Emotional and Sexual Dating Infidelity as a Function of Gender Relationship Quality and Parental Influence

This study addressed dating infidelity attitudes and behaviors among college students involved in romantic relationships. Both emotional and sexual components of infidelity were analyzed. A gender difference emerged, with men being more accepting of dating infidelity and engaging in dating infidelity more often than women. Among both genders, however, attitudes were positively associated with behaviors. It was hypothesized that the following variables would predict dating infidelity: relationship satisfaction, relationship commitment, family structure, interparental conflict, parent-child relationship quality, and a young adult's knowledge of his or her parent's infidelity. Attitudes were found to predict behaviors. Relationship satisfaction and commitment were also among the best predictors of dating infidelity behaviors and attitudes. However, in general, family variables showed little influence over a young adult's experience with and acceptance of emotional and sexual dating infidelity, with a few exceptions involving the interaction of parent-child relationship quality and knowledge of a parent's extramarital affair.