7 reasons why your partner might cheat on you, according to experts

For many, infidelity is the nightmare scenario in any relationship. But sadly, statistics suggests that one in five British adults have affairs.

Given cheating is so common yet so devastating, researchers have taken time to understand why people do it.

It is important to note that despite the stereotypes, men and women appear to cheat for largely similar reasons.

A survey of people who were cheating or had recently cheated led by psychologist Julia Omarzu found that "assumptions based on gender may not always hold true".

So, don't automatically assume that a man is cheating to have sex, while a woman wants emotional intimacy. Here are some of the top reasons that people cheat, which can apply to anyone.

Lack of emotional satisfaction

Many participants in Omarzu's survey said they were seeking emotional intimacy in their affair, a connection they felt they lacked with their partners.

If people feel their partner no longer cares about their emotional needs, they might look elsewhere.

To light up their sex life

Omarazu's study found that lacking sexual satisfaction in a relationship was the most common reason for cheating.

In a study published by The Journal of Sex Research, 495 young adults were asked about their cheating and the data also demonstrated the desire to gain sexual variety could drive people to cheating.

Unsurprisingly, the chances of cheating increase when a couple isn't having sex or there are issues in the bedroom. More unsettlingly, the cheater might even just be bored.

They have fallen out of love

The same Journal of Sex Research study confirmed what might seem obvious: some cheaters admitted they had fallen out of love with their partner.

Rather than take the hard option of splitting up with their partner, some people cheat when they are no longer head-over-heels.

They felt resentful

Relationship coach Dee Holmes from Relate told The Independentthat people sometimes cheat when they feel neglected in the relationship.

Holmes said that the motivation for cheating could be seen as a cry for attention.

They are a serial cheat

Holmes told The Independent that some people simply struggle too much with monogamy to stay committed to one person for long.

This could be due to many factors, such as attachment issues, commitment phobias or even sex addiction.

They were drunk

Alcohol is no excuse for cheating, but it might increase the risk of it.

Cheating while drunk might also be a sign that something is seriously wrong with the relationship.

Psychiatrist Anjali Chhabria told the Times of India:

Alcohol has often been used by individuals to reduce their own fears, cope with their anxiety and deal with their negative emotions leading to temporary state of happiness. It usually reduces inhibitions and sometimes helps express repressed emotions.

Even if people just use alcohol as an excuse to cheat, there are definitely underlying issues and concerns, which easily manifest themselves under the influence of alcohol. Thus, there may not be a direct connection, but there definitely is a psychological connection between drinking and cheating.

To end the relationship

Some people cheat with the secret hope that their partner will find out and split up with them.

Love Honey Australia's dating expert Tracey Cox told the Daily Mail:

If this is you, leave. Don't pretend to yourself or your lover that you're leaving for them, you're not.

More: This is the real reason people cheat on their partners, according to science