Exploring Infidelity Behavior Patterns in a Sample of Peruvian Young Adults: A Latent Class Analysis.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Sociology
• Human Behavior

Background:

• Infidelity is a prevalent issue in relationships, extensively studied but often lacking a holistic, person-centered analysis of behavioral patterns.
• Previous research has not fully explored the diverse manifestations and typologies of infidelity behaviors among young adults.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and characterize distinct behavioral patterns of infidelity in a young adult population using a person-centered approach.
• To examine the relationship between demographic factors (age, sex, sexual orientation, relationship duration) and infidelity patterns.

Main Methods:

• Latent class analysis was employed to classify subgroups with distinct patterns of unfaithful behavior.
• The Multidimensional Infidelity Inventory-S (MII-S), a 20-item Likert-scale instrument, was used to assess sexual and emotional infidelity.
• A sample of 400 young adults (mean age = 25.28 years) participated in the study.

Main Results:

• Four latent classes emerged: infidelity (15.7%), sexual desire (14.4%), emotional interest (27.2%), and fidelity (42.5%).
• Age and sex were significantly associated with class membership.
• Men were more likely to be in the sexual desire class, while women were more represented in the emotional interest and fidelity classes. No significant differences were found for sexual orientation or relationship duration.

Conclusions:

• The findings reveal a nuanced landscape of infidelity behaviors beyond simple dichotomies, with distinct patterns identified in young adults.
• Demographic factors, specifically age and sex, play a significant role in shaping an individual's propensity towards different infidelity patterns.
• These classifications offer valuable insights for clinical interventions and future research directions in understanding and addressing infidelity in relationships.