People with whom Italians cheat on their partners 2017

A survey conducted in 2017 reveals that the largest groups of Italian respondents cheated on their partner either with a friend or with a colleague. In particular, 25.4 percent of interviewees in Italy stated that they betrayed their partner with a friend, while 22.6 percent did so with a colleague. However, it was common to cheat with strangers as well. The third largest group (17.5 percent of individuals) affirmed that the last time they cheated on their partner was with a stranger met in a particular context such as in the disco, at the gym, on holidays, etcetera.

Reasons for cheating

  The most common reason why people in Italy cheated on their partner was the sexual attraction towards another person, indicated by 27.1 percent of respondents. About 22 percent of interviewees stated that the betrayal was the consequence of an argument with the current partner, while for 20 percent the mental attraction played a determinant role. Nevertheless, most of the people who stated to cheat did not intent to leave their partner. In 2017, 61.4 percent of respondents declared they did not want to break up their relationship after cheating. Additionally, 27.2 percent were willing to leave the partner, but they did not do it. Most of the people who cheated would not repeat the betrayal.

The follow up

  For the largest part of people, cheating was only a one-time adventure. 31.3 percent of Italian respondents considered their last betrayal a “one-night” escapade. However, for about 30 percent of interviewees, the infidelity became a love story that lasted some years and eventually came to an end. Additionally, for 24.9 percent of respondents cheating meant a short love story that lasted some weeks or months and then ended. Lastly, 5.4 percent of Italian interviewees declared to have a permanent lover.