Sex performance anxiety linked to cheating

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GUELPH, Ontario, July 25 (UPI) -- Men who are risk-takers, easily aroused and anxious sexual performers are more likely to cheat on their partners, U.S. and Canadian researchers say.

The study, published in the journal Archives of Sexual Behaviour, found many things may be linked to infidelity, but sexual personality characteristics seem to trump all others for men and relationship factors seem to trump all others for women.

Robin Milhausen of Guelph University in Ontario, Kristen Mark and Erick Janssen of Indiana University, say for both men and women, personality characteristics and interpersonal factors are more relevant predictors than are religion, marital status, education or gender.

"This research shows that demographic variables may not influence decision-making as much as previously thought -- that personality matters more, especially for men," Milhausen says in a statement.

The study involved 506 men and 412 women who reported being in monogamous sexual relationships lasting from three months to 43 years.

The study found little difference in rates of infidelity reported -- 23 percent of men say they have cheated versus 19 percent in women, but for men, significant predictors of infidelity are personality variables, including propensity for sexual excitation -- becoming easily aroused by many triggers and situations -- and concern about sexual performance failure.

For women, those dissatisfied with their relationship are more than twice as likely to cheat; while those who feel they are sexually incompatible with their partners are nearly three times as likely, the study says.