Unfaithfulness
Two items assessed whether or not each individual perpetrated infidelity during the course of each study. The first asked participants to indicate whether or not they “had a romantic affair/infidelity” in the past 6 months. The second asked participants to indicate whether or not they “found out [their] partner had been unfaithful” in the past 6 months. Participants answered each question approximately every 6 months for the duration of each study. A total of 22 spouses and/or their partners reported an infidelity. Although this estimate is low compared to other estimates (Atkins et al. 2001; Greeley, 1994; Laumann et al., 1994; Wiederman, 1997), such other estimates tend to span longer than five years and were based on samples that include more-established marriages. Four of these infidelities were reported by both members of the couple, 7 were reported by the spouse who perpetrated the infidelity, and 11 were reported by the partner of the spouse who perpetrated the infidelity. The correlation between partners’ reports of infidelity was r = .35 (p < .01). This relatively low agreement may have emerged because (a) partners were not aware of an individual's infidelity, (b) one member of the couple was more reluctant than the other to admit an infidelity, or (c) the items were worded differently for each partner (i.e., “infidelity” versus “unfaithful.”). Nevertheless given that our hypotheses addressed the probability of an individual's own infidelity perpetration, not whether an infidelity occurred in the couple, and not the frequency of, change in, or the timing of infidelity, we created a variable from all of the assessments in an attempt to best indicate whether or not each individual perpetrated an infidelity. Specifically, each individual member of the couple was coded with a 1 if (a) that individual reported engaging in infidelity or (b) that individual's partner reported that the individual was unfaithful, and a 0 otherwise.
Accessory insecurity
Connection insecurity is assessed on baseline in studies making use of the Enjoy from inside the Romantic Matchmaking scale (ECR; Brennan, Clark, & Razor, 1998). This new ECR try a continuous measure of connection insecurity one to refers to the brand new extent that a person is described as several dimensions: Connection Anxiety and Accessory Avoidance. Players was in fact expected to help you rate exactly how much they conformed or disagreed with the comments towards the an excellent seven-part Likert-variety of level (step 1 = disagree strongly, eight = consent highly). Compatible points were reversed as well as facts had been averaged, that have highest scores exhibiting better accessory insecurity. Inner texture are high in both education (Analysis 1: ? = .91 to own husbands’ accessory anxiety, .ninety five to own wives’ connection anxiety, .92 getting husbands’ connection reduction, and 
.94 having wives’ attachment cures; Studies 2: ? = .91 for husbands’ accessory anxiety, .90 getting wives’ connection anxiety, .91 having husbands’ attachment avoidance, and you can .88 having wives’ attachment prevention).
Relationship satisfaction
Global relationship satisfaction try mentioned at every investigations in training with the High quality Marriage Index (QMI; Norton, 1983). New QMI contains half a dozen products which ask partners so you can statement new the total amount of its contract with general statements about their ple situations is “i’ve an effective wedding” and you may “my reference to my wife makes me personally pleased.” Four affairs query players to reply centered on an excellent eight-section level, whereas one to item asks people to react according to a ten-part measure. Thus, ratings you can expect to are normally taken for 6 to help you forty five, that have large ratings showing higher relationship satisfaction. Interior texture is higher both for studies (? was at least .85 both for husbands and you will wives whatsoever assessments in both studies). The typical of every wife or husband’s profile all over most of the phase is regulated in the main analyses.
Sexual frequency
Sexual volume is actually examined at each wave of information range from the inquiring each other members of the couple to incorporate a mathematical guess of your own amount of minutes that they had engaged in sexual intercourse due to their ; the length of time given that earlier in the day assessment. As the which items inquired about the brand new sexual regularity with your lover, a couple of-height adjustable, and you may as the common of each other partners’ profile of your own same conclusion will tend to be a far more valid guess from that decisions than simply often lover’s thinking-account by yourself, we utilized the mediocre out-of both partners’ account given that a beneficial covariate in most analyses (correlations anywhere between husbands’ and you can wives’ accounts ranged off .29 so you can .69 inside Data step 1 and you can .57 to help you .95 in the Study 2).
