Women face higher risks of partner violence during the weeks their partners cheat
A new study reveals a troubling pattern in young relationships: women are more likely to face intimate partner violence during the exact weeks their partners are cheating on them, often leading to a breakup.
A study published in the Journal of Marriage and Family reveals that women are more susceptible to violence from their partners during the weeks when their partners engage in other sexual relationships. This holds true regardless of whether the couple has openly agreed to remain monogamous or if they have broken such an agreement.
The likelihood of the relationship ending soon after these incidents also increases. The research, led by Jennifer S. Barber and Yasamin Kusunoki, examined data from the Relationship Dynamics and Social Life (RDSL) study, which involved 1003 young women aged 18-19, primarily from a diverse county in Michigan. Over a two-and-a-half-year period, the study tracked these women into their early twenties and focused on young pregnancies.
Of the 895 women who completed the study, 80% of their relationships ended during the research period. Physical abuse was reported in 28% of relationships, while 52% of participants experienced some form of intimate partner violence. Additionally, 5% of relationships involved non-consensual non-monogamy (cheating), while 7% featured their partners engaging in such behavior.
Ambiguous-consent non-monogamy (having additional sexual partners without explicit agreement) occurred in 9% of relationships, with the partner involved in 16% of these instances. The findings align with expectancy violations theory, suggesting that breaches of monogamy and other relational expectations significantly impact the stability of relationships.
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