DEMOGRAPHIC, INTRAPERSONAL AND INTERPERSONAL CORRELATES OF INFIDELITY
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Abstract
In order to determine sociodemographic, intrapersonal and interpersonal correlates of infidelity, 521 respondents (55.5% man), aged between 19 and 68 years (M = 33.32, SD = 9.1), living in formal (53.4%) or informal marriage (46.6%), between one month and 42 years (M = 6.89, SD = 8.66) completed a series of questionnaires, including Infidelity Scale (Drigotas, Safstorm & Gentilila, 1999) for assessment of infidelity. In the domain of intrapersonal variables, the attachment dimensions were examined using abbreviated form of Experiences in Close Relationships Inventory (ECR: Brennan, Clark, & Shaver, 1998; modification Kamenov & Jelić, 2003), as well as the love attitudes assessed by the Love Attitudes Scale (LAS: Hendrick, Hendrick, & Dicke, 1998). In the domain of interpersonal variables, the dimensions of marital quality were examined using the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS: Spanier, 1976), as well as the potential for divorce assessed by the Martial Instability Index (Booth, Johnson & Edwards, 1983). Respodents also answered questions about age, education, employment, income, marital status, relationship duration, as well as the number of children. The results of hierarchical multiple regression analysis show that the sets of intrapersonal and interpersonal variables are statistically significantly associated with infidelity but the amount of explained variance is relatively low, indicating the existence of other factors relevant to prediction of infidelity which were not included in this study. Significant predictors of infidelity are attachment avoidance and Ludus style of love in the domain of intrapersonal variables, as well as almost all included interpersonal variables – marital instability and dimensions of marital quality Dyadic Consensus, Dyadic Satisfaction, and Affectional Expression. The study results contribute to the existing literature primarily by considering the relative contribution of sociodemographic, intrapersonal and interpersonal factors to the prediction of infidelity since most studies have examined their individual contributions. Predisposing factors, such as those examined in this study, also play an important role in identifying individuals and relationships at increased risk for infidelity which can help in prevention and treatment of infidelity.
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