What qualifies as cheating differs from relationship to relationship – some draw the line at sex, while others regard any unsolicited contact with the opposite sex as adultery. Wherever you draw the line, however, there are a few dead giveaways that your partner is doing the dirty – including how they treat your family.

According to new data collected by Ashley Madison, a dating site for those who are already coupled up, 61 per cent of cheaters are not close with their in-laws. Of those surveyed, more than 75 per cent said they weren’t interested in strengthening this relationship, and just under half reported visiting their partner’s fam once a year at most. Additionally, 85 per cent said they were “not worried about what their in-laws think of them.”

“This may make it easier for people to cheat; a lack of loyalty to their spouse’s family means less family to risk betraying,” explained Dr. Tammy Nelson, sex and relationship therapist and author of The New Monogamy: Redefining Your Relationship After Infidelity.

“Alternatively, a close extended family makes cheating a higher risk behaviour because it means not only hurting your spouse but disappointing the extended family if you get caught. If you don’t care for your in-laws and aren’t invested in their opinion of you, you have less to lose if your cheating is exposed.”

Ashley Madison’s Communnications Director, Isabella Mise said of the findings: 

“Our members are really focused on keeping their affair life private, which means creating some distance from extended family and using that time to connect with someone like-minded on our site. They understand the importance of keeping things discreet and want to reduce the opportunity for unwanted judgement or criticism that often comes from in-laws.”

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