Ever wonder why people cheat on their spouses, when they are most likely to do it, and the excuses they use to cover their tracks? New research of actual cheaters provides some insights.
It turns out that people are more likely to cheat on their partners in the last year of each decade of their lives. This is according to the website Illicitencounters.com, kind of a UK Ashley Madison, which has done a fair amount of research into their user demographics and behaviours.
The age your partner is most likely to cheat on you
Research found that men or women are more likely to be cheat on their spouses when they are 29, 39, 49 or 59. It seems that we fear milestones and look for a change or added excitement before turning another decade older.
The single most dangerous age for affairs is 39 – because for many people turning 40 is a major stressor. The second most popular cheating age is 49, and the third most common age at which people cheat is at 29 years old.
So, how do they get away with it? Cheating partners make up excuses to cover their absence.
The most common excuses cheating husbands tell their wives
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1. Playing Golf (34%)
2. Business Meetings / Working Late (27%)
3. Other (17%)
4. Going to the Pub (13%)
5. Going to the Gym (5%)
6. Shopping for Groceries (4%)
“Saying that you’re going for a round of golf ticks all the boxes,” explains Christian Grant, spokesperson for Illicit Encounters. It covers you for several hours, it’s also something you can do fairly consistently without raising too much suspicion, and your wife is more likely to respect your having a hobby than if you said you were regularly going to a bar without her.
Why people cheat?
There are many reasons why someone would cheat on their spouse. The team at Illicit Encounters asked their users why they were looking to stray. Boredom in the bedroom was by far the most popular response.
The top five reasons for having an affair
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1. Lack of excitement in the bedroom at home – 76%
2. An opportunity came along I could not refuse – 54%
3. I was bored with my current partner – 46%
4. I reconnected with an old flame on social media – 28%
5. I wanted a change – 22%.
Other common reasons for cheating included being a cry for attention from a distant or workaholic spouse, and as revenge for some previous hurt in the relationship. (Editor’s note: Really? If you’re holding a grudge against your partner and want to cheat on them for revenge, why not just break up already? Move on.)
You can follow the good folks at Illicit Encounters on Twitter at, I swear to God, @cheatsafer.
Oh, and if you’re 29, 39, or 49 years old and looking to meet someone, check out our collection of Never Fail Pick-up Lines (including some Canadian classics.)