A Multivariate Analysis of Female Extramarital Coitus

Extramarital sex: Prevalence and correlates in a national survey

“…In many ways, the results of the current study raise at least as many questions as provide answers. As suggested in earlier writings (e.g., Bell, Turner, & Rosen, 1975;Thompson, 1983Thompson, , 1984, further research is needed to understand individual differences in the experience of EMS, the conditions under which EMS occurs, and the roles EMS plays in people's lives.…”

The Role of Differentiation in Extradyadic Relationships

“…Thompson (1984) initially defined an affair as "genital sexual involvement outside the marriage without the express knowledge or consent of one's partner" (p. 36). Additionally, in discussing infidelity, authors who distinguish the physical component of it refer to it as "extramarital sex" or "extramarital coitus" (Bell, Turner, & Rosen, 1975;Thompson, 1983). Brown (1991) also defines an affair as being a sexual relationship with one other than one's spouse of which the spouse has no knowledge, asserting "affairs of the heart, which do not involve a sexual relationship, are not truly affairs-yet" (p. 19).…”

“…Levels of marital satisfaction are also correlated with levels of differentiation. One of the greatest predictors of an extramarital affair is unhappiness in a marriage (Bell, Turner, & Rosen, 1975;Kinsey et al, 1948;Thompson, 1983). Skowron and Friedlander (1998) measured how levels of differentiation compare with marital satisfaction.…”

Education for Choice: Implications of Alternatives in Lifestyles for Family Life Education

“…Moreover, research has made it clear that extramarital sex is not necessarily indicative of or contributive to a poor primary or marital relationship (Johnson, 1970;Hunt, 1974;Bell et al, 1975;Levin, 1975;Glass & Wright, 1977;Atwater, 1979). There are, in fact, couples who have made a mutual decision to allow one or both to have openly acknowledged non-competing sexual relationships with satellite partners (Ramey, 1976), believing that such a relationship maximizes the opportunity for both personal growth and emotional security.…”

“…Among the well-documented realities of modern life are the increases in reported sexual interaction with someone other than one's spouse or primary partner (particularly for women), the fact that the first incident is occurring at a younger age, and the finding that rates for women are becoming similar to those for men (Athanasiou, Shaver, & Tavris, 1970;Hunt, 1974;Bell, Turner, & Rosen, 1975;Levin, 1975;Maykovich, 1976). Moreover, research has made it clear that extramarital sex is not necessarily indicative of or contributive to a poor primary or marital relationship (Johnson, 1970;Hunt, 1974;Bell et al, 1975;Levin, 1975;Glass & Wright, 1977;Atwater, 1979).…”