* IllicitEncounters.com has reported a 26% jump in sign-ups from healthcare professionals since the resident doctors’ strike began on Friday.
* A poll of new members working in the ‘Healthcare & Medical’ sector reveals the top reason for signing up was simply “boredom” during the walkout.
* A married resident doctor admits he turned to infidelity because of a combination of boredom, work stress and a struggling relationship with his wife.
* Relationship experts explain how stress, routine disruption, and even boredom can be powerful catalysts for infidelity.
As thousands of resident doctors across England and Wales continue their walkout, it seems not everyone is spending their downtime on the picket lines.
IllicitEncounters.com, the UK’s largest extramarital dating site, has reported a 26% increase in sign-ups from users in the ‘Healthcare & Medical’ sector between Friday and Monday, compared to the same period last year – coinciding exactly with the latest wave of industrial action.
According to a poll of 1,000 new joiners from the medical sector during the strike, the number one reason for signing up was simple: boredom. With rotas suspended and daily chaos swapped for unexpected quiet, 38% said they turned to the affairs site purely because they were bored while not working.
A further 24% admitted that more free time than usual pushed them to explore new connections, while others cited workplace stress (15%), frustration with home life (11%), and long-term loneliness caused by erratic schedules (7%).
One new member Daniel*, a married resident doctor from Manchester who joined the married dating site on the weekend, said, “I’m usually working insane hours, constantly under pressure. But with the strike, suddenly I had this gaping void in my schedule. My wife’s still at work, and I’m just… bored. I’ve been home, pacing, watching TV, and it just hit me – this is the perfect time to explore something new, something just for me. It’s not ideal, but the boredom, combined with the underlying stress of my job and a frosty relationship with my wife, just pushed me to sign up.”
Jessica Leoni, sex and relationships expert at IllicitEncounters.com, commented on the unique trend: “The doctors’ strike creates a very unusual scenario. For many in the medical profession, their lives are defined by relentless work and immense pressure. When that routine is suddenly disrupted, it can lead to unexpected feelings of boredom, isolation, or a need for release.
Our data suggests that for some, this newfound, albeit temporary, freedom is being channelled into seeking discreet connections. It highlights how stress, routine disruption, and even boredom can be powerful catalysts for individuals to explore avenues for emotional and physical fulfillment outside their primary relationships.”
Results:
Top 5 reasons for joining IllicitEncounters during the doctors strike:
Boredom while not working during the strike – 38%
More free time than usual / empty schedules – 24%
Workplace stress and need for release – 15%
Frustration with home life – 11%
Loneliness due to unusual working hours – 7%
Other – 5%
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