By Staff Reporter
A new study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health has revealed that infidelity is not uncommon among medical professionals, with 21 percent of participating doctors and nurses admitting to having engaged in an unfaithful relationship.
The study, titled “Incidence and Related Factors of Infidelity among Medical Doctors and Nurses,” was conducted by researchers Sara Guerrero, Gracia Castro-Luna, Rosa Zapata Boluda, Aida Freites, Rafael García, and Tesifón Parrón-Carreño. It sought to understand the prevalence of infidelity within the medical profession and the factors that might contribute to it, such as work schedules and stress levels.
According to the researchers, “Although there is a large body of research addressing infidelity, no study, to our knowledge, has specifically addressed infidelity in doctors and nurses and the correlation with work hours, schedule and other variables.” The study surveyed 367 volunteer participants, most of whom were doctors (81.7 percent), through an anonymous online questionnaire.
Results showed that men were 4.3 times more likely to be unfaithful than women, a difference that was statistically significant.
“Men were 4.3 times more unfaithful than women, with these differences being statistically significant (OR = 4.37, p < 0.001),” the report stated. Among those who admitted to having extramarital relationships within the workplace, the majority were male.
The study also found a link between work schedules and infidelity, particularly among those working night shifts or emergency rotations. “The night emergency schedule was 60 percent more frequent in unfaithful people, and these differences were statistically significant (OR = 12.43, p < 0.01),” the researchers wrote. The authors suggested that irregular working hours, long shifts, and high emotional strain may contribute to relational distance and increase opportunities for workplace intimacy.
The research further revealed that men were far more likely to engage in sexual activity within work facilities than women. “Those who reported having had sex in the doctor’s room on duty were also men, with these differences being statistically significant (OR = 12.81, p < 0.01),” the study noted.
The authors concluded that there is a “significant rate of infidelity in doctors and nurses,” emphasizing that both gender and shift patterns play a key role in the likelihood of unfaithfulness. They also acknowledged that the findings should be interpreted cautiously, given that the study relied on self-reported data from volunteers.
While the study did not attempt to moralize or generalize the findings beyond the sample group, it does highlight how the demands of the medical profession—long hours, emotional exhaustion, and irregular schedules—may take a toll on personal relationships. The authors suggested that institutions should consider ways to mitigate workplace stress and promote healthy work-life balance among healthcare workers.
