Skip to main content
Intended for healthcare professionals
Restricted access
Research article
First published online February 1, 2009

Psychological Distress: Precursor or Consequence of Dating Infidelity?

Julie H. Hall and Frank D. FinchamView all authors and affiliations
Volume 35, Issue 2
https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167208327189

Abstract

Research on infidelity-related distress has focused on victims with little attention to perpetrators. Two studies therefore explore the psychological functioning of individuals who have engaged in dating infidelity. Study 1 showed that, compared to faithful partners, individuals who had engaged in infidelity showed more psychological distress. Study 2 investigated the interrelationships among infidelity, psychological distress, and relationship satisfaction over time. Results suggested that initial levels of psychological distress predicted later infidelity but infidelity did not predict subsequent psychological distress. Findings are interpreted in light of the broader infidelity literature, potential mechanisms are suggested, and avenues for future research are recommended.

Get full access to this article

View all access and purchase options for this article.

Get Access
1.
1. This 4-month requirement is common in studies of romantic relationships (e.g., Sbarra & Emery, 2005), as it reduces the risk of sampling unstable, fledging relationships that may not be representative of more committed relationships.
2.
2. To investigate the possibility of a gender interaction, a second MANOVA was conducted that included gender as an independent variable. The Infidelity × Gender interaction was not significant, F(8, 272) = .662, p > .05.
3.
3. Mplus was used because it could accommodate both continuous and categorical data modeling, as well as missing data. Missing data were assumed to be missing at random and were considered missing as a function of the observed covariates in that the probabilities of values being missing could be predicted by observed variables (L. K. Muthén & Muthén, 1998). Although this assumption is difficult to evaluate, a comparison of cases with and without missing data across Time 1 study variables with an alpha level of .005 revealed no significant differences (ps > .10).
4.
4. Twenty-one new cases of infidelity were reported at Time 2, and 40 participants who endorsed infidelity at Time 1 were no longer engaged in this behavior at Time 2.
5.
5. A chi-square difference test could not be conducted because the structural and measurement models were not nested and they estimated the same number of parameters.
6.
6. A post hoc moderation analysis was conducted to examine whether gender moderated any of the model pathways. Using an exploratory multiple group modeling approach, paths were constrained to be equal across gender groups, and modification indices were used to identify which paths should be freed to significantly improve the model chi-square. With paths constrained across gender groups, the model adequately fit the data, χ2 (24) = 26.41, p = .33, comparative fit index = .99, Tucker—Lewis index = .99, root mean square error of approximation = .03. This suggests that the associations within the model were not moderated by gender.

References

Allen, E.S., Atkins, D.C., Baucom, D.H., Snyder, D.K., Gordon, K.C., & Glass, S.P. (2005). Intrapersonal, interpersonal, and contextual factors in engaging in and responding to extramarital involvement. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 12, 101-130.
Google Scholar
Allen, E.S., & Baucom, D.H. (2004). Adult attachment and patterns of extradyadic involvement . Family Process, 43(4), 467-488.
Google Scholar
Aronson, J., Blanton, H., & Cooper, J. (1995). From dissonance to disidentification: Selectivity in the self-affirmation process. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 68(6), 986-996.
Google Scholar
Atkins, D.C. (2003). Infidelity and marital therapy: Initial findings from a randomized clinical trial. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Washington, Seattle.
Google Scholar
Atkins, D.C., Dimidjian, S., & Jacobson, N.S. (2001). Why do people have affairs? Recent research and future directions about attributions for extramarital involvement. In V. Manusov & J. H. Harvey (Eds.), Attribution, communication behavior, and close relationships (pp. 305-319). New York: Cambridge University Press.
Google Scholar
Atwater, L. (1979). Getting involved: Women's transition to first extramarital sex. Alternative Lifestyles, 2, 33-68.
Google Scholar
Atwood, J.D., & Seifer, M. (1997). Extramarital affairs and constructed meanings: A social constructionist therapeutic approach. American Journal of Family Therapy, 25(1), 55-75.
Google Scholar
Baumeister, R.F. (1998). The self. In D. T. Gilbert & S. T. Fiske (Eds.), The handbook of social psychology (pp. 680-740). New York: McGraw-Hill.
Google Scholar
Baumeister, R.F., Stillwell, A.M., & Heatherton, T.F. (1995). Personal narratives about guilt: Role in action control and interpersonal relationships. Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 17(1/2), 173-198.
Google Scholar
Beach, S.R., Jouriles, E.N., & O'Leary, K. (1985). Extramarital sex: Impact on depression and commitment in couples seeking marital therapy. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 11(2), 99-108.
Google Scholar
Beach, S.R., & O'Leary, K. (1993). Marital discord and dysphoria: For whom does the marital relationship predict depressive symptomatology? Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 10(3), 405-420.
Google Scholar
Beck, A.T., Epstein, N., Brown, G., & Steer, R.A. (1988). An inventory for measuring clinical anxiety: Psychometric properties. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 56, 893-897.
Google Scholar
Beck, A.T., & Steer, R.A. (1990). Manual for the Beck Anxiety Inventory. San Antonio, TX: Psychological Corporation.
Google Scholar
Betzig, L. (1989). Causes of conjugal dissolution: A cross-cultural study. Current Anthropology, 30, 654-676.
Google Scholar
Buss, D.M., Larsen, R.J., Westen, D., & Semmelroth, J. (1992). Sex differences in jealousy: Evolution, physiology, and psychology. Psychological Science, 3(4), 251-255.
Google Scholar
Buss, D.M., & Schmitt, D.P. (1993). Sexual strategies theory: An evolutionary perspective on human mating. Psychological Review, 100(2), 204-232.
Google Scholar
Buunk, B.P., & van Driel, B. (1989). Variant lifestyles and relationships. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
Google Scholar
Cameron, J.J., Ross, M., & Holmes, J.G. (2002). Loving the one you hurt: Positive effects of recounting a transgression against an intimate partner. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 38, 307-314.
Google Scholar
Carver, C.S., Scheier, M.F., & Weintraub, J.K. (1989). Assessing coping strategies: A theoretically based approach. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 56, 267-283.
Google Scholar
Choi, K.H., Catania, J.A., & Dolcini, M. (1994). Extramarital sex and HIV risk behavior among US adults: Results from the National AIDS Behavioral Survey. American Journal of Public Health, 84(12), 2003-2007.
Google Scholar
Drigotas, S.M., Safstrom, C.A., & Gentilia, T. (1999). An investment model prediction of dating infidelity . Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 77(3), 509-524.
Google Scholar
Dupuy, H.J. (1978, October). Self-representations of general psychological well-being of American adults. Paper presented at the American Public Health Association Meeting, Los Angeles, CA.
Google Scholar
Elbaum, P.L. (1981). The dynamics, implications and treatment of extramarital sexual relationships for the family therapist. Journal of Marital & Family Therapy, 7(4), 489-495.
Google Scholar
Fazio, A.F. (1977). A concurrent validational study of the NCHS General Well-Being Schedule. Hyattsville, MD: U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare.
Google Scholar
Fletcher, G.J.O., Simpson, J.A., & Thomas, G. (2000). A measurement of perceived relationship quality components: A confirmatory factor analytic approach. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 26, 340-354.
Google Scholar
Forste, R., & Tanfer, K. (1996). Sexual exclusivity among dating, cohabiting, and married women. Journal of Marriage and Family, 58(1), 33-47.
Google Scholar
Geiss, S.K., & O'Leary, K.D. (1981). Therapist ratings of frequency and severity of marital problems: Implications for research. Journal of Marital & Family Therapy, 7(4), 515-520.
Google Scholar
Glass, S.P. (2002). Couple therapy after the trauma of infidelity . In A. S. Gurman & N. S. Jacobson (Eds.), Clinical handbook of couple therapy (3rd ed., pp. 488-507). New York: Guilford.
Google Scholar
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.
Google Scholar
Greeley, A. (1994). Marital infidelity. Society, 31, 9-13.
Google Scholar
Greiling, H., & Buss, D.M. (2000). Women's sexual strategies: The hidden dimension of extra-pair mating. Personality and Individual Differences, 28, 929-963.
Google Scholar
Hall, J.H., & Fincham, F.D. (2008). The temporal course of self-forgiveness. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 27(2), 174-202.
Google Scholar
Hendrick, S.S. (1988). A generic measure of relationship satisfaction . Journal of Marriage and Family, 50, 93-98.
Google Scholar
Himmelfarb, S., & Murrell, S.A. (1983). Reliability and validity of five mental health scales in older persons. Journal of Gerontology, 38, 333-339.
Google Scholar
Holahan, C.J., Moos, R.H., Holahan, C.K., Brennan, P.L., & Schutte, K.K. (2005). Stress generation, avoidance coping, and depressive symptoms: A 10-year model. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 73(4), 658-666.
Google Scholar
Hunt, N. (1974). Sexual behavior in the 1970s. Chicago: Dell.
Google Scholar
Jones, W.H., Moore, D.S., Schratter, A., & Negel, L.A. (2001). Interpersonal transgressions and betrayals. In R. M. Kowalski (Ed.), Behaving badly: Aversive behaviors in interpersonal relationships (pp. 233-256). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association .
Google Scholar
Keinan, G. (1987). Decision making under stress: Scanning of alternatives under controllable and uncontrollable threats. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52(3), 639-644.
Google Scholar
Kline, R.B. (1998). Principles and practices of structural equation modeling. New York: Guilford.
Google Scholar
Lawson, A. (1988). Adultery. New York: Basic Books.
Google Scholar
Marschall, D. Saftner, J., & Tangney, J.P. (1994). The State Shame and Guilt Scale. Unpublished manuscript, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA.
Google Scholar
Metzger, R.L., Miller, M.L., Cohen, M., & Sofka, M. (1990). Worry changes decision making: The effect of negative thoughts on cognitive processing. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 46(1), 78-88.
Google Scholar
Murphy, F.C., Rubinsztein, J.S., Michael, A., Rogers, R.D., Robbins, T.W., Paykel, E.S., et al. (2001). Decision-making cognition in mania and depression. Psychological Medicine, 31(4), 679-693.
Google Scholar
Muthén, B.O., & Muthén, L.K. (2004). Mplus (Version 3.11) [Computer software]. Los Angeles: Muthen & Muthen.
Google Scholar
Muthén, L.K., & Muthén, B.O. (1998). Mplus user's guide (3rd ed.). Los Angeles: Muthen & Muthen.
Google Scholar
Oikle, J.M. (2003). The prediction and description of dating infidelity. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Kansas, Lawrence.
Google Scholar
Radloff, L.S. (1977). The CES-D Scale: A self-report depression scale for research in the general population. Applied Psychological Measurement, 1, 385-401.
Google Scholar
Roscoe, B., Cavanaugh, L.E., & Kennedy, D.R. (1988). Dating infidelity: Behaviors, reasons and consequences . Adolescence, 23(89), 35-43.
Google Scholar
Rusbult, C.E. (1983). A longitudinal test of the investment model: The development (and deterioration) of satisfaction and commitment in heterosexual involvements. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 45, 101-117.
Google Scholar
Sbarra, D.A., & Emery, R.E. (2005). The emotional sequelae of non-marital relationship dissolution: Analysis of change and intraindividual variability over time . Personal Relationships, 12, 213-232.
Google Scholar
Schumm, W.R., Paff-Bergen, L.A., Hatch, R.C., Obiorah, F.C., Copeland, J.M., Meens, L.D., et al. (1986). Concurrent and discriminant validity of the Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale. Journal of Marriage and Family, 48, 381-387.
Google Scholar
Sheppard, V.J., Nelson, E.S., & Andreoli-Mathie, V. (1995). Dating relationships and infidelity: Attitudes and behaviors. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 21(3), 202-212.
Google Scholar
Simpson, J.A., & Gangestad, S.W. (1991). Individual differences in sociosexuality: Evidence for convergent and discriminant validity. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 60(6), 870-883.
Google Scholar
Spanier, G.B., & Margolis, R.L. (1983). Marital separation and extramarital sexual behavior. Journal of Sex Research, 19(1), 23-48.
Google Scholar
Spielberger, C.D., Gorsuch, R.L., & Lushene, R.E. (1970). State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.
Google Scholar
Spielberger, C.D., Gorsuch, R.L., Lushene, R.E., Vagg, P.R., & Jacobs, G.A. (1983). Manual for the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.
Google Scholar
Steele, C.M., & Liu, T.J. (1983). Dissonance processes as self-affirmation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 45, 5-19.
Google Scholar
Symons, D. (1979). The evolution of human sexuality. New York: Oxford University Press.
Google Scholar
Taylor, S.E., & Brown, J.D. (1988). Illusion and well-being: A social psychological perspective on mental health. Psychological Bulletin, 103(2), 193-210.
Google Scholar
Weiss, D.S., & Marmar, C.R. (1997). The Impact of Event Scale-Revised. In J. P. Wilson & T. M. Keane (Eds.), Assessing psychological trauma and PTSD (pp. 399-411). New York: Guilford.
Google Scholar
Whisman, M.A., Uebelacker, L.A., & Weinstock, L.M. (2004). Psychopathology and marital satisfaction: The importance of evaluating both partners. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 72(5), 830-838.
Google Scholar
Wiederman, M.W. (1997). Extramarital sex: Prevalence and correlates in a national survey. Journal of Sex Research, 34(2), 167-174.
Google Scholar
Wiederman, M.W., & Allgeier, E.R. (1996). Expectations and attributions regarding extramarital sex among young married individuals. Journal of Psychology & Human Sexuality, 8(3), 21-35.
Google Scholar
Wiederman, M.W., & Hurd, C. (1999). Extradyadic involvement during dating. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 16(2), 265-274.
Google Scholar
Wiggins, J.D., & Lederer, D.A. (1984). Differential antecedents of infidelity in marriage . American Mental Health Counselors Association Journal, 6(4), 152-161.
Google Scholar
Zechmeister, J.S., & Romero, C. (2002). Victim and offender accounts of interpersonal conflict: Autobiographical narratives of forgiveness and unforgiveness. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 82, 675-686.
Google Scholar

Cite article

Cite article

Cite article

OR

Download to reference manager

If you have citation software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice

Share options

Share

Share this article

Share with email
EMAIL ARTICLE LINK
Share on social media

Share access to this article

Sharing links are not relevant where the article is open access and not available if you do not have a subscription.

For more information view the Sage Journals article sharing page.

Information, rights and permissions

Information

Published In

Volume 35, Issue 2
Pages: 143 - 159
Article first published online: February 1, 2009
Issue published: February 2009

Keywords

  1. infidelity
  2. extradyadic involvement
  3. perpetrators
  4. psychological distress
  5. dating

Rights and permissions

Request permissions for this article.
PubMed: 19060221

Authors

Affiliations

Julie H. Hall
Florida State University, [email protected]
View all articles by this author
Frank D. Fincham
Florida State University
View all articles by this author

Metrics and citations

Metrics

Journals metrics

This article was published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin.

VIEW ALL JOURNAL METRICS

Article usage*

Total views and downloads: 1180

*Article usage tracking started in December 2016

Altmetric

See the impact this article is making through the number of times it’s been read, and the Altmetric Score.
Learn more about the Altmetric Scores


Articles citing this one

Receive email alerts when this article is cited

Web of Science: 63 view articles Opens in new tab

Crossref: 67

  1. How do People Betray in Relationships? Understanding the Process of In...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  2. The interplay of attachment styles and marital infidelity: A systemati...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  3. Why Did I Cheat on My Partner? Mapping the Motives of Infidelity in Da...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  4. Factors associated with sexual satisfaction in mixed-sex long-distance...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  5. “I’ve been cheated, been mistreated, when will I be loved”: Two decade...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  6. Infidelity in the Adolescence Stage: The Roles of Negative Affect, Hos...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  7. Estranged and Unhappy? Examining the Dynamics of Personal and Relation...
    Go to citation Crossref Google ScholarPub Med
  8. Fanning the flames of back burner relationships electronically: implic...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  9. Dark, dissatisfied and disengaged: Propensity towards marital infideli...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  10. Perceived God support as a mediator of the relationship between religi...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  11. Values consolidating and disintegrating lyrical relationships as evalu...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  12. The Relationship Between the Motivation to Commit Infidelity and Negat...
    Go to citation Crossref Google ScholarPub Med
  13. Examining Variations in Participation and Outcomes of Consensual and N...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  14. Differences in Motivation to Engage in Sexual Activity Between People ...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  15. Unspoken, yet understood: Exploring how couples communicate their excl...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  16. Simmering on the Back Burner or Playing with Fire? Examining the Conse...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  17. Extradyadic Sex and Psychological Distress among Married and Cohabitin...
    Go to citation Crossref Google ScholarPub Med
  18. The Webs We Weave: Predicting Infidelity Motivations and Extradyadic R...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  19. Sexuality and relationships
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  20. Fatherhood Is Associated with Increased Infidelity and Moderates the L...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  21. Sexual Infidelity as an Attachment Injury in Iranian Women: A Qualitat...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  22. Maintaining long-distance relationships: comparison to geographically ...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  23. Once a Poacher Always a Poacher? Mate Poaching History and its Associa...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  24. Sanctification and Cheating Among Emerging Adults
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  25. Zufriedenheit in der Partnerschaft und Untreue: Ein Zusammenhang, zwei...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  26. Stepping into their shoes: Reducing the actor-observer discrepancy in ...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  27. Romantic Love and Attentional Biases Toward Attractive Alternatives an...
    Go to citation Crossref Google ScholarPub Med
  28. Infidelity and Its Associated Factors: A Systematic Review
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  29. Automatic Inattention to Attractive Alternative Partners Helps Male He...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  30. Predictors of extradyadic sex among young adults in heterosexual datin...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  31. A kiss is worth a thousand words: the development and validation of a ...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  32. Attachment, Efficacy Beliefs and Relationship Satisfaction in Dating, ...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  33. Perceived and reported romantic and sexual outcomes in long-distance a...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  34. Dating Infidelity in Turkish Couples: The Role of Attitudes and Intent...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  35. Betrayals in Emerging Adulthood: A Developmental Perspective of Infide...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  36. Why Find My Own When I Can Take Yours?: The Quality of Relationships T...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  37. Exploring intergenerational patterns of infidelity
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  38. Sex Differences and the Effect of Rival Characteristics on Adults’ Jud...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  39. From fear and guilt: negative perceptions of Ashley Madison users
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  40. Sociosexuality, Commitment, Sexual Infidelity, and Perceptions of Infi...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  41. Changes in the Sexual Relationship and Relationship Adjustment Precede...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  42. Betrayal in international buyer-seller relationships: Its drivers and ...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  43. Love thy neighbour: Personality traits, relationship quality, and attr...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  44. Concurrent and prospective associations between HPA axis activity and ...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  45. The Beginning of an Extra-Marital Affair: A Descriptive Phenomenologic...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  46. Drawing the Line: The Development of a Comprehensive Assessment of Inf...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  47. Extradyadic Sexual Involvement and Sexual Compulsivity in Male and Fem...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  48. Expectations regarding partner fidelity in dating relationships
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  49. Religiosity and Intimacy with an Extradyadic Partner in Emerging Adult...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  50. I Can But You Can't: Inconsistencies in Judgments of and Experiences W...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  51. Association between approach-avoidance commitment to romantic relation...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  52. Adolescents' understandings of infidelity
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  53. Infidelity
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  54. Understanding the Cheating Heart: What Determines Infidelity Intention...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  55. Sexual Narcissism and Infidelity in Early Marriage
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  56. Attachment, Infidelity, and Loneliness in College Students Involved in...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  57. Testing a Model of Communication Responses to Relationship Infidelity
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  58. Extradyadic Involvement and Relationship Dissolution in Heterosexual W...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  59. The Influence of Personality on the Decision to Cheat
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  60. Effect of Cheating Experience on Attitudes toward Infidelity
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  61. Julgamentos de infidelidade: um estudo exploratório dos seus determina...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  62. Predictors of Extradyadic Sexual Involvement in Unmarried Opposite-Sex...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  63. What Helps Couples Rebuild Their Relationship After Infidelity?
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  64. A Love That Doesn't Last: Pornography Consumption and Weakened Commitm...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  65. The Science of Two‐Timing: The State of Infidelity Research
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  66. Practicing What You Preach: Infidelity Attitudes as a Predictor of Fid...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar
  67. Romantic relationships and the physical and mental health of college s...
    Go to citation Crossref Google Scholar

Figures and tables

Figures & Media

Tables

View Options

Get access

Access options

If you have access to journal content via a personal subscription, university, library, employer or society, select from the options below:

SPSP members can access this journal content using society membership credentials.

MEMBERSHIP LOGIN

SPSP members can access this journal content using society membership credentials.

MEMBERSHIP LOGIN

Alternatively, view purchase options below:

Purchase 24 hour online access to view and download content.

Subscribe to this journal

Access journal content via a DeepDyve subscription or find out more about this option.

Start 2 week free trial
Need help?

View options

PDF/ePub

View PDF/ePub
Download PDF

Also from Sage