Psychosomatic Reactions and Physiological Effects of Infidelity among the Female Victims: A Phenomenological Study

Asayesh, Mohammad Hassan; Farahbakhsh, Kiumars; Delavar, Ali; Salimi Bajestani, Hossein

Volume 25, Issue 8 (Oct 2017) JSSU 2017, 25(8): 641-657 | Back to browse issues page

Mendeley

Zotero

RefWorks

Asayesh M H, Farahbakhsh K, Delavar A, Salimi Bajestani H. Psychosomatic Reactions and Physiological Effects of Infidelity among the Female Victims: A Phenomenological Study . JSSU 2017; 25 (8) :641-657
URL: http://jssu.ssu.ac.ir/article-1-4028-en.html

Psychosomatic Reactions and Physiological Effects of Infidelity among the Female Victims: A Phenomenological Study

Mohammad Hassan Asayesh ^*

, Kiumars Farahbakhsh

, Ali Delavar

, Hossein Salimi Bajestani

Abstract: (7428 Views)

Introduction: Infidelity has detrimental effects on the mental and physical health of victims. The aim of the present study is to identify psychosomatic reactions and physical effects of infidelity on the victims.

Method: a qualitative research was used in this study. The study population consisted of women who are victims of infidelity in Tehran. Participants were selected through purposive sampling and in-depth interviews had been conducted with 18 women with the experience of infidelity. Data analyzed by thematic analysis method.

Findings: The results suggest that couples show different psychosomatic reactions to infidelity. Data analysis resulted in 12 main categories and 39 sub-categories. The main categories of psychosomatic reactions were as follows: 1. sleep and dream interruptions, 2. eating interruptions, 3. impaired brain function, 4. physical symptoms of anxiety and stress, 5. blood pressure problems, 6. hormonal interruptions, 7. signs of premature aging, 8. gastrointestinal problems, 9. respiratory and pulmonary problems, 10- visual problems, 11. cardiovascular problems, and 12. direct physical injuries.

Discussion: Results of the present study revealed that infidelity is a psychological phenomenon with some physical effects. These effects are not experienced by all female victims alike. This suggests a different perception of female victims and its related processes that cause different patterns of psychosomatic reactions to the infidelity among them.

Keywords: Infidelity, Affair, Extramarital relationship, Psychosomatic reactions, Somatization

Full-Text [PDF 1037 kb] (3090 Downloads)

Type of Study: Original article | Subject: Psychology
Received: 2016/12/25 | Accepted: 2017/07/9 | Published: 2017/12/4

References

2. Shackelford TK, Besser A, Goetz AT. Personality, Marital Satisfaction, and Probability of Marital Infidelity. J Individual Differences Research 2008; 6: 13-25.

3. Snyder DK, Baucom DH, Gordon KC. Getting Past the Affair: A program to help you cope, heal, and move on - together or apart. New York, NY: Guilford; 2007.

4. Drigotas S, Barta W. The cheating heart: Scientific exploration of infidelity. Current Directions in Psychological Sci 2001; 10: 177-180.

5. Baucom DH, Gordon KC, Snyder DK, Atkins DC, Christensen A. Treating affair couples: Clinical considerations and initial findings. J Cognitive Psychotherapy 2006; 20(4): 374-392.

6. Snyder DK, Baucom DH, Gordon KC. Getting past the affair: A program to help you cope, heal, and move on—Together or apart. New York: Guilford Press; 2007.

7. Fatahi M, Fekazad H, Ghaffary G, Bolhari J. Recognizing the Fundamental Factors of Married Men Engaged in Marital Infidelity. Social Welfare 2014; 13 (51):109-131. [Persian]

8. Kaveh S. Encountering with disloyalty and infidelity of spouse. Tehran: Andishe Kohan Pardaz; 2010. [Persian]

9. Goldie M. Infidelity and Forgiveness: Therapists’ Views on Reconciliation and Restoration of Trust Following Disclosure of Infidelity. A thesis submitted to the faculty of Brigham Young U in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Sci ; 2013.

10. Qharaei’moqhadam A. 33% of women of Karaj have extramarital sexual relations [Online]. [cited 2013]; Available from: URL: http://saten.ir/17105/. (Persian)

11. Abrahamson I, Hussain R, Khan A, Schofield MJ. What Helps Couples Rebuild Their Relationship After Infidelity. J Family Issues 2011; 33(1): 1494-1519.

12. Karimi J, SudanI M, mehrabizadeh-moghadam M, Nissi A. Compare the effectiveness of holistic and integrated couple therapy and EFT on symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress caused by extra-marital relationships in couples. J Clinical Psychology 2013; 5 (19): 35-46. (Persian)

13. Bahrami F, Rezvan S. Sexual Unfaithfulness and its Psychological Factors. Proceedings of Marriage and Family Counseling, 5th Seminar of Iranian Counseling Association, Tehran: Anjoman-e Owlia va Morabbiyan; 2007. [Persian]

14. Asayesh MH. Developing a multi-dimensional post traumatic counseling model, and its effectiveness on divorce suspending, marital satisfaction and mental health in couples with infidelity. Thesis, Allameh Tabatabaei U ; 2016. [Persian]

15. Sori CF. An Affair to Remember:Infidelity and Its Impact on Children. In: P. R. Peluso (Ed). Infidelity: A practitioner's guide to working with couples in crisis. New York, NY: Routledge; 2007. p. 247-276.

16. Spring JA. After the Affair: Healing the Pain and Rebuilding Trust When a Partner Has Been Unfaithful, 2nd Edition Paperback. NY: William Morro 2012.

17. Fathi M, Fekrazad H, Ghaffari G, Bolhari J. (2012). Exploring the Factors for Marital Unfaithfulness in Men. Social Welfare Quarterly, 51(13): 109-131. (Persian)

18. Ghahari S. Infidelity in marriage (strategies for intervention). Tehran: Danzheh; 2016. [Persian]

19. Lusterman DD. Infidelity: A survival guide. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger; 1998.

20. DePoy E, Gitlin LN. Introduction to Research: Multiple Strategies for Health and Human Services. St. Louis, Mosby; 1993.

21. Guba EG, Lincoln YS. Fourth generation evaluation. Newbury Park, CA and London: Sage Publications; 1989.

22. Kessel DE, Moon JH, Atkins DC. Research on Couple Therapy for Infidelity What Do We Know About Helping Couples When There Has Been an Affair? In: Peluso PR, editor. Infidelity: A practitioner's guide to working with couples in crisis. New York, NY: Routledge; 2007: 55-70.

23. Cano A, O’Leary KD. Infidelity and separations precipitate major depressive episodes and symptoms of nonspecific depression and anxiety. J Consulting and Clinical Psychology 2000; 68(5): 774–81.

24. Sharf RS. Theories of psychotherapy and counseling: Concepts and cases. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole 2012

25. Fife ST, Weeks GR, Gambescia N. (2007). The Intersystems Approach to Treating Infidelity. In PR Peluso, editor. Infidelity: A practitioner's guide to working with couples in crisis. New York, NY: Routledge; 2007: 71-98.

26. Johnson SM, Makinen JA, Millikin JW. Attachment injuries in couple relationships: A new perspective on impasses in couples therapy. J Marital and Family Therapy 2001; 27(2): 145–155.

27. Macintosh HB, Hall J, Johnson SM. Forgive and Forget: A Comparison of Emotionally Focused and Cognitive-Behavioral Models of Forgiveness and Intervention in the Context of Couple Infidelity. In PR Peluso, editor. Infidelity: A practitioner's guide to working with couples in crisis. New York, NY: Routledge; 2007: 100-127.

28. Cause and Treatment for decline or a sudden drop in blood pressure [Online]. [cited 2016]; Available from: URL: http://bloodpressure.ir/228-2/. [Persian]

29. Sajjadpour M. Causes and symptoms of low blood pressure pressure [Online]. [cited 2016]; Available from: URL: http:// article.tebyan.net/223892/. [Persian]

30. Zareian P. The Effect of the Limiting Acute and Chronic Stress on the Pain Perception Threshold and the Concentration of Sex Hormones in Rats. Rahavard-e Danesh, 2009; 12(46); 57-63. [Persian]

31. Ghaderi R, Zarban A, Babaeian H, Saffar-Yazdi M, Sharifzadeh G. The Relationship between Plasma Oxidative Stress and Premature Skin Aging Caused by Sunlight. Hormozgan Med J 2008; 12 (4): 215-222. [Persian]

32. Kharamin S, Nili H, Mohammadi A, Mobasheri G. Comparison of Methods to Deal with Stress in Patients with Gastric and Duodenal Ulcers, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and Normal Individuals. Armaghan-e Danesh 2008; 2 (50): 95-104. [Persian]

33. Seydi J, Shaban M, Sigari N. The Effect of Smoking Cessation on the FEV1 of Smokers with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases. J the U of Med Sci of Kurdistan 2007;12(43): 1-9. [Persian]

34. Dehghani-Firoozabadi M, Mansha’i G, Danayesij Z, Sharifzadeh G. The Comparison of the Effectiveness of Cognitive - Behavioral Stress Management on Depression and Anxiety Symptoms in Patients with Epilepsy and Migraine. J the U of Med Sci of Birjand 2014; 21(4): 407-415. [Persian]

35. Danayesij Z, Dehghani- Firoozabadi M, Sharifzadeh G. The Effect of Cognitive - Behavioral Stress Management on Depression, Anxiety and Headache in Female Patients with Migraine. Moraghebatha-ye Novin 2013; 10(3): 157-164. [Persian]

36. Vahedyan-Azimi A, Sadeghi M, Movafegh A, Sarvari-Zanjani R, Hassani D, Saleh-Moghaddam A, and Kashafi MB. Exploring the Perceived Stress and the Five Features of Heart Disease (Contextual, Social, Economic, Familial, and Demographic) in Patients with Myocardial Infarction. J Med Sci of Zanjan 2012; 20(78): 99-111. [Persian]

37. Sori CF. An Affair to Remember” Infidelity and Its Impact on Children]. in PR Peluso, editor. Infidelity: A practitioner's guide to working with couples in crisis. New York, NY: Routledge; 2007: 247-276.

38. Momeni-Javid M, Shoa-Kazemi M. Effectiveness of psychotherapy interventions to forgive marital infidelity among married women in Tehran during 2010-2011. J Social Research 2012; 18(6): 139-155. [Persian]

39. Peluso PR. Infidelity: A practitioner's guide to working with couples in crisis (editor). New York, NY: Routledge; 2007: 121-122.

40. Somers-Flanagan J, Somers-Flanagan R. Counseling and Psychotherapy Theories in Context practice Skills, Strategies, and Technique. Wiley; 2012.

41. Corey G. Theory & Practice of Counseling & Psychotherapy, 7th Edition, translated by Y Seyyed-Mohammadi. Tehran: Arasbaran; 2005. [Persian]

42. Oakes J, Wells AS, Jones M, Datnow A. Detracking: The social construction of ability, cultural politics, and resistance to reform. Teachers College Record 1997; 98(3): 482-10.

43. Schwandt TA, Lincoln YS, Guba EG. Judging interpretations: But is it rigorous? Trustworthiness and authenticity in naturalistic evaluation. New Directions for Evaluation 2007; (114): 11-25.