Relationship Satisfaction and Infidelity-Related Behaviors on Social Networks: A Preliminary Online Study of Hispanic Women

• Published in: European journal of investigation in health, psychology and education Vol. 10; no. 1; pp. 297 - 309
• Main Authors: Aquino Serrano, Francisco, Pérez Torres, Emily M, González Rivera, Juan A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI 15.12.2019
• Subjects: emotional intimacy; infidelity behaviors; relationship ambivalence; relationship satisfaction; sexual satisfaction; social networks; relationship ambivalence; relationship satisfaction; sexual satisfaction; infidelity behaviors; social networks; emotional intimacy
• ISSN: 2254-9625; 2174-8144; 2254-9625
• DOI: 10.3390/ejihpe10010023

The purpose of this online study was to develop an explicative model regarding the origin of infidelity-related behaviors on social networks for Hispanic women. We propose that sexual satisfaction and emotional intimacy have a direct impact on the satisfaction of couple relationships, and an indirect impact in the development of infidelity-related behaviors on social networks. To investigate this proposal, we used a non-probabilistic sample of 341 Hispanic women living in Puerto Rico. Statistical analyses confirmed that satisfaction and ambivalence in couple relationship completely mediate the association between sexual satisfaction and infidelity-related behaviors on social networks, as well as the relationship between emotional intimacy and infidelity-related behaviors on social networks. Overall, women who practice infidelity-related behaviors on social networks showed less sexual satisfaction, less emotional intimacy, less relationship satisfaction, and greater ambivalence. Our results provide theoretical and empirical evidence on how infidelity-related behaviors on social networks develop in couple relationships, and these results could help to inform possible forms of prevention and intervention.