Men in High-Prestige Careers More Likely to Cheat, Study Finds

A recent analysis of data from the General Social Survey indicates that men in high-prestige professions, such as CEOs, physicians, and surgeons, are significantly more likely to engage in extramarital affairs compared to those in lower-prestige occupations like janitors, food service workers, and cashiers. Nearly 18% of men aged 25 to 54 in top-tier positions report having had sex outside their marriage, which is more than double the rate of 7% among men in upper-middle prestige jobs like police officers and teachers, and higher than the 13% rate in low-prestige roles.

Overall, the prevalence of extramarital sex has declined over time. In the early 1990s, about 17% of ever-married, prime-age Americans admitted to cheating, dropping to 14% between 2010 and 2018, and further to 13% in the most recent data from 2021 to 2022. This downward trend is especially pronounced among men, with rates falling from around 20% in the 1990s and 2000s to roughly 17% recently.

Employment status also plays a role. About 20% of unemployed men aged 25 to 54 report extramarital affairs, compared to only 11% of employed men. For women, those who work for pay have a higher cheating rate of 16%, while stay-at-home women report 8%.

Factors influencing infidelity include education, with only 10% of college graduates reporting cheating versus 15% of non-graduates, and religious involvement, where frequent attendees have an 8% rate compared to 18% for those who rarely or never attend services. Marital history is crucial, as divorced or separated individuals are far more likely to have cheated (34% admit to infidelity) than those who remain married (7%).

The consequences of infidelity show gendered patterns: 45% of men who admit to cheating are divorced, while nearly 60% of women who have cheated are now separated or divorced. Researchers suggest that high-status men may face increased opportunities and temptations, while unemployed men might seek extramarital validation due to threats to their masculinity.