Abstract

Infidelity is one of the most significant threats to marital and relational stability, often cited as a major cause of divorce and relationship dissolution. While earlier research emphasized relational dissatisfaction and weak commitment as key drivers, the rapid growth of digital technologies and evolving sociocultural norms has introduced new pathways tobetrayal. This systematic literature review (SLR) synthesized recent empirical evidence on the risk factors of infidelity by analysing peer-reviewed journal articles indexed in Scopus between 2019 and 2025. The search initially identified 2,253 records, which were narrowed to 12 studies following PRISMA guidelines and quality appraisal. Findings demonstrate that risk factors cluster into three main categories: individual (e.g., narcissism, moral disengagement, insecure attachment, social media addiction, personality traits, younger age, male gender), relational (e.g., low satisfaction, weak commitment, sexual dissatisfaction, poor communication, boredom, partner absence), and contextual (e.g., social media opportunities, parasocial attachments, urbanization, modernization, migration-related spousal separation, permissive norms). Findings also reveal that infidelity is a multifaceted phenomenon shaped by the intersection of psychological vulnerabilities, relational dynamics, and sociocultural- technological contexts. This review highlights the need for integrative approaches in counselling practice, public education, and future research, particularly emphasizing the role of standardized measures and longitudinal, cross-cultural designs.