A study of the relationship between extramarital involvement and marital satisfaction in older and younger women

The purpose of this study was to determine: (1) the relationship between marital satisfaction and extramarital sexual involvement in a sample of middle class employed females, (2) the differences, if any, in level of marital satisfaction between younger women (20-34) and older women (35+) who have had extramarital sexual involvements, and (3) to draw implications from the findings to broaden knowledge for family therapists and other clinicians. The study sample consisted of 102 married or formerly married female volunteers who were full-time employees of a large national insurance company at four locations in a mid-Atlantic state. The hypotheses were: (1) there is a relationship between extramarital sexual involvement and marital satisfaction, (2) younger women (20-34) who have had extramarital involvements will demonstrate higher distress with the sexual aspects of their marriage than older women (35+) who have had extramarital involvements, and (3) older women who have had extramarital involvements will demonstrate higher distress with the emotional aspects of their marriage when compared with younger women who had extramarital involvement. Two instruments were used, The Marital Satisfaction Inventory (Snyder, 1981) and the Personal Data Form developed by the researcher. The hypotheses were tested by a t test using the.05 level of significance. The study determined that there is a relationship between low marital satisfaction and extramarital relationships. Hypothesis 2 and 3 were not supported. There were no significant differences between the two age groups of women. Three other findings emerged when the sexually involved group of women were compared with the not sexually involved group. Both groups reflected moderate distress with the sexual aspects of their marriages. A t test revealed a strong relationship between financial dissatisfaction and extramarital relationships. A chi square test produced evidence that women who were divorced were more likely to have had extramarital relationships while formerly married than women who are currently married. Women who become involved in extramarital relationships appear more dissatisfied with the emotional and financial aspects of the marital relationship with finances emerging as an important variable. Both groups of women, involved and not involved, appeared to be sexually dissatisfied with their marital relationship.