Extradyadic Sex and Psychological Distress among Married and Cohabiting Young Adults: An Examination of Internalized and Externalized Responses

Abstract

Extradyadic sex (EDS) is a major relationship violation, yet it occurs in nearly a quarter of United States cohabiting and marital unions. While many relationships dissolve in the wake of EDS, a majority remain intact. Theories of social stress suggest that substantial psychological distress should result unless EDS is a symptom of stress caused by involvement in a relationship marked by other negative characteristics. This study investigates how one’s own EDS, a partner’s EDS, and mutual EDS are related to internalizing and externalizing behaviors: depressive symptoms and heavy alcohol use, respectively. Analyses of data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health suggest that one’s own EDS is associated with heavy alcohol use among cohabiters and spouses and with depressive symptoms among spouses, while partner EDS has no association with either outcome, net of confounders. We discuss the implications of these findings in the study’s conclusions.

Keywords

extradyadic sex infidelity depression alcohol use marriage cohabitation

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Abrahamson

Hussain

Khan

Schofield

M. J.

(2012). What helps couples rebuild their relationship after infidelity? Journal of Family Issues, 33(11), 1494–1519. https://doi.org/10.1177/0192513X11424257

Allen

E. S.

Atkins

D. C.

(2012). The association of divorce and extramarital sex in a representative U.S. sample. Journal of Family Issues, 33(11), 1477–1493. https://doi.org/10.1177/0192513X12439692

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(2), 101–130. https://doi.org/10.1093/clipsy.bpi014

Allison

P. D.

(2001). Missing data (Sage University Papers Series on Quantitative Applications in the Social Sciences, No. 07-136). (Vol. 136). SAGE Publications.

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

Beach

S. R.

Jouriles

E. N.

O’leary

K. D.

(1985). Extramarital sex: Impact on depression and commitment in couples seeking marital therapy. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 11(2), 99–108. https://doi.org/10.1080/00926238508406075

Bird

M. H.

Butler

M. H.

Fife

S. T.

(2007). The process of couple healing following infidelity: A qualitative study. Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy, 6(4), 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1300/J398v06n04_01

Blow

A. J.

Hartnett

(2005). Infidelity in committed relationships II: A substantive review. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 31(2), 217–233. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-0606.2005.tb01556.x

Blumstein

Schwartz

(1983). American couples: Money, work, sex. William Morrow.

10.

Buunk

B. P.

Van Driel

(1989). Variant lifestyles and relationships. SAGE Publications. https://doi.org/10.1093/sw/36.1.86-a

11.

Cano

O’Leary

K. D.

(2000). Infidelity and separations precipitate major depressive episodes and symptoms of nonspecific depression and anxiety. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 68(5), 774–781. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.68.5.774

12.

Conger

J. J.

(1956). Reinforcement theory and the dynamics of alcoholism. Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 17, 296–305 https://doi.org/10.15288/qjsa.1956.17.296

13.

Cooper

M. L.

Russell

Skinner

J. B.

Frone

M. R.

Mudar

(1992). Stress and alcohol use: Moderating effects of gender, coping, and alcohol expectancies. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 101(1), 139. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-843X.101.1.139

14.

Crockett

L. J.

Randall

B. A.

Shen

Y. L.

Russell

S. T.

Driscoll

A. K.

(2005). Measurement equivalence of the center for epidemiological studies depression scale for Latino and Anglo adolescents: A national study. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 73(1), 47. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.73.1.47

15.

Eaves

S. H.

Robertson-Smith

(2007). The relationship between self-worth and marital infidelity: A pilot study. The Family Journal, 15(4), 382–386. https://doi.org/10.1177/1066480707305468

16.

Estrada-Martínez

L. M.

Caldwell

C. H.

Bauermeister

J. A.

Zimmerman

M. A.

(2012). Stressors in multiple life-domains and the risk for externalizing and internalizing behaviors among African Americans during emerging adulthood. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 41(12), 1600–1612. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-012-9778-3

17.

Fife

S. T.

Weeks

G. R.

Stellberg-Filbert

(2013). Facilitating forgiveness in the treatment of infidelity: An interpersonal model. Journal of Family Therapy, 35(4), 343–367. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6427.2011.00561.x

18.

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

19.

Forste

Tanfer

(1996). Sexual exclusivity among dating, cohabiting, and married women. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 58(1), 33–47. https://doi.org/10.2307/353375

20.

Frisco

M. L.

Houle

J. N.

Lippert

A. M.

(2013). Weight change and depression among US young women during the transition to adulthood. American Journal of Epidemiology, 178(1), 22–30. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kws462

21.

Frisco

M. L.

Wenger

M. R.

Kreager

D. A.

(2017). Extradyadic sex and union dissolution among young adults in opposite-sex married and cohabiting unions. Social Science Research, 62, 291–304. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssresearch.2016.08.013

22.

Gerbasi

(2007). Attribution and commitment in different types of exchange [PhD dissertation, Stanford University. Avaliable at: https://search.proquest.com/docview/61767970/73DB3BE879104111PQ

23.

Glass

S. P.

(2002). Not “just friends”: Protect your relationship from infidelity and heal the trauma of betrayal. Free Press.

24.

Glass

S. P.

Wright

T. L.

(1977). The relationship of extramarital sex, length of marriage, and sex differences on marital satisfaction and romanticism: Athanasiou’s data re-analyzed. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 39(4), 691–703. https://doi.org/10.2307/350475

25.

Glass

T. A.

Kasl

S. V.

Berkman

L. F.

(1997). Stressful life events and depressive symptoms among the elderly: Evidence from a prospective community study. Journal of Aging and Health, 9(1), 70–89. https://doi.org/10.1177/089826439700900104

26.

Gordon

Baucom

(1999). A forgiveness-based intervention for addressing extramarital affairs. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 6, 382–399. https://doi.org/10.1093/clipsy.6.4.382

27.

Gordon

K. C.

Baucom

D. H.

Snyder

D. K.

(2004). An integrative intervention for promoting recovery from extramarital affairs. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 30(2), 213–231. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-0606.2004.tb01235.x

28.

Gotlib

I. H.

Lewinsohn

P. M.

Seeley

J. R.

(1995). Symptoms versus a diagnosis of depression: Differences in psychosocial functioning. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 63(1), 90. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.63.1.90

29.

Graham

S. M.

Negash

Lambert

N. M.

Fincham

F. D.

(2016). Problem drinking and extradyadic sex in young adult romantic relationships. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 35(2), 152–170. https://doi.org/10.1521/jscp.2016.35.2.152

30.

Grzywacz

J. G.

Hovey

J. D.

Seligman

L. D.

Arcury

T. A.

Quandt

S. A.

(2006). Evaluating short-form versions of the CES-D for measuring depressive symptoms among immigrants from Mexico. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 28(3), 404–424. https://doi.org/10.1177/0739986306290645

31.

Guzzo

K. B.

(2014). Trends in cohabitation outcomes: Compositional changes and engagement among never‐married young adults. Journal of Marriage and Family, 76(4), 826–842. https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12123

32.

Hall

J. H.

Fals-Stewart

Fincham

F. D.

(2008). Risky sexual behavior among married alcoholic men. Journal of Family Psychology, 22(2), 287. https://doi.org/10.1037/0893-3200.22.2.287

33.

Hall

J. H.

Fincham

F. D.

(2009). Psychological distress: Precursor or consequence of dating infidelity? Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 35(2), 143–159. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167208327189

34.

Hammen

(2005). Stress and depression. Annu. Rev. Clin. Psychol., 1, 293–319. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.clinpsy.1.102803.143938

35.

Harris

K. M.

Halpern

C. T.

Whitsel

E. A.

Hussey

J. M.

Tabor

J. W.

Entzel

P. P.

Udry

J. R.

(2009). The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health: Research Design [WWW document]. http://www.cpc.unc.edu/projects/addhealth/design

36.

Horwitz

A. V.

Davies

(1994). Are emotional distress and alcohol problems differential outcomes to stress? An exploratory test. Social Science Quarterly, 75(3), 607–621.

37.

Jeanfreau

M. M.

Jurich

A. P.

Mong

M. D.

(2014). Risk factors associated with women’s marital infidelity. Contemporary Family Therapy, 36(3), 327–332. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-014-9309-3

38.

Johnson

(2005). Two‐wave panel analysis: Comparing statistical methods for studying the effects of transitions. Journal of Marriage and Family, 67(4), 1061–1075. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2005.00194.x

39.

Jones

J. M.

(2017). Americans hold record liberal views on most moral issues. Gallup Poll Social Series. https://news.gallup.com/poll/210542/americans-hold-record-liberal-views-moral-issues.aspx.

40.

Lin

Ensel

W. M.

(1989). Life stress and health: Stressors and resources. American Sociological Review, 54(3), 382–399. https://doi.org/10.2307/2095612

41.

Mazure

C. M.

(1998). Life stressors as risk factors in depression. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 5(3), 291–313. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2850.1998.tb00151.x

42.

Munsch

C. L.

(2015). Her support, his support: Money, masculinity, and marital infidelity. American Sociological Review, 80(3), 469–495. https://doi.org/10.1177/0003122415579989

43.

Paykel

E. S.

(2003). Life events and affective disorders. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 108, 61–66. https://doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-0447.108.s418.13.x

44.

Primack

B. A.

Swanier

Georgiopoulos

A. M.

Land

S. R.

Fine

M. J.

(2009). Association between media use in adolescence and depression in young adulthood: A longitudinal study. Archives of General Psychiatry, 66(2), 181–188. https://doi.org/10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2008.532

45.

Radloff

L. S.

(1977). The CES-D scale: A self-report depression scale for research in the general population. Applied Psychological Measurement, 1(3), 385–401. https://doi.org/10.1177/014662167700100306

46.

Royston

(2005). Multiple imputation of missing values: Update of ice. The Stata Journal, 5(4), 527–536. https://doi.org/10.1177/1536867X0500500204

47.

Shrier

L. A.

Harris

S. K.

Sternberg

Beardslee

W. R.

(2001). Associations of depression, self-esteem, and substance use with sexual risk among adolescents. Preventive Medicine, 33(3), 179–189. https://doi.org/10.1006/pmed.2001.0869

48.

Shrout

M. R.

Weigel

D. J.

(2018). Infidelity’s aftermath: Appraisals, mental health, and health-compromising behaviors following a partner’s infidelity. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 35(8), 1067–1091. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407517704091

49.

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

50.

Stanley

S. M.

Whitton

S. W.

Markman

H. J.

(2004). Maybe I do: Interpersonal commitment and premarital or nonmarital cohabitation. Journal of Family Issues, 25(4), 496–519. https://doi.org/10.1177/0192513X03257797

51.

Stepler

(2017). Number of US adults cohabiting with a partner continues to rise, especially among those 50 and older. Fact Tank: Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/04/06/number-of-u-s-adults-cohabiting-with-a-partner-continues-to-rise-especially-among-those-50-and-older/

52.

Sweeney

M. M.

Horwitz

A. V.

(2001). Infidelity, initiation, and the emotional climate of divorce: Are there implications for mental health? Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 42(3), 295–309. https://doi.org/10.2307/3090216

53.

Tennant

(2002). Life events, stress and depression: A review of recent findings. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 36(2), 173–182. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1440-1614.2002.01007.x

54.

Thoits

P. A.

(1995). Stress, coping, and social support processes: Where are we? What next? Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 53–79. https://doi.org/10.2307/2626957

55.

Thompson

A. P.

(1983). Extramarital sex: A review of the research literature. Journal of Sex Research, 19(1), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224498309551166

56.

Treas

Giesen

(2000). Sexual infidelity among married and cohabiting Americans. Journal of Marriage and Family, 62(1), 48–60. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2000.00048.x

57.

Vaughan

(2003). The monogamy myth: A personal handbook for recovering from affairs. Newmarket Press.

58.

Wiggins

J. D.

Lederer

D. A.

(1984). Differential antecedents of infidelity in marriage. American Mental Health Counselors Association Journal, 6(4), 152–161.