Before infidelity in romantic relationships comes a period when the well-being of both partners in the relationship is progressively declining – a study by psychologists at Tilburg University was published in the journalism. psychological science.
Cheating is one of the main reasons couples break up. When examining relationships, it turns out that infidelity is associated with a number of problems in them. However, it is not clear whether infidelity causes relationship problems or is a result of them.
The authors examined data from a group analysis of close relationships and dynamics collected since 2008. In total, scientists took data from more than 12 thousand people. The authors selected two groups from this pool of participants; a sample of partners who have experienced cheating in a relationship and a control sample.
The first group included those who cheated or suffered from cheating. The control sample consisted of people in relationships who did not report infidelity. All participants completed a questionnaire in which they talked about satisfaction with relationships, the level of conflict within them, and their self-esteem.
The researchers found that partners reported lower self-esteem, relationship and intimacy satisfaction, and more conflict in the relationship, even before infidelity. According to scientists, it is the breakdown of communication between partners that leads to betrayal.