Studies suggest that 18–20% of marriages experience at least one incident of sexual infidelity.
While the exact prevalence of infidelity in marriage is difficult to pinpoint due to underreporting and varying definitions of cheating, research provides some insights:
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Infidelity Rates: Reported rates typically range from 18% to 20%. This figure likely represents the minimum incidence, as many instances go unreported or undetected.
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Unmarried vs. Married: Cheating appears to be more common in unmarried relationships, with some studies suggesting rates of 30-40% among unmarried couples.
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Gender Differences: While historically, men were reported to cheat more often, recent studies suggest that the rates of infidelity among women are increasing, potentially due to changing societal roles and increased financial independence. Some studies indicate little to no statistically significant difference between men and women.
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Factors Influencing Infidelity: Several factors can contribute to infidelity, including:
- Relationship dissatisfaction
- Lack of emotional intimacy
- Opportunity
- Personal values
- Changes in life circumstances
- Length of marriage (some studies indicate higher rates in more recent marriages)
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Types of Infidelity: Infidelity encompasses a broad range of behaviors, including:
- Sexual infidelity
- Emotional infidelity
- Online infidelity
Because infidelity is such a personal and complex issue, and definitions vary greatly, it's difficult to get completely accurate statistics. However, research indicates it's present in a significant portion of marriages.
