The nuptials dilemma: psycho-social factors behind marital infidelity among men in Harare, Zimbabwe
The nuptials dilemma: psycho-social factors behind marital infidelity among men in Harare, Zimbabwe

Summary/Abstract: Marital infidelity has been cited as one of the major causes of divorce in Zimbabwe. The study therefore sought to find out from men the reasons why they engage in emotional, sexual and cyber infidelity even when they have chosen their life partners. The research took a qualitative approach and specifically made use of an explorative case study. Purposive and snowballing sampling techniques were used to select participants. The study targeted married men aged between the ages of 25 and 55 years. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions as well as document search. Thematic analysis was used to analyze data. Findings from the study revealed that men engage in infidelity because of their lifestyles, work environment as well as the personality of their wives, among others. The social background of the men who participated in this study was also found to play a greater part in influencing the levels of infidelity in men in Zimbabwe. It was thus recommended that wives maintain those personalities that made their husband decide to progress from courtship into a marriage relationship; maintain a healthy sex life and that couples receive pre-marital counselling as well as fostering open and direct communication as partners.

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