Factors Affecting Extramarital Relationships in Iran: A Meta-Synthesis Study

Objective: The present study aimed to develop a comprehensive model of the factors influencing extramarital relationships in Iran through a meta-synthesis of Iranian research conducted between 2012 and 2022. Methods and Materials: This study employed a qualitative meta-synthesis approach to integrate and analyze findings from previous Iranian studies on extramarital relationships. The statistical population consisted of all domestic research published between 2012 and 2022 that addressed factors associated with extramarital relationships among married couples. A purposive sampling strategy was used, and a systematic search was conducted across major scientific databases, including Google Scholar, Noormags, IranDoc, Magiran, the Scientific Information Database (SID), and the Comprehensive Portal of Humanities. Following screening and eligibility assessment, 37 relevant studies were selected for analysis. Data were extracted, coded, categorized, and synthesized using qualitative content analysis procedures. To ensure the trustworthiness and validity of the findings, expert evaluation was conducted, and the resulting model was assessed using Cohen’s Kappa coefficient. Findings: The meta-synthesis identified five major categories of factors affecting extramarital relationships in Iran, comprising 13 dimensions and 46 underlying concepts. The first category, personality factors, included the dimensions of spouses’ personality traits and interpersonal differences. The second category, individual factors, encompassed sexual and physical issues, emotional difficulties, low self-esteem and negative self-concept, and marital commitment. The third category, family factors, consisted of family-related problems and marital life crises. The fourth category, moral-religious factors, included marriage-related issues, unconventional behaviors, and religious and ethical beliefs. Finally, cultural-social factors comprised inadequate boundary maintenance and the influence of media and virtual social spaces. The proposed conceptual model demonstrated acceptable validity, with an expert agreement coefficient (Kappa) of 0.71, confirming the reliability and coherence of the framework. Conclusion: The findings indicate that extramarital relationships in Iran are influenced by a complex interaction of personality, individual, familial, moral-religious, and socio-cultural factors. The multidimensional nature of these relationships suggests that prevention and intervention efforts should address both intrapersonal and contextual determinants.