A Contextual Perspective on Associations Between Reported Parental Infidelity and Relational Ethics of the Adult Children

Abstract

This study's aim was to apply a Contextual theory lens on exploring whether knowledge of parental infidelity affects the Relational Ethics (RE) of adult children. The Relational Ethics Scale (RES) was used to capture horizontal (partner) and vertical (family of origin) relational ethics in a clinical sample of 195 participants. A repeated measures ANOVA tested the differences in RES scores among the participants who reported knowledge of parental infidelity and the participants who did not. Results showed that knowledge of parental infidelity is significantly associated with lower scores on the RES, which indicates problematic relationships, both in partners and with family of origin. Clinical implications on how parental infidelity can affect relational ethics are discussed.

Exploring the lived experience of parental infidelity

“…Schmidt et al (2016) found a significant correlation between paternal infidelity and lowered levels of 'horizontal' relational ethics. Similarly, Kawar et al (2019) found that participants who had been exposed to parental infidelity scored significantly lower, than participants who had not, on the vertical relational ethics measures and on the horizontal relational ethics measures, indicating that parental infidelity can negatively influence individuals' relationships with members of their family of origin and their romantic partners.…”

Investigating the relationships between unfaithful parent’s apologies, adult children’s third-party forgiveness, and communication of forgiveness following parental infidelity

“…Similarly, researchers and clinicians have argued that families vary in the extent to which they discuss parental infidelity (e.g., Brown, 2001; Lusterman, 2005; Thorson, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2017) and the outcomes associated with becoming aware of it. For instance, whereas some scholars have suggested that children’s knowledge of their parents’ infidelity is likely positively linked with anxiety (Lusterman, 2005), the propensity to engage in infidelity in one’s own romantic relationships (Weiser & Weigel, 2017), and negatively associated with relational ethics (Kawar, Coppola, & Gangamma, 2018; Schmidt et al, 2016), others have indicated that children may not be dramatically affected by these events (Duncombe & Marsden, 2004) or understand the seriousness of the transgression to which they have been privy (Thorson, 2015).…”

“…In fact, in their series of studies on offspring’s infidelity behavior, Weiser and Weigel (2017) reported that between 24% and 35% of their participants had previous knowledge of at least one parental infidelity. In Kawar, Coppola, and Gangamma’s (2018) study of 195 individuals, 78 (40%) indicated that they were aware of at least one infidelity which occurred in their parents’ relationship. Similarly, Schmidt, Green, and Prouty (2016) reported that 37% of the over 700 participants in their study were aware of a parental infidelity.…”

Relational recovery after infidelity as a dual process: A model based on the experiences of female injured partners

“…Infidelity can be considered as one of the most destructive events for a committed relationship. It often leads to relational conflicts and emotional turmoil in the family, in which not only the two partners, but also their children are affected (Kawar et al, 2019) As Lenger et al (2018) point out in their review, it is one of the most important predictors of divorce (Atkins et al, 2001). It is often the reason why couples want therapy (Wilson et al, 2011).…”