Abstract
Infidelity and romantic jealousy (RJ) are commonly cited relational level drivers of intimate partner violence (IPV) but remain undertheorized and underutilized in IPV research and prevention. This global systematic review aims to characterize the existing research on real or suspected infidelity and RJ in relation to IPV and inform future research and programming. We systematically searched 11 databases for peer-reviewed research, published between April 2009 and 2019, that provided data on the prevalence or a measure of association (quantitative), or pathway (qualitative), between real or suspected infidelity or RJ, and IPV. Fifty-one papers from 28 countries were included and the evidence showed a consistent association between real or suspected infidelity, RJ and IPV. Our findings identify three overarching mechanisms and six pathways between infidelity, RJ and IPV. These provide support for prominent theories in the field related to patriarchal culture, threatened masculinities and femininities and a lack of emotional regulation and conflict resolution skills, but not evolutionary theories. Our findings suggest that researchers should use standardized measurement tools that make the distinction between RJ and suspected, confirmed and accusations of infidelity. Policy and programming should aim to transform traditional gender roles, accounting for infidelity and RJ and improving couple’s communication and trust.
Highlights
An estimated one-fourth of women are expected to experience a form of intimate partner violence (IPV) in their lifetime [1]
Physical IPV was the most common form of IPV studied in relation to infidelity or romantic jealousy (RJ), while economic IPV was the least common
The patriarchal context is responsible for the creation of hegemonic masculinities and femininities [107], and we found that when these masculinities were threatened by women suspecting their partner of infidelity, gaining employment or by men becoming suspicious of their partner’s infidelity, this could result in RJ and violence (Mechanism A)
Summary
An estimated one-fourth of women are expected to experience a form of intimate partner violence (IPV) in their lifetime [1]. IPV can lead to a wide-range of negative health impacts including depression, alcohol use disorder, low-birth rate, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), injury and death [2], with over a third of female homicides perpetrated by an intimate partner [3]. The World Health Organization (WHO) [4] identifies four types of IPV: (1) physical violence—including degrees of severity from slapping to homicide; (2) sexual violence—including forced sex and sexual coercion; (3) psychological violence—including insults, humiliation and threats and (4) controlling behaviours—including isolating a person from family and friends, monitoring. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 5682; doi:10.3390/ijerph17165682 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
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