Emerging Adults’ Infidelity Intentions in Romantic Relationships: The Role of Parental Infidelity,Adult Attachment Insecurity,and Intimacy

Abstract

Infidelity has negative consequences on both partners’ mental health and romantic relationship quality. Recent studies demonstrated that adult attachment insecurity is linked to Turkish emerging adults’ infidelity intentions. However, the associations of infidelity intentions with perceived emotional and sexual intimacy and parental infidelity experience need further investigation. In order to address this gap in the literature, the current study explored the associations between parental infidelity, adult attachment anxiety and avoidance, emotional and sexual intimacy, and infidelity intentions among Turkish emerging adults. The sample included 280 participants who were 18­–30 years old, unmarried, childless, and in an ongoing romantic relationship for at least a year. Participants who were deemed eligible completed an online survey through Qualtrics. Findings suggested that a history of cheating on a prior romantic partner, parental infidelity, and the level of adult attachment avoidance were positively related to infidelity intentions, while perceived emotional and sexual intimacy were negatively associated with infidelity intentions. There was no significant relationship between adult attachment anxiety and infidelity intentions. These findings shed light on the importance of addressing parental infidelity, adult attachment avoidance, and intimacy problems in couples therapy, given the risk of engaging in infidelity.