If you’re not making the money in the relationship, you’re more likely to cheat on them and have an affair, according to a new study.
Someone who is economically dependent on their partner is more likely to cheat on them, says the new study by University of Connecticut professor Christin Munsch.
What’s more, men who depend on their wives to support them are three times more likely to cheat, according to the study published in the American Sociological Review.
There’s a five percent chance an economically dependent woman will cheat on her significant other, while there is a 15 percent chance a dependent man will cheat.
It’s counter intuitive , but true Munsch told The Guardian .
“We don’t really like inequity, and there’s probably something about masculinity that means men really don’t like it.”
She surveyed 2,757 men and women between the ages of 18 and 32 who were in a relationship longer than a year to discover who was more likely to cheat.
The more money men make, the less likely they are to cheat on their partner, she found, unless they make more than 70 percent of the couple’s income. Then, the situation changes, Munsch told the Wall Street Journal .
“These men are aware that their wives are truly dependent and may think that, as a result, their wives will not leave them even if they cheat.”
Women, however, are least likely to cheat when they make all the money, probably because they’re trying to protect the relationship.
The study shows people still pay attention to their perceived role in society, Munsch told the Wall Street Journal .
“Infidelity allows threatened men to distance themselves from, and perhaps punish, their higher-earning spouses.”
This study comes as websites helping people cheat on their significant other like Ashley-Madison are increasing dramatically, according to the Inquisitr.
The adulterous website reported almost a 500 percent increase in membership after Mother’s Day for the third year in a row.
So, be sure and buy your wife those flowers.
Cheating on Valentine’s Day has also increased with a growing number of men buying roses and candy for women they’re not in a relationship with, according to the Inquisitr .
While there’s no sure fire to guarantee your significant other remains faithful, experts agree it’s important to keep the lines of communication open and pay attention to each other.
Cheating is more likely to occur when one partner doesn’t feel connected to the other emotionally and physically.
[Photo by Mario Tama /Getty Images]
