Investigating the underlying causes and consequences of extramarital relationships (marital infidelity) from the perspective of married youth in Kermanshah: A study of grounded theory

The purpose of the present study, in order to analyze the causes of the context and the consequences of extramarital relationships (marital infidelity) from the perspective of married youth in Kermanshah. The research method was a qualitative methodological approach using the grounded theory method. The Statistical Society of all married youth was involved in Kermanshah's transcendental relations in 2019. Based on the theoretical sampling method, 22 people (11 men and 11 women) participated in the study using in-depth and semi-structured interview techniques. The results showed that two nuclear categories in the areas of individual and interpersonal issues, and community issues, were obtained as underlying factors. In the field of individual and interpersonal issues; Individualism, past issues, moral and religious weakness, failure to meet sexual needs, failure to meet emotional and psychological needs, verbal, physical, and sexual violence, and lack of control over life have all been influential. In the field of community issues; Environmental, social and political issues, poverty and economic problems, addiction, and media war were influential. Overall, the findings of this study showed that sexual and emotional needs, poverty, and economic problems, along with addiction were the main causes of infidelity from the perspective of both men and women. The consequences of extramarital relationships include interpersonal problems between couples, reduction in personal acts, granted isolation, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, suicide, and murder. Researchers and policymakers in the field of marriage and family can reduce the likelihood of inclination to extramarital relationships by eliminating the causes of couples' tendency to extramarital relationships and strengthening their deterrents and functional environment, and providing the basis for the stability of the coupled system and family.