Online infidelity: Aspects of self-disclosure, narcissism, self-esteem and Internet addiction

This study explored the possibility that people who spend longer amounts of time online are more likely to engage in online infidelity. It was also expected that participants who engaged in online infidelity would record lower levels of self-esteem. Sixty seven participants involved in 'real life' relationships were recruited online and completed a questionnaire pack that included, Jourard Self-Disclosure Questionnaire (JSDQ) to assess levels of self-disclosure between partners, Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI) to assess Narcissism, Internet Relationship Expectations (IRI) to assess expectations of an online relationship, Internet Addiction Test (IAT) to assess levels of lnternet dependence and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (1965) (RSES) to assess self-esteem levels. A questionnaire design was employed, testing sixty seven participants recruited over the Internet. Results showed that scores recorded on the Internet Addiction Test were significant predictors of online infidelity expectations. All other measures scored did not predict higher expectations of an Internet relationship. The significant finding that individuals recording high levels of Internet addiction on the Internet Addiction Test are more likely to engage in online infidelity in the present study forms the basis for further psychological research on this multifaceted growing phenomenon. Additional findings deriving from the results are discussed.