these approaches is that nei- ther considers the individual's perceptions about why the divorce oc- curred. Indeed, when explaining what caused their marriages to end, peo- ple appear to give relatively little credence to widely studied factors such as age at marriage or conflict resolution skills. In this article, we use a third approach to studying divorce—one that considers the subjective accounts of recently divorced individuals. Examining the accounts of divorced indi- viduals provides a useful complement to more objective methods and is necessary for a full understanding of the divorce process. This approach to
We used national panel data collected between 1980 and 1997 to classify 208 people's open-ended responses to a question on why their marriages ended in divorce. Infidelity was the most commonly reported cause, followed by incompatibility, drinking or drug use, and growing apart. People's specific reasons for divorcing varied with gender, social class, and life course variables. Former husbands and wives were more likely to blame their ex-spouses than themselves for the problems that led to the divorce. Former husbands and wives claimed, however, that women were more likely to have initiated the divorce. People who attributed the cause of the divorce to the relationship itself, rather than to internal (self) or external factors, tended to have the best postdivorce adjustment.
Disclosures by patients related to infidelity produce a variety of reactions in clinicians, and can also lead to ethical and other clinical dilemmas. These need to be appropriately managed in order to offer effective help to couples or individuals in such situations. Having an understanding of the diversity and complexity of current couple relationship arrangements can help the clinician to manage these reactions and think clearly through any clinical dilemmas. It is also necessary to have a clear theoretical basis for understanding infidelity and making therapeutic interventions around this issue.
Virtually all American couples, married or cohabiting, expect sexual exclusivity of one another. This article asks why some people are sexually exclusive while others have sex with someone besides their mate. Previous research has linked personal values, sexual opportunities, and quality of the marital relationship to extramartial sex. This paper integrates these findings in a multivariate model that incorporates factors informing sexual decision making as well as demographic “risk factors.” Nationally representative survey data show higher likelihood of sexual infidelity among those with stronger sexual interests, more permissive sexual values, lower subjective satisfaction with their union, weaker network ties to partner, and greater sexual opportunities. With these factors controlled, gender differences are substantially reduced or eliminated, although racial effects persist.
This article, a follow-up on our methodological review of infidelity studies, provides a substantive review of the research findings on infidelity in committed relationships. The aim of this article is to present the most conclusive findings available to both researcher and practitioner on the subject of infidelity. We highlight attitudes toward infidelity; prevalence data; types of infidelity; gender dynamics and infidelity; issues in the primary relationship and their relationship to infidelity; race, culture, and infidelity; education, income, employment, and infidelity; justifications for infidelity; individual issues and their relationship to infidelity; same-sex couples and infidelity; attachment and infidelity; opportunity and infidelity; the aftermath and recovery process from infidelity; and clinical practices.
The factors affecting the rate of loss of transverse magnetization in gradient echo and spin-echo pulse sequences have been quantified using computer modeling for media containing arrays of susceptibility variations. The results are particularly relevant for describing the signal losses that occur in tissues containing capillaries of altered intrinsic susceptibility from the administration of exogenous contrast agents or arising from changes in blood oxygenation. The precise magnitudes and relationship of gradient echo and spin-echo decay rates depend on geometrical factors such as the sizes and spacings of the inhomogeneities, the rate of water diffusion, field strength, and echo times. The conventional separation of contributions to transverse decay rates arising from so-called static field effects and diffusion is shown to be inappropriate for many situations of practical interest because diffusion introduces a motional averaging of the static field even in gradient echo sequences. The result of diffusion in some regimes is to reduce the decay rate from field inhomogeneities in gradient echo sequences, so that T2* is longer in media such as tissue where water diffuses reasonably rapidly, than would be the case for stationary nuclei. The effects of different types of contrast agent and the implications for functional imaging based on the effects of deoxyhemoglobin in brain tissue are considered.
This article, a follow-up on our methodological review of infidelity studies, provides a substantive review of the research findings on infidelity in committed relationships. The aim of this article is to present the most conclusive findings available to both researcher and practitioner on the subject of infidelity. We highlight attitudes toward infidelity; prevalence data; types of infidelity; gender dynamics and infidelity; issues in the primary relationship and their relationship to infidelity; race, culture, and infidelity; education, income, employment, and infidelity; justifications for infidelity; individual issues and their relationship to infidelity; same-sex couples and infidelity; attachment and infidelity; opportunity and infidelity; the aftermath and recovery process from infidelity; and clinical practices.
Infidelity is perhaps the most complex issue encountered by couple therapists. Although clinical literature, opinion, and speculation on this topic are abundant, research literature is sparse. What little available research exists is, in most cases, neither robust nor helpful to the practicing therapist. This article provides, in both narrative and table format, a comprehensive methodological review of the available research literature on infidelity from 1980 to present. Topics addressed in the narrative include the lack of a consensus on the definition of infidelity; design challenges, such as retrospective research, confidentiality, measures, and variables, and sampling issues, such as diversity and randomization. Throughout the article, we offer suggestions for future research.
The purposes of this study were (a) to estimate the annual prevalence of, and to identify the predictors of, sexual infidelity in a population-based sample of married women (N = 4,884); and (b) to evaluate whether the prevalence and predictors of infidelity varied as a function of whether the assessment of infidelity was based on a face-to-face interview versus a computer-assisted self-interview. Annual prevalence of infidelity was much smaller on the basis of the face-to-face interview (1.08%) than on the computer-assisted self-interview (6.13%). Although many of the predictor variables replicated results from previous studies (e.g., demographic variables, religiosity, sexual experience), findings also indicated that childhood sexual abuse (i.e., forced sex) predicted greater probability of infidelity. Finally, the magnitude of the association with infidelity for 4 of the 9 predictor variables differed between the 2 methods for assessing infidelity. This study's findings underscore the importance of assessing infidelity with methods such as computer-assisted self-interviews that minimize the influence of social desirability and impression management.
The goal of the current study was to explore how participants' recollection of their level of emotional involvement with an extradyadic partner related to the precipitants and outcomes of that involvement. Three hundred and forty-five undergraduates and 115 community individuals with a history of extradyadic involvement completed self-report measures about their most recent extradyadic experience. In both samples, greater emotional involvement with an extradyadic partner was related to dissatisfaction with the intimacy in the primary relationship prior to the affair, intimacy and self-esteem motivations for involvement, gradual onset of attraction to the extradyadic partner, lower remorse regarding the involvement, a greater likelihood of primary partner knowledge of the involvement, and (in the community sample) marital dissolution. A path model further identified interrelationships among the variables, such as direct effects of dissatisfaction with intimacy in the primary relationship and concern for the primary partner's feelings. Emotionally involved affairs are different from casual affairs in terms of precipitants, motivations, development, and outcomes, with implications for prevention, intervention, and understanding the dangers of different types of affairs.
Premarital precursors of infidelity were evaluated in a sample of 72 couples (N = 144) who were taking part in a longitudinal study of marriage. Premarital self-report and observational data were compared for couples who experienced infidelity and those who did not experience infidelity in the first years of marriage. Couples in which the male engaged in marital infidelity were characterized, premaritally, by significantly lower male sexual satisfaction, lower male positive communication, and higher female invalidation, whereas couples in which the female went on to engage in infidelity were characterized, premaritally, by significantly lower levels of female positive communication, higher levels of male and female negative communication, and higher levels of male and female invalidation. Implications of the findings for future research on the prediction and prevention of infidelity are discussed.
An examination of online sampling techniques
- L Fisher
- N Kane
Fisher, L. & Kane, N. (2004). An examination of online sampling techniques. Chicago, IL: Synovate.
Random sampling v. panel-based research. Perspectives MRA Alert Magazine
- L Fisher
Fisher, L. (2005). Random sampling v. panel-based research. Perspectives MRA Alert Magazine. Chicago, IL: Synovate.
Sexology in context. Oslo: Universi-tetsforlaget AS
- B Traeen
- B Lewin
Traeen, B. & Lewin, B. (2008). Sexology in context. Oslo: Universi-tetsforlaget AS.
Rapport fra seksualvaneundersøkelsene i
- B Traeen
- H Stigum
- P Magnus
Traeen, B., Stigum, H. & Magnus, P. (2003). Rapport fra seksualvaneundersøkelsene i 1987, 1992, 1997 og 2002. Oslo: National Institute of
Public Health.
Synovate ViewsNet. Online and panel research, the Synovate way
- Synovate
Synovate (2008). Synovate ViewsNet. Online and panel research, the Synovate way. Retrieved 9 September 2008 from http://www. synovate.com/whatwedo/online–panel–research/.
Online and panel research, the Synovate way
- Synovate
Synovate (2008). Synovate ViewsNet. Online and panel research, the
Synovate way. Retrieved 9 September 2008 from http://www.
synovate.com/whatwedo/online-panel-research/.
Sexual infidelity among married and cohabiting Americans
- Trieas
Trieas, J. & Giesen, D. (2000). Sexual infidelity among married and
cohabiting Americans. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 62,
48-60.
Parallel sexual relationships in the Norwegian context
- Traeen
- Klecka