Relationship styles and social networking sites’ effect on transitioned-aged-young couples in Kashmir: mediating outcomes of social media infidelity behaviours

Couple satisfaction and psychological distress are potentially influenced by adult attachment styles, use of social networking sites and infidelity. The present cross-sectional study examined 261 Kashmir’s transitioned-aged young couples through an open online survey. Research aimed to assess couple relationship styles and social networking sites effect on couple satisfaction and distress with social media infidelity as a mediating factor. We tested a Hayes mediation analysis (moderation model 4) using SPSS PROCESS macro, which revealed a partial mediation effect of social media infidelity behaviours on couple satisfaction and psychological distress. Pre-occupied and fearful relationship styles showed significant indirect mediating effects of 24.3% and 22.31% respectively. Our study suggests that emotional distancing between partners, incompatibility, loneliness, or conflict predispose couples to social media infidelity and informs possible forms of interventions and culturally informed couple therapies.