Cheating sets couples on the road to divorce, a recent study found.

In a marriage, cheating is usually a deal breaker. Yet 34 percent of men and 19 percent of women in the USA say they’ve been unfaithful to their spouses at some point. Mostly it’s because they’re unhappy with the relationship, bored with the sex or want more of it, or fall in love with someone else.

Clearly from the figures a lot of people think they can get away with a fling without crashing their marriage. But it seems the odds are against them. Cheating and divorce go hand in hand.

People often give infidelity as the reason for breaking up. A study even found that cheating is cause number one for divorce.

We know that it’s very likely that ex-spouses will admit to having cheated once the divorce papers are signed. But if one partner is unfaithful, what exactly are the chances that a marriage will end up with divorce or separation?

History of divorce
To find the answer, researchers analysed a US survey done every other year between 1991 and 2008. They looked at the responses of more than 16,000 people who’d ever been married. And they asked them if they were married, separated or divorced, or ever had been, and then the thorny question: “Have you ever had sex with someone other than your husband or wife while you were married?”

The results showed that people who were now divorced or separated, or who had been divorced in the past, were much more likely to have cheated compared to those who were married and had no history of divorce.

History of infidelity
And both for men and women who were unfaithful, around half of them divorced or separated from their spouse at the time. In fact, having a history of infidelity doubles the chance of ending up divorced or separated.

So the results are clear both from previous studies and present findings, say the researchers. Cheating greatly increases the risk of divorce.

So if you mean to tie the knot with your beloved for life, you’d better get cheating out of your head. Then you’ll greatly increase your chances of living happily ever.
 

By Nikoleta Popkostadinova / LoveMatters.info

Photo: Jason Stitt

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