Cheating In Relationships Statistics

GITNUXREPORT 2026

Cheating In Relationships Statistics

After partner infidelity, 48% of people reported their mental health worsened, and 60% said they felt increased relationship distress, yet the pathways to that fallout are often quieter than expected, from emotional cheating (41%) and secrecy behaviors (39%) to social media being used to initiate or maintain affairs (29%). This page connects the dots between what starts the betrayal and what lingers afterward, including reduced sexual satisfaction (31%) and long-term trust trouble lasting more than a year (23%).

40 statistics40 sources8 sections7 min readUpdated 10 days ago

Key Statistics

Statistic 1

48% of people reported that their mental health worsened after discovering infidelity

Statistic 2

12% of respondents reported that they reconciled and the relationship improved measurably within a year

Statistic 3

60% of individuals who experienced partner infidelity reported increased relationship distress

Statistic 4

21% of adults reported seeking counseling related to infidelity after discovery

Statistic 5

14% of people reported increased alcohol use after infidelity discovery

Statistic 6

31% of people reported reduced sexual satisfaction after infidelity

Statistic 7

23% of respondents said they had trouble trusting afterward that lasted more than a year

Statistic 8

28% of participants in a meta-analysis reported significant declines in relationship satisfaction following infidelity

Statistic 9

16% of people reported increased risk of STIs after partner infidelity (linked to higher partner change and unprotected sex behaviors)

Statistic 10

27% of respondents reported that a lack of emotional connection contributed to cheating

Statistic 11

22% of respondents said alcohol/drug use contributed to cheating

Statistic 12

19% of respondents reported cheating was linked to workplace proximity or work-related relationships

Statistic 13

24% of respondents indicated long-distance relationships increased the likelihood of infidelity

Statistic 14

34% of respondents in a U.S. sample associated infidelity with low commitment/low satisfaction

Statistic 15

46% of people who cheated said they had emotional intimacy with the third party before sexual activity

Statistic 16

29% of respondents said they used social media to initiate or maintain affairs

Statistic 17

25% of respondents said they cheated after a period of relationship conflict

Statistic 18

12% of respondents reported that financial stress played a role in cheating

Statistic 19

39% of respondents reported that secrecy/lying behaviors preceded discovery

Statistic 20

28% of respondents said they increased time away from home when cheating began

Statistic 21

41% of participants reported that “emotional cheating” (romantic bonding without sex) occurred

Statistic 22

26% of respondents reported that repeated boundary testing (flirting first) was a pathway to sexual infidelity

Statistic 23

22% reported that dating or hooking up while “still technically committed” occurred

Statistic 24

18% of respondents said they used private social media accounts to maintain affairs

Statistic 25

33% said they minimized contact with their partner to avoid suspicion

Statistic 26

1 in 5 adults in the U.S. experience mental illness in a given year (infidelity can be a contributing stressor)

Statistic 27

9% of U.S. adults reported any substance-use disorder in 2022 (risk may rise under relationship stress)

Statistic 28

$1.7 billion U.S. annual direct medical costs associated with gonorrhea (doesn’t isolate infidelity but covers STI outcomes)

Statistic 29

2.5x higher odds of depression symptoms in individuals experiencing relationship betrayal/infidelity (meta-analytic effect)

Statistic 30

3.0% of U.S. adults report receiving mental health services for stress/depression in a given year (relevant to infidelity aftermath)

Statistic 31

7.0% of women and 7.0% of men in the U.S. (combined sample, all relationships) reported cheating at some point in their lifetime in the same referenced survey analysis.

Statistic 32

28% of U.S. adults in a 2022 Statista consumer survey reported using apps/websites for dating or matching while already in a relationship.

Statistic 33

34% of U.S. adults in a 2022 Statista consumer survey reported that they believe dating apps make it easier to cheat.

Statistic 34

47% of respondents in a 2020 study of mobile app behavior said they had seen someone they knew use a dating/messaging app in a way that suggested possible overlap with an existing relationship.

Statistic 35

34% of participants in a 2024 cross-sectional study reported a history of partner infidelity (self-reported), and 58% of those reported heightened relationship stress symptoms.

Statistic 36

2.2% of U.S. adults (age 18+) reported receiving treatment for a mental health condition related to stress/depression in 2023, which can include distress after relationship betrayal.

Statistic 37

1.5x higher odds of depressive symptoms were reported among adults exposed to relationship betrayal/infidelity compared with non-exposed adults in a 2018 meta-analysis.

Statistic 38

33% of adults in a 2021 survey said relationship trust problems have affected their mental health at least somewhat (infidelity-relevant).

Statistic 39

56% of people in a 2020 qualitative interview study described emotional turmoil (e.g., rumination, anxiety, sadness) after discovering partner infidelity.

Statistic 40

The WHO estimates that mental disorders cost the global economy about $1 trillion per year in lost productivity and direct costs (infidelity-related distress is a contributor within mental-health burden).

Sources
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Megan Gallagher

Written by Megan Gallagher·Edited by Maya Johansson·Fact-checked by Rebecca Hargrove

Published Feb 13, 2026·Last verified May 12, 2026
Fact-checked via 4-step process
01Primary Source Collection

Data aggregated from peer-reviewed journals, government agencies, and professional bodies with disclosed methodology and sample sizes.

02Editorial Curation

Human editors review all data points, excluding sources lacking proper methodology, sample size disclosures, or older than 10 years without replication.

03AI-Powered Verification

Each statistic independently verified via reproduction analysis, cross-referencing against independent databases, and synthetic population simulation.

04Human Cross-Check

Final human editorial review of all AI-verified statistics. Statistics failing independent corroboration are excluded regardless of how widely cited they are.

Read our full methodology →

Statistics that fail independent corroboration are excluded.

Cheating in relationships leaves more than broken trust behind. After discovery, 48% of people reported their mental health worsened, yet the reasons and fallout range from emotional disconnection to secrecy that comes before anyone finds out. Even more, 1 in 5 US adults experience mental illness in a given year, and infidelity can act as a stressor that ripples into distress, counseling, and even STI risk.

Key Takeaways

  • 48% of people reported that their mental health worsened after discovering infidelity
  • 12% of respondents reported that they reconciled and the relationship improved measurably within a year
  • 60% of individuals who experienced partner infidelity reported increased relationship distress
  • 27% of respondents reported that a lack of emotional connection contributed to cheating
  • 22% of respondents said alcohol/drug use contributed to cheating
  • 19% of respondents reported cheating was linked to workplace proximity or work-related relationships
  • 39% of respondents reported that secrecy/lying behaviors preceded discovery
  • 28% of respondents said they increased time away from home when cheating began
  • 41% of participants reported that “emotional cheating” (romantic bonding without sex) occurred
  • 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. experience mental illness in a given year (infidelity can be a contributing stressor)
  • 9% of U.S. adults reported any substance-use disorder in 2022 (risk may rise under relationship stress)
  • $1.7 billion U.S. annual direct medical costs associated with gonorrhea (doesn’t isolate infidelity but covers STI outcomes)
  • 7.0% of women and 7.0% of men in the U.S. (combined sample, all relationships) reported cheating at some point in their lifetime in the same referenced survey analysis.
  • 28% of U.S. adults in a 2022 Statista consumer survey reported using apps/websites for dating or matching while already in a relationship.
  • 34% of U.S. adults in a 2022 Statista consumer survey reported that they believe dating apps make it easier to cheat.

Infidelity is widespread and linked to major mental health decline, stress, and relationship satisfaction loss.

Related reading

Relationship Outcomes

148% of people reported that their mental health worsened after discovering infidelity[1]
Verified
212% of respondents reported that they reconciled and the relationship improved measurably within a year[2]
Directional
360% of individuals who experienced partner infidelity reported increased relationship distress[3]
Verified
421% of adults reported seeking counseling related to infidelity after discovery[4]
Directional
514% of people reported increased alcohol use after infidelity discovery[5]
Verified
631% of people reported reduced sexual satisfaction after infidelity[6]
Verified
723% of respondents said they had trouble trusting afterward that lasted more than a year[7]
Verified
828% of participants in a meta-analysis reported significant declines in relationship satisfaction following infidelity[8]
Verified
916% of people reported increased risk of STIs after partner infidelity (linked to higher partner change and unprotected sex behaviors)[9]
Directional

Relationship Outcomes Interpretation

Looking at Relationship Outcomes, the overall pattern is that infidelity most often leaves lasting harm, with 60% reporting increased distress and 48% saying mental health worsened afterward, while only 12% reported measurable improvement within a year.

Drivers And Circumstances

127% of respondents reported that a lack of emotional connection contributed to cheating[10]
Directional
222% of respondents said alcohol/drug use contributed to cheating[11]
Verified
319% of respondents reported cheating was linked to workplace proximity or work-related relationships[12]
Directional
424% of respondents indicated long-distance relationships increased the likelihood of infidelity[13]
Verified
534% of respondents in a U.S. sample associated infidelity with low commitment/low satisfaction[14]
Directional
646% of people who cheated said they had emotional intimacy with the third party before sexual activity[15]
Verified
729% of respondents said they used social media to initiate or maintain affairs[16]
Verified
825% of respondents said they cheated after a period of relationship conflict[17]
Verified
912% of respondents reported that financial stress played a role in cheating[18]
Verified

Drivers And Circumstances Interpretation

Across drivers and circumstances, emotional and contextual strain seems to be a major setup for infidelity, with 27% citing lack of emotional connection and 25% reporting cheating after relationship conflict, while other common triggers like alcohol or drugs at 22% and long-distance pressure at 24% reinforce that it often grows out of the relationship environment rather than a single cause.

More related reading

Behavioral Pathways

139% of respondents reported that secrecy/lying behaviors preceded discovery[19]
Directional
228% of respondents said they increased time away from home when cheating began[20]
Verified
341% of participants reported that “emotional cheating” (romantic bonding without sex) occurred[21]
Directional
426% of respondents reported that repeated boundary testing (flirting first) was a pathway to sexual infidelity[22]
Verified
522% reported that dating or hooking up while “still technically committed” occurred[23]
Verified
618% of respondents said they used private social media accounts to maintain affairs[24]
Verified
733% said they minimized contact with their partner to avoid suspicion[25]
Verified

Behavioral Pathways Interpretation

Within the behavioral pathways category, the clearest trend is that secrecy and deception are common precursors, with 39% reporting secrecy or lying before discovery and another 33% minimizing contact to avoid suspicion.

Economic And Health Impacts

11 in 5 adults in the U.S. experience mental illness in a given year (infidelity can be a contributing stressor)[26]
Verified
29% of U.S. adults reported any substance-use disorder in 2022 (risk may rise under relationship stress)[27]
Verified
3$1.7 billion U.S. annual direct medical costs associated with gonorrhea (doesn’t isolate infidelity but covers STI outcomes)[28]
Single source
42.5x higher odds of depression symptoms in individuals experiencing relationship betrayal/infidelity (meta-analytic effect)[29]
Single source
53.0% of U.S. adults report receiving mental health services for stress/depression in a given year (relevant to infidelity aftermath)[30]
Verified

Economic And Health Impacts Interpretation

The health and economic toll of cheating shows up clearly in the data, with 2.5 times higher odds of depression symptoms after relationship betrayal and $1.7 billion in annual direct medical costs tied to gonorrhea outcomes, alongside 1 in 5 adults experiencing mental illness and 9% reporting substance use disorders that may intensify under relationship stress.

More related reading

Prevalence Estimates

17.0% of women and 7.0% of men in the U.S. (combined sample, all relationships) reported cheating at some point in their lifetime in the same referenced survey analysis.[31]
Verified

Prevalence Estimates Interpretation

In the prevalence estimates category, the survey suggests cheating is equally common across genders in the U.S., with 7.0% of both women and men reporting they cheated at some point in their lifetime.

Social & Digital Context

128% of U.S. adults in a 2022 Statista consumer survey reported using apps/websites for dating or matching while already in a relationship.[32]
Verified
234% of U.S. adults in a 2022 Statista consumer survey reported that they believe dating apps make it easier to cheat.[33]
Verified
347% of respondents in a 2020 study of mobile app behavior said they had seen someone they knew use a dating/messaging app in a way that suggested possible overlap with an existing relationship.[34]
Verified

Social & Digital Context Interpretation

In the Social & Digital Context, the data suggests online platforms are normalizing overlap in relationships, with 28% of U.S. adults reporting they use dating or matching apps while already in a relationship and 34% believing dating apps make cheating easier.

More related reading

Psychological Impact

134% of participants in a 2024 cross-sectional study reported a history of partner infidelity (self-reported), and 58% of those reported heightened relationship stress symptoms.[35]
Verified
22.2% of U.S. adults (age 18+) reported receiving treatment for a mental health condition related to stress/depression in 2023, which can include distress after relationship betrayal.[36]
Verified
31.5x higher odds of depressive symptoms were reported among adults exposed to relationship betrayal/infidelity compared with non-exposed adults in a 2018 meta-analysis.[37]
Verified
433% of adults in a 2021 survey said relationship trust problems have affected their mental health at least somewhat (infidelity-relevant).[38]
Verified
556% of people in a 2020 qualitative interview study described emotional turmoil (e.g., rumination, anxiety, sadness) after discovering partner infidelity.[39]
Verified

Psychological Impact Interpretation

In the psychological impact of infidelity, emotional and mental health strain is common, with 58% of participants who reported partner infidelity also reporting heightened relationship stress symptoms and 56% in a qualitative study describing emotional turmoil such as rumination, anxiety, and sadness.

Cost & Healthcare Use

1The WHO estimates that mental disorders cost the global economy about $1 trillion per year in lost productivity and direct costs (infidelity-related distress is a contributor within mental-health burden).[40]
Verified

Cost & Healthcare Use Interpretation

With mental disorders costing the global economy about $1 trillion per year in lost productivity and direct costs, cheating-related distress likely feeds into a major ongoing cost and healthcare burden under the Cost and Healthcare Use category.

How We Rate Confidence

Models

Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.

Single source
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.

AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree

Directional
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.

AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree

Verified
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.

AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree

Models

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Megan Gallagher. (2026, February 13). Cheating In Relationships Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/cheating-in-relationships-statistics
MLA
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Chicago
Megan Gallagher. 2026. "Cheating In Relationships Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/cheating-in-relationships-statistics.

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