- 83% of people say external factors are to blame for disrupting their relationships
• 65% say these issues and influences have been the main cause for them to engage in extra-marital affairs
• The #1 most damaging factor for a relationship is nosy in-laws and family
30th May 2014_Even the most perfect relationship is not immune to the influence and interference of others – and new research has uncovered affairs are more likely to be caused by external factors than internal issues a couple may share.
In a survey conducted by Victoria Milan– a dating website for attached people looking to cheat – 83% of people claimed external factors cause more damage to a relationship than internal problems, such as attraction fading or problems in the bedroom.
Victoria Milan surveyed 6,500 of its male and female members to identify how rifts in the perfect romance occur, and what it is exactly that is causing the problems.
According to more than a quarter of survey participants (26%), interference from nosy in-laws and family members causes relationships to break down. Absence due to work commitments came in a close second at 18%.
Binge-drinking and serial flirts are the third most likely vices to kick-start marital problems (14%), and social networking, Internet and smart-phones are fourth in line for the blame with an 11% vote.
| Top 10 External Factors That Affect Relationships Most | |
| 1. Nosy in-laws and family | 26% |
| 2. Being absent due to work or other reasons | 18% |
| 3. Binge drinking/ serial flirts | 14% |
| 4. Social networks – Internet and smartphones | 11% |
| 5. Work-related stress | 9% |
| 6. Friends – bad company/ party animals | 7% |
| 7. Religion – When a person inside the relationship is more invested in religion than the other | 6% |
| 8. Economic hardships | 4% |
| 9. Politics – different opinions can cause a divide between you and your partner | 3% |
| 10. A horny nanny or gardener – temptations | 2% |
CEO and Founder of Victoria Milan, Sigurd Vedal, said the survey was very revealing in that 65% of members claimed external factors motivated them to have an affair.
“All relationships that make it past the honeymoon period are subject to scrutiny, temptations, judgments and the harsh reality of the real world. No romance escapes these external factors – they are present at work, when you pick the kids up from school, at tennis lessons on the weekend, at family functions.”
“The difference is that internal problems are resolved on an even playing field – the two players involved are the only two who can fix the situation – whether it’s issues in the bedroom or something even more personal. External problems – such as the age-old problem of the mother-in-law – are open to a whole new range of factors and thus are more harmful – even for the strongest of relationships”, Mr Vedal said.
Polite dinner conversation is recommended to keep your relationship strong, as typical taboo subjects – religion and politics – came in at 6% and 3% respectively. And you can keep the gardener with the rock-hard abs or the nanny with the too-short skirt – they’ll only cause problems in 2% of relationships.