YNOT – A recent survey of adult internet users delivered what one sexologist called “encouraging” results: Infidelity may be on the decline.

Dr. Kat Van Kirk, the resident sex expert at Adam & Eve, went one step further, hinting a decline in cheaters may foreshadow an upswing in the economy.

“[S]tatistics show that infidelity often increases when economic stress increases,” Van Kirk said by way of adding context to the survey’s results.

The web-based survey, conducted by an independent, third-party company on behalf of Adam & Eve, was part of the adult products retailer’s ongoing effort to study American sexual preferences and practices. Respondents comprised more than 1,000 men and women 18 and older.

When the subject pool was asked whether they have ever cheated on a partner in a monogamous relationship, only 27 percent admitted they had. Sixty-one percent indicated they have never cheated on a partner, and 11 percent declined to answer or said they’ve not been in a monogamous relationship.

Interestingly, when the same respondents were asked if they had ever been cheated on, 28 percent admitted they had, 60 percent said they had not, and 12 percent either refused to answer or were not in a relationship.

That the related, inverse questions produced nearly identical statistics indicates the researchers may be onto something.

In any case, Van Kirk said she’s encouraged by the answers.

“Many similar surveys in years past show the numbers [for cheaters] much higher,” she said. “I find it optimistic that couples are staying faithful even during these trying times.”
Chad Davis, director of marketing for Adam & Eve, indicated the reason for an apparent decline in infidelity may be something much simpler — and closer to home — than global economic improvement.

“Adam & Eve has seen record sales over the past few years,” he said. “Perhaps more couples have opted to bring Adam & Eve’s more risqué items into their relationship rather than risk their relationship through cheating.”