This study investigated the well-established finding that males are more likely than females to engage in extradyadic relations by seeking to determine if the personality trait sensation seeking mediates the relationship between gender and sexual extradyadic behaviors. A total of 174 participants, aged 17–36 years, indicated the extent to which they intended to engage in a hypothetical sexual extradyadic behavior (i.e., kiss or casual sex) and completed the Brief Sensation Seeking Scale (BSSS-4). Multiple linear regressions revealed that initial gender differences in sexual extradyadic intention (β = −.17, p < .05) no longer accounted for significant variability when sensation seeking was controlled for (β = −.09, p > .10). Sobel and bootstrapping tests further demonstrated that sensation seeking fully mediated the aforementioned relationship between gender and extradyadic intention. Discussion presents two perspectives that help explain the results and offers suggestions for future research.
The majority of romantic relationships are bound by personal and societal expectations of sexual and emotional exclusivity (Treas & Giesen, 2000). Violations of these mutually agreed upon boundaries can result in negative consequences for a relationship, such as relationship dissolution and psychological distress (Allen and Baucom, 2006, Cano and Leary, 2000 and Knox et al., 2000). Despite the strength of these norms and the negative consequences, extradyadic relations are a relatively common occurrence (Shackelford et al., 2000, Treas and Giesen, 2000 and Wiederman and Hurd, 1999). Consequently, identifying factors that can be used to explain what motivates these behaviors and predict future extradyadic liaisons is of great interest to researchers.
Gender has been the most widely studied and consistent predictor of extradyadic relations (Atkins et al., 2001 and Greeley, 1994). Results typically indicate that, in comparison to women, men are more likely to engage in a variety of sexual behaviors with someone other than their primary relationship partner (Greeley, 1994, Hansen, 1987, Laumann et al., 1994, McAlister et al., 2005, Wiederman, 1997 and Wiederman and Hurd, 1999). This relationship holds true even when relationship type is taken into account. For instance, when analyzing nationally representative data from the National Health and Social Life Survey (NHSLS), Waite and Gallagher (2000) found that 4% of married men, 16% of cohabitating men, and 37% of men in dating relationships had sex with someone other than their primary partner in the previous year. In comparison, 1% of married women, 8% of cohabitating women, and 17% of women in dating relationships reported engaging in extradyadic sex.
Although the relationship between gender and the performance of sexual extradyadic behaviors has been well established, less is known about the mechanisms that might account for this relationship. Due to its established relationships with gender and sexually risky behaviors, the personality trait sensation seeking is one such potential mechanism. Specifically, it is possible those high in sensation seeking might be more likely to engage in sexual infidelity. Thus, the present research aims to add to the existing literature on extradyadic relations by investigating the role that sensation seeking might play in mediating the relationship between gender and sexual extradyadic behaviors.
