Infidelity’s aftermath: Appraisals, mental health, and health-compromising behaviors following a partner’s infidelity

Abstract

Guided by transactional stress theory, this research investigated the role of appraisals in noninvolved partners’ mental health and health-compromising behaviors after infidelity. Responses from 232 college students who were recently cheated on revealed that negative appraisals (partner blame, self-blame, and causal attribution) had indirect effects on health-compromising behaviors through mental health (depression, anxiety, and distress). Moderated mediation analyses revealed that gender altered the indirect effect of partner and self-blame on health-compromising behaviors through mental health. Men’s health-compromising behaviors did not differ based on their appraisals or mental health. However, women who reported negative appraisals and high levels of mental health consequences engaged in more health-compromising behaviors. These findings suggest that perceptions of a partner’s infidelity are important, and that those perceptions affect noninvolved partners’ mental health and physical health behaviors.

Intrapersonal and interpersonal facilitators of forgiveness following spousal infidelity: A stress and coping perspective

“…Both decisional and emotional forgiveness are significantly influenced by cognitive appraisals about an event or situation based on personal and environmental coping resources (Strelan, in press). In a marital context, cognitive appraisals which play a major role in how partners respond to interpersonal transgressions can be reflected in attributions of spousal infidelity (Shrout & Weigel, 2018). Attributions are how spousal infidelity is interpreted in terms of causes and accountability (Fincham & Bradbury, 1992;Fincham, Paleari, & Regalia, 2002).…”

Reorientation of Activities and Self-Environment Integration: A Novel Theory of Activities

“…Partner's infidelity (indicating frustration of relatedness needs) has been linked with psychological symptoms and health compromising behaviors (Shrout & Weigel, 2018). This study also found that "women who reported negative appraisals and high levels of mental health consequences engaged in more health-compromising behaviors".…”

Extradyadic Behaviors and Gender: How Do They Relate With Sexual Desire, Relationship Quality, and Attractiveness

“…The experience of extradyadic behaviors without the primary partner's prior consent can be the most painful occurrence for someone who is in an intimate relationship (Luo et al, 2010;Shrout and Weigel, 2018). Specifically, these extradyadic behaviors can have serious consequences, such as low self-esteem, mental problems, loss of trust, decreased personal and sexual confidence, rage, and guilt, and in many cases leads to spousal battering and divorce (Cano and O'Leary, 2000;Shackelford, 2001;Fisher et al, 2008;Russell et al, 2013).…”

“…Specifically, these extradyadic behaviors can have serious consequences, such as low self-esteem, mental problems, loss of trust, decreased personal and sexual confidence, rage, and guilt, and in many cases leads to spousal battering and divorce (Cano and O'Leary, 2000;Shackelford, 2001;Fisher et al, 2008;Russell et al, 2013). Studies have shown that these negative emotions can be found in both married and unmarried couples experiencing extradyadic behaviors (Mapfumo, 2016;Fincham and May, 2017;Shrout and Weigel, 2018). Extradyadic behaviors also affect other family members, especially children (Wilson et al, 2011).…”