Loading...
Fuat AYDOĞDU

Fuat AYDOĞDU

Expert Psychological Counselor

🇹🇷 TR
Back to Issue
Research Article Humanistic Perspective

Factors Determining the Attitude Towards Infidelity in Romantic Relationships: The Role of Parental Infidelity Experience, Attachment Style, and Relationship Satisfaction

Tuğba Ceren Deniz Sinem Baltacı
Academic Record
Journal
Humanistic Perspective
Volume · Issue · Pages
Vol. 5 · No. 3 · pp. 1311–1331
Date
30 October 2023
DOI
10.47793/hp.1353574
Abstract

One of the most common reasons for a marriage to end is infidelity. Relevant studies further demonstrate the significance of exploring this topic in order to understand the relationship dynamics and their consequences for personal and relational psychotherapy. The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of various factors (age, gender, education level, relationship status, having a child, parental infidelity, attachment patterns, and relationship satisfaction) on individuals' attitudes towards infidelity in their romantic relationships. Accordingly, data was collected from 751 participants between the ages of 18 and 65 years (M = 31.24, SD = 9.66), who had been in a romantic relationship for at least six months. This data was gathered through a questionnaire containing various demographic questions related to infidelity, the Experiences in Close Relationships II Scale, the Relationship Satisfaction's Subscale and the Attitude Towards Infidelity Scale. According to the results of the conducted regression analysis and moderation analysis, it was observed that a younger age, parenthood, and being in a more formal relationship were associated with more negative attitudes towards infidelity. It was not found any significant relationship of gender, relationship duration, and education level. However, it was observed that an avoidant attachment style and the experience of parental infidelity also contributed to an increase in these negative attitudes towards infidelity. Lastly, individuals' satisfaction with their relationships emerged as a significant predictor of attitudes towards infidelity even when checkingfor the previously mentioned variables. The moderation analyses indicated that parental infidelity did not have a moderating effect on the relationship between attachment dimensions, relationship satisfaction, and attitudes towards infidelity. These findings were evaluated in the context of the existing literature, providing valuable insight into the factors influencing attitudes towards infidelity in romantic relationships.

Keywords
infidelity in romantic relationships attitudes towards infidelity parental infidelity attachment relationship satisfaction
Özet (Türkçe)

Aldatma evliliklerin sona ermesinin en yaygın nedeni olarak öne çıkmaktadır. Yaygınlık çalışmaları da aldatmanın ilişki dinamikleri ve buna bağlı kişisel ve ilişkisel psikoterapi çalışmaları için araştırılmasının önemini göstermektedir. Bu çalışmada kişilerin aldatmaya yönelik tutumları ile ilişkili olabilecek (yaş, cinsiyet, eğitim durumu, ilişki durumu, çocuk sahibi olma durumları, ebeveyn aldatması, bağlanma örüntüsü ve ilişki doyumu) faktörleri incelemek amaçlanmıştır. Buna göre, 18 ila 65 yaş arasında (Ort. = 31.24, SS = 9.66), en az 6 aydır romantik bir ilişki içinde olan 751 katılımcıdan aldatmaya ilişkin çeşitli sorular içeren demografik bilgi formu, Yakın İlişkilerde Yaşantılar II Ölçeği, İlişki Doyumu Alt Ölçeği ve Aldatmaya Yönelik Tutum Ölçeği aracılığıyla veriler alınmıştır. Yapılan regresyon analizi ve düzenleyicilik analizi sonuçlarına göre, daha genç yaşın, çocuk sahibi olmanın, daha resmi bir ilişkide olmanın aldatmaya yönelik daha negatif tutumları beraberinde getirdiği görülmüştür. Cinsiyetin, ilişki süresinin ve eğitim durumunun ise anlamlı bir ilişkisi bulunmamıştır. Bağlanma biçimlerinden kaçıngan bağlanmanın ve ebeveyn aldatması deneyiminin yine bu tutumu artırdığı görülmüştür. Son olarak kişilerin ilişkiden aldıkları doyum, daha öncesindeki ilgili tüm değişkenler kontrol edildiğinde dahi aldatmaya yönelik tutumların önemli bir yordayıcısı olarak belirmiştir. Düzenleyicilik analizleri ise, bağlanma boyutları, ilişki doyumu ile aldatma tutumu arasında ebeveyn aldatmasının düzenleyici etkisi olmadığını göstermiştir. Bulgular alanyazın ışığında değerlendirilmiştir

Anahtar Kelimeler
romantik ilişkilerde aldatma aldatmaya yönelik tutum ebeveyn aldatması bağlanma ilişki doyumu
References

  1. Akın, A. (2013). Kavramsal açıdan kendini aldatma (ss. 59-91). İçinde, Güncel Psikolojik Kavramlar 2 Benlik. Sakarya Üniversitesi Eğitim Bilimleri Enstitüsü Yayınları.

  2. Allen, E. S., & Baucom, D. H. (2006). Dating, marital, and hypothetical extradyadic involvements: How do they compare? Journal of Sex Research, 43(4), 307-317. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224490609552330

  3. Allen, E. S., & Baucom, D. H. (2004). Adult attachment and patterns of extradyadic involvement. Family process, 43(4), 467-488. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1545-5300.2004.00035.x

  4. Altınok, A., & Kılıç, N. (2020). Exploring the associations between narcissism, intentions towards infidelity, and relationship satisfaction: Attachment styles as a moderator. Plos One, 15(11). , e0242277. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0242277

  5. Atkins, D. C., Baucom, D. H., & Jacobson, N. S. (2001). Understanding infidelity: correlates in a national random sample. Journal of Family Psychology, 15(4), 735. https://doi.org/10.1037/0893-3200.15.4.735

  6. Barta, W. D., & Kiene, S. M. (2005). Motivations for infidelity in hetero-sexual dating couples: The roles of gender, personality differences, and sociosexual orientation. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 22(3), 339–360. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407505052440

  7. Bogaert, A. F., & Sadava, S. (2002). Adult attachment and sexual behavior. Personal Relationships, 9, 191–204. https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-6811.00012

  8. Booth, A., & Amato, P. R. (2001). Parental predivorce relations and offspring postdivorce well‐being. Journal of Marriage and Family, 63(1), 197-212. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2001.00197.x

  9. Borst, J. B. (2015). A systematic review of the effects of family conflict: Ffocusing on divorce, infidelity, and attachment style. Retrieved from Sophia, the St. Catherine University repository website: https://sophia.stkate.edu/msw_papers/426 Erişim, the St. Catherine University repository website, https://sophia.stkate.edu/msw_papers/426

  10. Brand, R. J., Markey, C. M., Mills, A., & Hodges, S. D. (2007). Sex differences in self-reported infidelity and its correlates. Sex Roles: A Journal of Research, 57(1-2), 101–109., 57, 101-109.https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-007-9221-5

  11. Brase, G. L., Adair, L., & Monk, K. (2014). Explaining sex differences in reactions to relationship infidelities: Comparisons of the roles of sex, gender, beliefs, attachment, and sociosexual orientation. Evolutionary Psychology, 12(1), 73-96. https://doi.org/10.1177/147470491401200106

  12. Brennan, K. A., & Shaver, P. R. (1994). Attachment styles and parental divorce. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 21(1-2), 161-176. https://doi.org/10.1300/J087v21n01_09

  13. Brennan, K. A., & Shaver, P. R. (1995). Dimensions of adult attachment, affect regulation, and romantic relationship functioning. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 21(3), 267-283. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167295213008

  14. Brennan, K. A., Clark, C. L., & Shaver, P. R. (1998). Self-report measurement of adult romantic attachment: An integrative overview. In, Simpson, J. A. and Rholes, W. S. (Eds.), Attachment Theory and Close Relationships (pp. 46–76). Guilford Press:New York.

  15. Buss, D. M., Larsen, R. J., Westen, D., & Semmelroth, J. (1992). Sex differences in jealousy: Evolution, physiology, and psychology. Psychological Science, 3(4), 251-256. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9280.1992.tb0003

  16. Butler, M. H., Rodriguez, M. K. A., Roper, S. O., & Feinauer, L. L. (2010). Infidelity secrets in couple therapy: Therapists’ views on the collision of competing ethics around relationship-relevant secrets. Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity, 17(2), 82-105. https://doi.org/10.1080/10720161003772041

  17. Büyükşahin, A., Hasta, D. ve Hovardaoğlu, S. (2005). İlişki iİstikrarı öÖlçeği (İİÖ): Geçerlik ve güvenirlik çalışması. Türk Psikoloji Yazıları, 8(16), 25-35.

  18. Chaikaew, S. (2009). The role played by parental infidelity on trust and commitment in young adults (Unpublished Master’s Thesis). Graduate School of Psychology, Thailand.

  19. Easton, J. A., Schipper, L. D., & Shackelford, T. K. (2007). Morbid jealousy from an evolutionary psychological perspective. Evolution and Human Behavior, 28(6), 399–402. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2007.05.005

  20. Edlund, J. E., & Sagarin, B. J. (2017). Sex differences in jealousy: A 25-year retrospective. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 55, 259–302. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.aesp.2016.10.004

  21. Fife, S. T., Weeks, G. R., & Gambescia, N. (2008). Treating infidelity: An integrative approach. The Family Journal, 16(4), 316-323. https://doi.org/10.1177/10664807083232

  22. Fincham, F. D., & May, R. W. (2017). Infidelity in romantic relationships. Current Opinion in Psychology, 13, 70-74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2016.03.008

  23. Fish, J. N., Pavkov, T. W., Wetchler, J. L., & Bercik, J. (2012). Characteristics of those who participate in infidelity: The role of adult attachment and differentiation in extradyadic experiences. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 40(3), 214-229. https://doi.org/10.1080/01926187.2011.601192

  24. Fraley, R. C., & Heffernan, M. E. (2013). Attachment and parental divorce: A test of the diffusion and sensitive period hypotheses. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 39(9), 1199-1213. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167213491503

  25. Fraley, R. C., Waller, N. G., & Brennan, K. A. (2000). An item response theory analysis of self-report measures of adult attachment. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 78(2), 350–365. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.78.2.350

  26. Frederick, D. A., Forbes, G. B., Grigorian, K. E., & Jarcho, J. M. (2007). The UCLA Body Project I: Gender and ethnic differences in self- objectification and body satisfaction among 2,206 undergraduates. Sex Roles: A Journal of Research, 57(5-6), 317–327. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-007-9251-z

  27. Glass, S. P., & Wright, T. L. (1985). Sex differences in type of extramarital involvement and marital dissatisfaction. Sex Roles: A Journal of Research, 12(9-10), 1101–1120. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00288108

  28. Glass, S. P., & Wright, T. L. (1992). Justifications for extramarital relationships: The association between attitudes, behaviors, and gender. Journal of Sex Research, 29(3), 361–387. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499209551654

  29. Glass, S. P., & Wright, T. L. (1997). Reconstructing marriages after the trauma of infidelity. In W. K. Halford & H. J. Markman (Eds.), Clinical Handbook of Marriage and Couples Interventions (pp. 471–507). John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

  30. Greene, K. H. (2006). Awareness of Parental Infidelity on College Students' Reported Commitment in Romantic Relationships. Doctoral Dissertation, The Florida State University College of Human Sciences, USA. http://purl.flvc.org/fsu/fd/FSU_migr_etd-3996

  31. Havlicek, J., Husarova, B., Rezacova, V., & Klapilova, K. (2011). Correlates of extra-dyadic sex in Czech heterosexual couples: Does sexual behavior of parents matter? . Archives of Sexual Behavior, 40, 1153-1163. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-011-9869-3

  32. Hawkins, J. L. (1968). Associations between companionship, hostility, and marital satisfaction. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 30(4), 647–650. https://doi.org/10.2307/349510

  33. Hayashi, G. M., & Strickland, B. R. (1998). Long-term effects of parental divorce on love relationships: Divorce as attachment disruption. Journal of Social and Personal relationships, 15(1), 23-38. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407598151

  34. Hayes, A. F. (2022). Introduction to mediation, moderation, and conditional process analysis: A regression-based approach (3rd edition). New York: The Guilford Press.

  35. Hazan, C., & Shaver, P. (1987). Romantic love conceptualized as an attachment process. Journal of Personality and Social psychology, 52(3), 511-524. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.52.3.511

  36. Hunyady, O., Josephs, L., & Jost, J. T. (2008). Priming the primal scene: Betrayal trauma, narcissism, and attitudes toward sexual infidelity. Self and Identity, 7(3), 278-294. https://doi.org/10.1080/15298860701620227

  37. Jang, S. A., Smith, S., & Levine, T. (2002). To stay or to leave? The role of attachment styles in communication patterns and potential termination of romantic relationships following discovery of deception. Communication Monographs, 69(3), 236-252. https://doi.org/10.1080/03637750216543

  38. Mark, K. P., Janssen, E., & Milhausen, R. R. (2011). Infidelity in heterosexual couples: Demographic, interpersonal, and personality-related predictors of extradyadic sex. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 40, 971-982. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-011-9771-z

  39. McDaniel, B. T., Drouin, M., & Cravens, J. D. (2017). Do you have anything to hide? Infidelity-related behaviors on social media sites and marital satisfaction. Computers in Human Behavior, 66, 88-95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2016.09.031

  40. Negash, S., & Morgan, M. L. (2016). A family affair: Examining the impact of parental infidelity on children using a structural family therapy framework. Contemporary Family Therapy, 38, 198-20. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-015-9364-4

  41. Nogales, A. & Bellotti, L. G. (2009). Parents who cheat: How children and adults are affected when their parents are unfaithful. Florida: Health Communication.

  42. Pereira, M. G., Taysi, E., Orcan, F., & Fincham, F. (2014). Attachment, infidelity, and loneliness in college students involved in a romantic relationship: The role of relationship satisfaction, morbidity, and prayer for partner. Contemporary Family Therapy, 36(3), 333-350. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-013-9289-8

  43. Peters, S.D., Meltzer, A.L. (2023). Sex differences: Emotional versus sexual infidelity. In: Shackelford, T.K. (eds) Encyclopedia of Sexual Psychology and Behavior. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-08956-5_324-1

  44. Platt, R. A., Nalbone, D. P., Casanova, G. M., & Wetchler, J. L. (2008). Parental conflict and infidelity as predictors of adult children's attachment style and infidelity. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 36(2), 149-161. https://doi.org/10.1080/01926180701236258

  45. Rusbult, C. E., Martz, J. M., & Agnew, C. R. (1998). The investment model scale: Measuring commitment level, satisfaction level, quality of alternatives, and investment size. Personal Relationships, 5(4), 357-387.https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-6811.1998.tb00177.x

  46. Sakman, E., Urganci, B., & Sevi, B. (2021). Your cheating heart is just afraid of ending up alone: Fear of being single mediates the relationship between attachment anxiety and infidelity. Personality and Individual Differences, 168(091-8869), 110366. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2020.110366

  47. Schmitt, D. P. (2005). Is short-term mating the maladaptive result of insecure attachment? A test of competing evolutionary perspectives. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 31(6), 747-768. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167204271843

  48. Seery, M. D. (2011). Resilience: A silver lining to experiencing adverse life events? Current Directions in Psychological Science, 20(6), 390-394. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721411424740

  49. Selçuk, E., Günaydin, G., Sümer, N., & Uysal, A. (2005). Yetişkin Bağlanma Boyutlan İçin Yeni Bir Ölçüm: Yakın İlişkilerde Yaşantılar Envanteri-II'nin Türk Örnekleminde Psikometrik Açıdan Değerlendirilmesi. Türk Psikoloji Yazıları, 8, 1-11.

  50. Sevi, B., Urgancı, B., ve Sakman, E. (2020), Who cheats? An examination of light and dark personality traits as predictors of infidelity. Personality and Individual Differences 164, 110 – 126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2020.110126.

  51. Spanier, G. B., & Margolis, R. L. (1983). Marital separation and extramarital sexual behavior. Journal of Sex Research, 19(1), 23-48. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224498309551167

  52. Tagler, M. J., & Jeffers, H. M. (2013). Sex differences in attitudes toward partner infidelity. Evolutionary Psychology, 11(4), 821-832. https://doi.org/10.1177/147470491301100407

  53. Thorson, A. R. (2009). Adult children's experiences with their parent's infidelity: Communicative protection and access rules in the absence of divorce. Communication Studies, 60(1), 32-48. https://doi.org/10.1080/10510970802623591

  54. Toplu-Demirtaş, E., Dolunay-Cuğ, F., & Tezer, E. (2014). Aldatmaya yönelik tutum ölçeği’nin Türkçe uyarlaması: Geçerlik ve güvenirlik çalışmaları. Turkish Psychological Counseling and Guidance Journal, 5(42). Retrieved from https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/tpdrd/issue/21462/229984

  55. Treger, S., & Sprecher, S. (2011). The influences of sociosexuality and attachment style on reactions to emotional versus sexual infidelity. Journal of Sex Research, 48(5), 413-422. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2010.516845

  56. Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu (TÜİK). (20201). Evlenme ve boşanma istatistikleri 2019. Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu Matbaası, Ankara.Erişim (2021 Mart): https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Bulten/Index?p=Evlenme-ve-Bosanma-Istatistikleri-2019-33708

  57. Tuttle, J. D., & Davis, S. N. (2015). Religion, Infidelity, and Divorce: Reexamining the Effect of Religious Behavior on Divorce Among Long-Married Couples. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 56(6), 475-489. https://doi.org/10.1080/10502556.2015.1058660

  58. Whatley, M. A. (2008). Attitudes toward infidelity scale. 9th ed., (Ed: D. Knox, ve C. Schacht) Choices in relationships. Belmont, California: Thompson Wadsworth Publishing.

  59. Whitty, M. T. (2003). Pushing the wrong buttons: Men's and women's attitudes toward online and offline infidelity. Cyberpsychology and Behavior, 6(6), 569-579. https://doi.org/10.1089/109493103322725342

  60. Wiederman, M. W. (1997). Extramarital sex: Prevalence and correlates in a national survey. Journal of Sex Research, 34(2), 167-174. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499709551881

  61. Wolfinger, N. H. (2000). Beyond the intergenerational transmission of divorce: Do people replicate the patterns of marital instability they grew up with? Journal of Family Issues, 21(8), 1061-1086. https://doi.org/10.1177/019251300021008006

  62. Yoshimura, C. G., & Galvin, K. M. (2017). General systems theory: A compelling view of family life. In Engaging Theories in Family Communication: Multiple Perspectives (pp. 164-174). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315204321