A survey of 2,000 Americans suggests that the definition of cheating in romantic relationships is evolving beyond physical intimacy. The research, conducted by Talker Research between July 1 and July 6, 2026, found that 15% of individuals in relationships or marriages admit to harboring romantic feelings for someone outside their partnership.
Younger generations appear more prone to such emotional infidelity, with 31% of Gen Z and 21% of millennials reporting romantic feelings for others. Men (19%) were also more likely than women (12%) to acknowledge these feelings.
The survey explored specific behaviors that respondents consider unfaithful. A significant portion, 41%, identified maintaining ongoing flirtatious text conversations with someone else as a form of cheating. Other commonly cited behaviors include keeping a dating app profile active "just to look" or for validation (37%), using a fake name for a contact in one's phone (37%), deleting messages to conceal conversations from a partner (36%), and secretly keeping in touch with an ex (36%).
Additionally, 33% of respondents believe having a "work spouse" constitutes a breach of trust, and 27% consider a "Close Friends" Instagram list that excludes a partner as unfaithful.
The survey also revealed that self-reported infidelity is common. Ten percent of Americans admitted to deleting messages to hide them from their partner, while 8% confessed to secretly meeting someone one-on-one. The same percentage reported maintaining a secret friendship unknown to their partner, and another 8% admitted to ongoing flirtatious texting. Six percent acknowledged using fake names for contacts to conceal communications.
Experts suggest that these behaviors may stem from unmet needs within the relationship. Mindfulness Coach Kay Phongsan noted that boundary-testing can escalate when individuals feel unseen or unappreciated, with flirtatious interactions serving as a way to feel valued. She indicated that avoidance of direct communication about dissatisfaction often underlies these actions.
Dr. Sal Raichbach, Chief Clinical Officer at The Haven Detox Group, commented that stated reasons for ending relationships may not always reflect the true underlying issues. "The 'small' issue becomes symbolic of a much deeper incompatibility – differences in etiquette, values, lifestyle, attraction, or perceived respect for one another," he stated. "At times the actual trigger that prompts the termination of a relationship is indeed the 'odd reason.' The actual reason for ending the relationship was due to dissatisfaction beneath that specific behavior."
Beyond these evolving definitions of infidelity, the survey also highlighted some unusual reasons individuals have ended relationships. Cited causes included eating pizza with a fork, having bad breath, chewing cereal loudly, and disagreements over pineapple on pizza. Other bizarre break-up reasons mentioned were a partner's gum-chewing habits, a new haircut, or disliking the color red.