Post‐traumatic stress and psychological health following infidelity in unmarried young adults

Abstract

Infidelity is often conceptualized as a traumatic event; however, little research has explored this topic empirically, particularly in unmarried adults. We determined the prevalence of infidelity-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among unmarried adults who experienced a partner's infidelity and whether probable infidelity-related PTSD was associated with additional psychological health outcomes (i.e., depressive symptoms, perceived stress, and anxiety symptoms). We also investigated whether negative post-traumatic cognitions mediated the associations between infidelity-related PTSD symptoms and psychological health. This study included 73 adults (M age = 19.42, SE = 0.19 years) who experienced infidelity within a committed nonmarital relationship within the last 5 years. Controlling for gender, race, and exposure to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Psychiatric Disorders Criterion A traumas, 45.2% of our sample reported symptoms suggesting probable infidelity-related PTSD. Whether used as continuous or categorical predictor, infidelity-related PTSD symptoms were significantly associated with depressive symptoms, although results for perceived stress and anxiety symptoms were mixed.Post-traumatic cognitions acted as a partial mediator for depressive symptoms and full mediator for perceived stress and anxiety symptoms. This empirical evidence suggests that infidelity may produce PTSD symptoms at a relatively high rate, even in unmarried young adults, and may put individuals at risk for poorer psychological health, partially through post-traumatic cognitions. K E Y W O R D Sclose relationships, infidelity, post-traumatic cognitions, post-traumatic stress, psychological health, PTSD, young adults

Is romantic partner betrayal a form of traumatic experience? A qualitative study

“…In previous literature, betrayals in relationships, particularly infidelity, have been conceptualized as a form of interpersonal trauma due to their PTSD‐like effects on some affected individuals (e.g., Johnson et al, 2001; Roos et al, 2019). However, according to the DSM‐5, trauma is defined under Criterion A as an event involving the threat of death, serious bodily injury or sexual violence (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).…”

“…These acts, which can be understood as ‘attachment injuries’, threaten the security of the romantic relationship and can be best understood as ‘trauma with a small “t”’ (Johnson et al, 2001, p. 150). Such events are not only among the main reasons for relationship breakdown, but can also induce a trauma‐ and stressor‐related disorder similar to post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), such as an adjustment disorder, in some betrayed partners (Roos, O'Connor, Canevello, & Bennett, 2019; Steffens & Rennie, 2006; Whisman, 2015).…”

“…While generally considered a less severe form of stressor‐related disturbance, symptoms of adjustment disorders overlap with those of PTSD and include intrusive, uncontrollable thoughts and memories of the event, increased arousal to reminders, avoidance, emotional volatility, negative changes in cognitions (e.g., the world is dangerous, others are untrustworthy, the self is damaged) as well as depression, anxiety and significant functional impairment (American Psychiatric Association, 2013; Maercker & Lorenz, 2018). Although the prevalence of individuals who develop a trauma‐ and stressor‐related disorder, such as adjustment disorder, from romantic betrayal is unknown, mounting evidence suggests that between 30% and 60% of romantically betrayed persons experience such symptoms to clinically significant levels (Laaser, Putney, Bundick, Delmonico, & Griffin, 2017; Roos et al, 2019; Whisman, 2015).…”

Infidelidad: pasar del abismo a la grieta luego del acompañamiento terapéutico

“…Otros aspectos que se han investigado ampliamente tienen relación con el impacto individual y de pareja que se genera posterior a un evento de infidelidad, como lo muestran los estudios realizados por Luyens y Vansteenwegen (2001), Charny y Parnass (2008), Giraldo y Garcés (2013), Roos et al (2019) y Warach y Josephs (2019) que describen dicha experiencia como un estado de muerte, propia y de la pareja, un dolor intolerable, un trauma psicológico profundo, el cual ha sido asemejado con el estrés postraumático ya que suscita los mismos síntomas. Adicionalmente, al conocerse la infidelidad, los infieles pueden sentir negación y ambivalencia; la persona infidelizada puede experimentar choque, ira, odio, pérdida de la autoestima y la confianza sexual, entre otros.…”

Counseling Clients Who Have Experienced Undisclosed Infidelity

“…Whether disclosed or undisclosed, the traumatic symptoms experienced by the betrayed partner can be severe. In fact, the symptoms may be equally as problematic as those who have encountered physical injury through rape, war, and serious accidents (Roos et al, 2019). Consequently, the heartbreak, betrayal, and obliteration of trust caused by intimate partner infidelity is one of the most disruptive and damaging relational offenses, and the lies and deception of the betrayer complicate the anguish.…”