The purpose of this study was to examine middle-aged men''s subjective experiences of extramarital relationship by applying a phenomenological research method, to structuralize their experiences and to determine the essential meaning of their experiences.
A research question was posed:
What are the substantial meaning and structure of the middle-aged men''s experiences of extramarital relationship?
The statements of the subjects were analyzed according to Giorgi''s analysis method, and 29 sub-components were selected. And then the sub-components were categorized into seven component. The findings of the study could be summarized as follows:
The middle-aged men didn''t get emotional support or weren’t respected from their parents or by their spouses. And they naturally got to accept illicit relationship as part of life due to their own emotional deficiency and values of allowing this relationship and due to social climate that permits it. In the past, their lives had been exhausting and boring, but they were rejuvenated because their heart fluttered as if they had returned to their young days and because they were esteemed. On the other hand, they broke off the relationship and didn’t expect much from the relationship as they were disappointed at the women who viewed them as a means to satisfy their needs. However, they didn''t give up expectations for respect they could possibly get from extramarital relationship, as two things served as
intermittent reinforcers. One was that they thought their desire of being esteemed couldn''t be satisfied in their married lives, and the other was that they were satisfied with the positive experience they gained from the relationship. Although they gave up their desire of being esteemed in married life, they shouldered the responsibility for child rearing and their spouses who were their wives, and they expected their families to be a final refuge.
The findings of the study are expected to be of use for middle-aged men who are in extramarital relationship and for counseling intervention for middle-aged married couples who are at crisis due to extramarital relationship.