Perceptions on Extra-Marital Affairs among Married Couples in Kilifi South Sub-County, Kenya

Abstract

Marital infidelity is regarded as one of the most serious hazards to the well-being of marriages and families. Infidelity has been identified as the single most common reason for divorce in numerous cultures around the world. Men and women engage in extramarital affairs at a rate alarmingly higher than unmarried partners in relationships. Affairs outside marriage often result in emotional depression for individuals and conflict among married couples, and, in other cases, lead to divorce as well as a sense of relational betrayal. Several scholars have sought to identify triggers of infidelity in individuals and couples. Extramarital affairs are known to break apart families and raise the likelihood of mental health problems, including depression in affected spouses and impairments in children's emotional as well as cognitive growth. The paper investigated the perceptions of extramarital affairs using a sample of 200 respondents in Kilifi South sub-County with a view to establishing the level of extramarital affairs among married couples, assessing the knowledge and attitudes of married couples on extramarital affairs, and finding out the challenges faced by affected couples. Survey research design was employed, and the sample (200) was drawn using a purposive sampling technique, and data were collected using interview schedules. Data was gathered, verified, revised, and coded in the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) for analysis. Qualitative data derived from interviews were presented in narrative form, citing stories, voices, and experiences from the respondents, while quantitative data were displayed using statistical methods. The study findings showed that there is a high (81.3%) rate of cheating among married men, while 18.7% among married women. Further, over three-fifths (68%) knew someone cheating on their partner. Lastly, high cheating rates were said to contribute to financial constraints, a breakdown in communication between spouses, leading to domestic violence. In conclusion, the majority of respondents stated that cheating is wrong in every way, regardless of how convincing the justifications may be. The study recommends engaging local chiefs and non-governmental organizations in educating the community on changing one's attitude regarding marital infidelity. There is a need for laws, like gender mainstreaming, which aims to reduce the harmful impact of gender discrimination.