* 62% of adulterous men and 77% of unfaithful women say that their parents had affairs in the past, suggesting cheating can run in the family.

* 71% of love rats said their mum and dad’s relationship survived infidelity, giving them the impression that adultery doesn’t have to lead to the breakdown of a marriage.

* A relationship expert has warned that a person’s upbringing can shape their perspective surrounding infidelity, with 41% of cheaters believing affairs are more acceptable because they witnessed the same behaviour from their parents.

* Study conducted by IllicitEncounters.com, the UK’s largest extramarital dating site
 

Unfaithful partners are never short of excuses when it comes to why they choose to walk down the path of infidelity. But, it turns out there’s another reason for cheating they can add to the list: if their parents cheated, they’re more likely to do it too.

A recent survey by extramarital dating site IllicitEncounters.com involving 600 male and 600 female members, suggests that if you want to know if your partner is going to cheat on you, just take a look at their parents’ relationship.

62% of unfaithful men and 77% of cheating women surveyed said their parents had an affair in the past. 

Of those who declared they had adulterous parents, incredibly 71% said their mum and dad’s relationship survived the infidelity. So, if your parents can overcome cheating, the consequences might not be so bad, right? 

That appears to be the mindset of love rats, as a shocking 4 in 10 of those who took part in the survey said their parents’ infidelity made them feel it’s more acceptable to cheat on their own partners. 

Maria from Birmingham, who took part in the survey, said, “My dad cheated on my mum repeatedly when I was younger – but she always found a way of moving past it and forgiving him.

Seeing how my parents overcame infidelity definitely changed the way I look at cheating. We’re only human, and we all make mistakes but it’s all about how you react. When there’s children involved it’s also much easier to sweep things under the rug and to try to just act like nothing’s happened for the benefit of the family.

I suppose seeing my mum’s ability to just keep going almost gave me the green light to cheat too, because it gave me the impression that there’s no real consequences when it comes to infidelity.”

So, can cheating parents really reveal if you’re more likely to follow in their footsteps when it comes to infidelity? According to Jessica Leoni, spokesperson and relationship expert at  IllicitEncounters.com, “Growing up in an environment where being unfaithful is more common really can shape a person’s perception of fidelity and commitment, and that’s clear from these statistics.

It’s so important to recognise that our early experiences serve as a template for understanding what is considered acceptable or normal in relationships. 

If people witness infidelity within their family unit, it can absolutely contribute to the normalisation of such behaviour, potentially influencing their own attitudes towards commitment. It’s a cycle that risks repeating itself from generation to generation.”

* Dubbed Blue Monday for relationships, the 8th January is the day that people turn to infidelity as a result of cracks revealed during the festive period.
* Registrations on married dating site IllicitEncounters.com are forecast to be up 36% by the end of this week, forcing the company to employ extra staff to deal with the influx of new users.
* 71% of people say that getting a divorce or ending an unhappy relationship is a top priority in 2024, along with having more sex (56%).
* Survey conducted by IllicitEncounters.com, the UK’s largest extramarital dating site.

As the festive glitter settles and we embrace the start of 2024, it’s a time for setting goals with New Year’s resolutions – and having an affair is apparently high on the list for many people.

Today has officially been declared the moment when people are most likely to have an affair. The 8th January, dubbed Blue Monday for relationships, shares the spotlight with Divorce Day which lands on the first working Monday of the year. 

During the Christmas and New Year festivities, families are forced to spend more time together than any other period – a dangerous situation for already rocky relationships. The result: people are now considering whether the grass is greener outside of their marriage.

Extramarital dating site IllicitEncounters.com has revealed that registrations are forecast to be up 36% by the end of this week. In fact, there’s been such a demand that the website has reportedly had to employ more staff to deal with the uptick in new members.

To coincide with Blue Monday, the website polled 750 of people who registered within the last week, asking what their New Year’s resolutions for 2024 are, and it turns out that people aren’t just planning on eating well and exercising more this year. 

Surprisingly, the top resolution is getting a divorce or ending an unhappy relationship, with 71% declaring enough is enough. Whilst for more than half (56%) of those polled, the top priority for 2024 is to have more sex.

One member who joined the extramarital dating site this week, Juliette from Gloucester said, “This year, I’m putting ME first – the ultimate act of self-care! I’ve been with my husband for seven years, but I feel increasingly underappreciated and unhappy within our relationship. Nothing highlights that more than Christmas time, when I end up doing all the prep and he just sits on the sofa. I just feel like we’ve got to the point where we’d rather spend more time apart than together. 

So, my plan for 2024 is to grab the bull by the horns and make regaining my freedom a top priority by finally getting a divorce.”

Jessica Leoni, a spokesperson for IllicitEncounters.com and dating expert commented, “The festive period is one of the biggest annual hurdles couples have to face. With offices closed and the kids at home, the period from Christmas to New Year forces families to spend an intense amount of time together. As a result, it can shine a light on any relationship cracks, intensifying feelings of isolation or unfulfillment within a marriage.

Combine that with the fact that the start of a new year often prompts people to reflect on their lives, reassess their happiness, and contemplate change. For some, this introspection may lead to the realisation that their current relationships aren’t up to scratch.

It’s the perfect recipe for starting an affair – a spotlight on a faltering marriage + hopes for change and increased happiness = seeking new connections, new adventures and making potentially life-changing decisions. Is it any wonder divorce lawyers and extramarital dating sites are so hugely popular at this time of the year?”