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Cited by 49Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ResearchChild Abuse and TraumaPsychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research

Post‐traumatic stress and psychological health following infidelity in unmarried young adults

Roos, Lydia G., O'Connor, Victoria, Canevello, Amy, Bennett, Jeanette M.·2019·Stress and Health
DOI 10.1002/smi.2880
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Abstract

Infidelity is often conceptualized as a traumatic event; however, little research has explored this topic empirically, particularly in unmarried adults. We determined the prevalence of infidelity‐related post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among unmarried adults who experienced a partner's infidelity and whether probable infidelity‐related PTSD was associated with additional psychological health outcomes (i.e., depressive symptoms, perceived stress, and anxiety symptoms). We also investigated whether negative post‐traumatic cognitions mediated the associations between infidelity‐related PTSD symptoms and psychological health. This study included 73 adults ( M age = 19.42, SE = 0.19 years) who experienced infidelity within a committed nonmarital relationship within the last 5 years. Controlling for gender, race, and exposure to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Psychiatric Disorders Criterion A traumas, 45.2% of our sample reported symptoms suggesting probable infidelity‐related PTSD. Whether used as continuous or categorical predictor, infidelity‐related PTSD symptoms were significantly associated with depressive symptoms, although results for perceived stress and anxiety symptoms were mixed. Post‐traumatic cognitions acted as a partial mediator for depressive symptoms and full mediator for perceived stress and anxiety symptoms. This empirical evidence suggests that infidelity may produce PTSD symptoms at a relatively high rate, even in unmarried young adults, and may put individuals at risk for poorer psychological health, partially through post‐traumatic cognitions.

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  • Several authors have cited the emotional, cognitive and behavioral reactions to infidelity as evidence to support its status as a traumatic experience that is comparable to PTSD, despite AD being a better diagnostic fit.

    “Several authors have cited the emotional, cognitive and behavioral reactions to infidelity as evidence to support its status as a traumatic experience that is comparable to PTSD, despite AD being a better diagnostic fit [38,50,51].”

    From Love and Infidelity: Causes and Consequences (2023) · cites this paper as [51]

  • Victims of romantic betrayal experienced clinical levels of PTSD symptomology that included high levels of depressive symptoms and stress.

    “Similar results were shown in work by Roos et al. and Gordon et al., which found that victims of romantic betrayal experienced clinical levels of PTSD symptomology that included high levels of depressive symptoms and stress [51,54].”

    From Love and Infidelity: Causes and Consequences (2023) · cites this paper as [51]

  • Undergraduate students experiencing infidelity as victims of romantic betrayal reported having difficulty breathing, bodily trembles, extreme nervousness and a racing heart when recalling their previous relationship.

    “Another study conducted by Roos et al., found that undergraduate students experiencing infidelity as victims of romantic betrayal reported having difficulty breathing, bodily trembles, extreme nervousness and a racing heart when recalling their previous relationship [51].”

    From Love and Infidelity: Causes and Consequences (2023) · cites this paper as [51]

  • Attachment injury from infidelity could impose psychological and emotional dysregulation, which may emulate symptoms of depression, anxiety, and AD.

    “This type of attachment injury could impose psychological and emotional dysregulation for those facing these circumstances, which may emulate symptoms of conditions such as depression, anxiety and AD [28,30,38,41,51,53].”

    From Love and Infidelity: Causes and Consequences (2023) · cites this paper as [51]

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Authors
Roos, L. G., O'Connor, V., Canevello, A., & Bennett, J. M.
Affiliations
  • University of North Carolina at Charlotte (US)
  • Health Psychology PhD Program The University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte North Carolina
Corresponding author
Bennett, Jeanette M.
ORCID
Venue
Stress and Health
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2019-07-26
Volume
35
Issue
4
Pages
468-479
ISSN
  • 1532-2998 (ISSN-L)
  • 1532-3005
DOI
10.1002/smi.2880
OpenAlex
W2949977633
Cited by
49
References
56
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 3
FWCI
3.80
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • Stress and Health (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
Keywords
infidelity, post-traumatic stress disorder, unmarried young adults, non-marital relationships, depressive symptoms, perceived stress, anxiety symptoms, posttraumatic cognitions, mediation, mental health
MeSH terms
Anxiety, Cognition, Depression, Divorce, Female, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Mental Health, Single Person, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Young Adult

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