Data from 12,000 pairs
A group of German researchers wanted to take a closer look at that, and therefore they analysed data concerning well-being in the couple relationship of more than 12,000 Germans and their partners. The researchers divided the experimental participants into two groups. One group consisted of couples who had already gone through infidelity. The other group, which had avoided the problem, served as the control group.
In the infidelity group, the participants were divided into “unfaithful” and “deceived”. The control group consisted of participants who lived in stable relationships, but had not experienced any slippage in the relationship. The researchers then analyzed details of infidelity, life satisfaction, commitment to the relationship, and well-being of the individual and the couple.
The problems started before the infidelity
They could generally see a gradual deterioration in the couple’s relationship, which began well before the infidelity took place. This slow undermining played out both in those who were ultimately unfaithful and in the other partner who had been deceived.
After the infidelity had occurred, the people who had cheated on their partner experienced a decrease in self-worth, less satisfaction with the relationship and sex life, and more arguments. These changes did not manifest themselves to the same extent in those who had been deceived.
The men are the worst
The cheated partner showed lower self-esteem and more conflict in the relationship than before the infidelity, but they had not observed changes in other areas related to their well-being.
The researchers also concluded that the men were more likely to be unfaithful than the women. And participants who ended the relationship in the wake of the infidelity, but did not find a new partner, experienced a decline in quality of life. This was not the case either with those who found a new partner afterwards or with those who chose to continue together. with your partner despite infidelity.
