Assessment of Attitudes Towards Infidelity and Family Dysfunction among Married Christian Individuals: Case of Selected Seventh Day Adventist Churches, Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

This research paper examined the connection between infidelity attitudes and family dysfunction in married Christian adults in the chosen Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) churches in Nairobi, Kenya. Infidelity is still a problem that jeopardizes family stability, which is in contrast with the belief on the importance of fidelity in marriage as set forth by the church. However, it still reveals a discrepancy between institutional viewpoints on religious beliefs and practice. A quantitative design (cross-sectional) was used to collect data using standardized measures (Attitudes Towards Infidelity Scale (ATIS) and Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale (KMSS)) with the help of a demographic questionnaire, comprising 113 married SDA members. SPSS Version 26 was used to analyze the data and to apply descriptive statistics, correlations, and regression analyses to examine relationships among variables. The research was based on the theories of Social Learning, Attachment, and Religious Commitment, which provided a multidimensional conceptual base to interlink attitudinal processes, learning behavior, emotional interrelationships, and faithfulness commitments to constitute a matrimonial result. The results indicated that the respondents strongly condemned infidelity and generally reported high marital satisfaction. The leading causes of infidelity were singled out as emotional abandonment, lack of communication, and spiritual depreciation. The results of the correlation analysis revealed a strong positive correlation between adverse reactions to infidelity and marital satisfaction (r = 0.482, p < 0.001). Additionally, higher moral beliefs correlate with greater family functioning. These findings support the fact that religious devotion not only influences moral attitudes but also enhances the stability of mutual belief and spiritual responsibility. The research concludes that faith-based interventions used in combination with psychological/relational counseling may be effective in addressing the problem of infidelity roots and ensuring long-term marriage stability. The study has added to theological and psychological literature by providing empirical data on the role of spirituality in attitudes and family well-being within an African Christian setting. It has been suggested that SDA marriage ministries be strengthened by incorporating interdisciplinary approaches grounded in pastoral-psychological counseling, encouraging emotional intelligence and digital ethics in relationships, and creating specific premarital and post marital interventions to reduce relational risk factors.