When It Comes To Cheating, Studies Say There Is A "Danger Age"—Here's What It Is
A number of new studies on infidelity suggests that individuals are twice as likely to cheat at a specific age—or, rather, a certain pattern of ages.
Discovering that a loved one has betrayed your trust is extremely devastating, which has prompted some new studies into what can drive infidelity and how couples can safeguard against it. Recent research has shed light on one intriguing pattern: the "danger ages" at which individuals may be more inclined to cheat.
A Disturbing Pattern
A report from the U.K.-based website IllicitEncounters.com, as first reported by The Sun, suggests that individuals are twice as likely to engage in infidelity at the age of 39, as well as during the last years of other decades, such as 29 or 49.
Backing up this claim, research conducted by Adam L. Alter and Hal E. Hershfield delved into the behaviors of individuals approaching "9-ending ages," including the likelihood for infidelity. Their studies, using data from an online dating site similar to Illicit Encounters, revealed a significant increase in site users at these specific ages.
Furthermore, these same individuals also reported heightened concerns about aging and the meaningfulness of their lives, potentially leading to insecure behaviors indicative of a search for greater significance, such as infidelity.
Similarly, a study conducted by Christin Munsch, an assistant professor of sociology at the University of Connecticut, confirmed that getting older does seem to increase the chances of infidelity, as well as insecurity when it comes to finances. She found that for both men and women (but especially among men) making less money than your partner was correlated to increased rates of cheating.
A Plausible Hypotheis
Ultimately, while the notion of "danger ages" presents a plausible hypothesis, it's obviously not something to assume or generalize about everyone. Munsch's own research on the subject confirms that the reasons for infidelity often defy easy categorization or prediction. She also added that studying infidelity can be difficult because not many people are willing to be completely forthcoming about their experiences.
As far as avoiding "danger" during the danger ages and beyond, she advises simply limiting or eliminating opportunities to cheat. "From a sociological perspective, one of the biggest predictors of infidelity is opportunity," she told Live Science. "If I'm trying to lose weight, I don't keep cookies in the house. The same principle applies here. If you're looking for a 'magic bullet,’ don't be in the situation [where cheating could happen.]"
That said, there are additional ways to "affair-proof" your relationships, with the first and most obvious being a shared commitment to lifelong exclusivity.
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