Being betrayed by the one you love can truly take its toll on your emotions, but it can also affect your overall health. At least that’s what a recent study is claiming, reports Medical Daily.
The study, which was conducted at the University of Nevada, found links between infidelity, depression, and anxiety. Being betrayed by a spouse or partner can also drive someone to engage in risky behavior, like promiscuity, or having unprotected sex.
Why is this so? Researchers believe that “victims” of cheating suffer a huge blow to their self-esteem, so they are more prone to developing eating disorders in an effort to lose weight, reports the Independent. There is also a growing need for them to “get back” at their partner by going through extreme physical changes. They also often experience extreme psychological distress as the result of betrayal, which increases the chances of them falling into alcohol or drug addiction.
“Being cheated on seems to not only have mental health consequences, but also increases risky behavior…”
“Being cheated on seems to not only have mental health consequences, but also increases risky behavior,” study author Rosie Shrout told PsyPost. “We also found that people who blamed themselves for their partner cheating, such as feeling like it was their fault or they could have stopped it, were more likely to engage in risky behavior.”
Of the 232 subjects of the study, all of whom were cheated on, they noted a significant connection and the occurence of mental health problems, like depresssion and anxiety.
It doesn’t matter if the betrayed partner stayed in the relationship or not, the effects remain the same.
“It is possible that infidelity is such a serious and distressing relationship event that these intense negative reactions occur regardless of whether a person stays in the relationship,” wrote the study’s researchers.”As we continue this line of research, we hope to better understand the emotional and physical health toll of infidelity.”
READ: 10 Signs your husband is cheating, according to a former mistress
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