title: Extradyadic sex and union dissolution among young adults in opposite-sex married and cohabiting unions.
abstract: This study investigates extradyadic sex (EDS) among contemporary opposite-sex married and cohabiting young adults and examines how EDS is associated with union dissolution. By analyzing data from 8301 opposite-sex spouses and cohabiters in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, we estimate the prevalence of self-reported EDS, reports of partners' EDS, and reports of mutual EDS (i.e., both partners' engagement in EDS). Roughly 1 in 4 respondents reported that either they, their partner or both engaged in EDS. Young men were more likely than women to self-report EDS, while young women were more likely to report partners' EDS. Relative to no EDS, partners' EDS was associated with union dissolution, but self-reported EDS and mutual EDS were not. A partner's EDS was also associated with union dissolution relative to self-reported EDS. Associations between a partner's EDS and dissolution were consistent among spouses and cohabiters and among men and women.
authors.affiliation: Penn State University, Department of Sociology & Criminology, USA. Electronic address: mlf112@psu.edu.
authors.forename: Michelle L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Frisco
authors.affiliation: Florida State University, College of Criminology & Criminal Justice, USA.
authors.forename: Marin R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Wenger
authors.affiliation: Penn State University, Department of Sociology & Criminology, USA.
authors.forename: Derek A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Kreager
keywords: Cohabitation; Divorce; Extradyadic sex; Infidelity; Union dissolution