In a survey study of more than 1,000 U.S. adults who were in committed, heterosexual relationships during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, parents were more likely than non-parents to report an increased desire for infidelity since before the pandemic, and were also more likely to report having actually cheated on their partner during the pandemic.

Dr. Jessica T. Campbell of Indiana University Bloomington, U.S., and colleagues present these findings in the open-access journal PLOS One.

Prior research has suggested that COVID-19 pandemic conditions strained many romantic and sexual relationships. Other research suggests that high stress and relationship dissatisfaction may prompt some people to consider engaging in romantic or sexual infidelity.