Suspicion Confirmation and Avoidance Strategies Measure

Description

The Suspicion Confirmation and Avoidance Strategies Measure (Weigel & Shrout, 2025) was created for a study examining factors influencing the use of information-seeking strategies to confirm or avoid suspicions of a partner’s infidelity. To assess these strategies, Weigel and Shrout adapted items from existing scales measuring intrusive and surveillance behaviors (Whitford & Howells, 2000), as well as prosocial and avoidant responses to jealousy (Guerrero et al., 1995; Guerrero, Hannawa, & Babin, 2011). Additional items were developed to elaborate on potential confirmation strategies. The resulting 31-item measure was administered to individuals suspecting a partner’s infidelity. Exploratory factor analysis yielded a five-factor, 26-item instrument, and reliability results were reported.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Suspicion Confirmation and Avoidance Strategies Measure is to evaluate the different types of strategies individuals employ to confirm their suspicions regarding their partner’s potential infidelity.

Instrument

Test Type: Original

Instrument Type: Inventory/Questionnaire

Format: Items are rated on a 7-point scale.

Language Available: English

Population Group: Human; Male; Female

Age Group: Adulthood (18 yrs & older); Young Adulthood (18-29 yrs); Thirties (30-39 yrs); Middle Age (40-64 yrs)

Population Details: The measure was administered to individuals in the United States who suspected their partner of infidelity. The age range of the participants was 18-47 years.

Test Methodology: Test Reliability; Internal Consistency; Factor Analysis; Exploratory Factor Analysis; Structural Equation Modeling

Reliability

The internal consistency of the subscales was as follows: Snooping (α = .93), Surveillance (α = .87), Intrusion (α = .87), Conversation (α = .85), and Avoidance (α = .81).

Validity

No data is Available.

Factor Analysis

Exploratory factor analysis using promax rotation (KMO = .93) resulted in a five-factor solution accounting for 67.55% of the variance. A factor required at least three items with factor loadings greater than .40 to be considered viable. Five items did not meet this criterion and were removed from the final measure. Eigenvalues and % variance of the factors were: Snooping (14.32, 46.22%), Surveillance (2.66, 8.57%), Intrusion (1.51, 4.87%), Conversation (1.36, 4.38%), and Avoidance (1.05, 3.51%).

Keywords

Avoidance; Cheating; Conversation; Intrusion; Romantic Partners; Snooping; Surveillance; Suspicion Confirmation Strategies; Avoidance; Cheating; Infidelity; Information Seeking; Suspicion; Sexual Partners; Marriage and Partner Measures; Close Relationships

Authors

• Weigel, Daniel J.

  • ORCID Identifier: No data is Available

  • Affiliation: University of Nevada Reno, Human Development & Family Science

  • Email: [email protected]

• Shrout, M. Rosie

  • ORCID Identifier: No data is Available

  • Affiliation: Purdue University

  • Email: No data is Available

Correspondence Address:

Weigel, Daniel J.: University of Nevada Reno, Human Development & Family Science, 4955 Energy Way, Reno, Nevada, United States, 89502, [email protected]

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

• Permissions: Contact Publisher

• Fee: No

• Test Year: 2025

Reference’s

Weigel, D. J., & Shrout, M. R. (2025). Are you cheating on me? Identifying factors contributing to the use of suspicion confirmation and avoidance strategies. Western Journal of Communication, 89(1), 108–131. https://doi.org/10.1080/10570314.2024.2324382

Whitford, H. & Howells, K. (2000). Selective review of the clinical literature on stalking. Australia and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 34, 619-635.

Guerrero, L.K., Andersen, P.A., Jorgensen, P.F., Spitzberg, B.H. (1995). Compensatory and destructive responses to jealousy: A test of the double-shot hypothesis. Communication Quarterly, 43, 29-44.

Guerrero, L. K., Hannawa, A. F., & Babin, E. A. (2011). Relational responses to jealousy: Hurt, anger, and communicative behavior. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 28, 566-593.

Items of the Suspicion Confirmation and Avoidance Strategies Measure

Test Items Available: Yes

Number of items: This measure consists of 26 items.

Factors and Subscales:

• Snooping

• Surveillance

• Intrusion

• Conversation

• Avoidance

Instructions: Please indicate how often you have engaged in the following behaviors since you became suspicious that your partner is or may be cheating on you. Use the scale below:

1 = Never
2 =
3 =
4 =
5 =
6 =
7 = Very Often

Snooping

• Checked my partner’s belongings (e.g., wallet/ purse, bags, or pockets)

• Looked through my partner’s personal communication (e.g., text messages, e-mails, social media) without him/her knowing

• Went through my partner’s phone to see who he/ she had recently called

• Went through my partner’s property (e.g., car, home, office) to look around

• Looked through my partner’s drawers, handbags, pockets

• Checked my partner’s clothing for signs of cheating

Surveillance

• Secretly followed my partner to see where she/he was going

• Secretly listened to my partner’s conversations from another room

• Secretly watched from a distance to see what my partner was doing

• Read my partner’s personal mail without him/her knowing

Intrusion

• Asked my partner where he/she had been and what they had been doing

• Contacted (e.g., call, text message) my partner to check up on where she/he was

• Questioned my partner about his/her telephone calls

• Kept an eye on what my partner is saying and doing while socializing

• Arrived at places unexpectedly to see what my partner was doing

• Joined in whenever I see my partner talking to someone else

• Called my partner unexpectedly, just to see if she/he is there

Conversation

• Explained my feelings to my partner

• Discussed the situation with my partner

• Let my partner know I was upset

• Shared my jealous feelings with my partner

Avoidance

• Pretended nothing was wrong

• Stopped talking to my partner

• Became silent

• Gave my partner the “silent treatment”

• Physically pulled away from my partner