Married people engaging in extra-marital relationships have become the norm. The proof lies in the success of dating apps like Ashley Madison and Gleeden that offer married people a way to enter discreet relationships. One would assume that such relationships might feel like a weight, considering all the sneaking around that needs to be done to hide them from their married partners. However, &nbsp;Tammy Nelson, relationship therapist and consultant for Ashley Madison, says the secretive nature is really what attracts members to have affairs. She told WION, "Keeping these relationships discreet often plays a role in their appeal." In fact, hidden relationships also help counter day-to-day stress, according to a survey carried out by the website. "Hidden relationships can create a psychological buffer, a private world where someone doesn’t have to bring in outside pressures. In the short term, not telling anyone can reduce anxiety by compartmentalising stress," Nelson says.&nbsp;The website recently also carried out a survey among its members, who admitted that “escapist romance” helps them stay sane amid "global stressors such as inflation and political uncertainty." The survey showed that nearly half of respondents (49%) admitted turning to new connections during stressful times, with women slightly more likely than men to seek out that sense of escape. "Seeking something new is a thrill when life gets overwhelming," Nelson says.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/anxiety-and-stress-driving-married-people-to-have-new-affairs-women-lead-the-charts-ashley-madison-reveals-1759236278272">Is your partner stressed? WATCH OUT! An affair might be in the offing, Ashley Madison reveals</a> Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/ashley-madison-india-data-extramarital-affair-cheating-delhi-mumbai-kanchipuram-1753248635305">Ashley Madison reveals EXTRA-MARITAL AFFAIR capital of India; Delhi covers most bases, and Mumbai...</a>&nbsp;<h2>Casual relationships are not just for the young</h2>This is true for all age groups, according to her. The dating app for married people found that people are using relationships as coping mechanisms across demographics. Each age group has its own reason for casual dating, the biggest one being managing anxiety. The survey found that 21% of its members preferred casual dating to a committed relationship to manage anxiety better. "Stress is a universal experience, but different age groups cope differently," Nelson said. "Younger adults may turn to casual dating as a way to avoid feeling trapped when their careers and finances are uncertain. Midlife adults often face layered stress, including raising children, managing ageing parents, and financial strain," she added.&nbsp;Escapist romance also helps them "feel more alive, younger, and avoid the fears of ageing." Nelson feels that in an age when the "world feels unstable, people seek love, passion, and intimacy as a reminder that they are still vibrant, desired, and connected."

Dating apps for married people are becoming popular across the world, as casual relationships are being seen as a way to escape the stress of everyday life. This is true of all age groups and is not limited to the young, Ashley Madison says.

Married people engaging in extra-marital relationships have become the norm. The proof lies in the success of dating apps like Ashley Madison and Gleeden that offer married people a way to enter discreet relationships. One would assume that such relationships might feel like a weight, considering all the sneaking around that needs to be done to hide them from their married partners. However, Tammy Nelson, relationship therapist and consultant for Ashley Madison, says the secretive nature is really what attracts members to have affairs. She told WION, "Keeping these relationships discreet often plays a role in their appeal." In fact, hidden relationships also help counter day-to-day stress, according to a survey carried out by the website. "Hidden relationships can create a psychological buffer, a private world where someone doesn’t have to bring in outside pressures. In the short term, not telling anyone can reduce anxiety by compartmentalising stress," Nelson says. The website recently also carried out a survey among its members, who admitted that “escapist romance” helps them stay sane amid "global stressors such as inflation and political uncertainty." The survey showed that nearly half of respondents (49%) admitted turning to new connections during stressful times, with women slightly more likely than men to seek out that sense of escape. "Seeking something new is a thrill when life gets overwhelming," Nelson says. Also Read: Is your partner stressed? WATCH OUT! An affair might be in the offing, Ashley Madison reveals Also Read: Ashley Madison reveals EXTRA-MARITAL AFFAIR capital of India; Delhi covers most bases, and Mumbai... Casual relationships are not just for the young This is true for all age groups, according to her. The dating app for married people found that people are using relationships as coping mechanisms across demographics. Each age group has its own reason for casual dating, the biggest one being managing anxiety. The survey found that 21% of its members preferred casual dating to a committed relationship to manage anxiety better. "Stress is a universal experience, but different age groups cope differently," Nelson said. "Younger adults may turn to casual dating as a way to avoid feeling trapped when their careers and finances are uncertain. Midlife adults often face layered stress, including raising children, managing ageing parents, and financial strain," she added. Escapist romance also helps them "feel more alive, younger, and avoid the fears of ageing." Nelson feels that in an age when the "world feels unstable, people seek love, passion, and intimacy as a reminder that they are still vibrant, desired, and connected."

Dating apps for married people are becoming popular across the world, as casual relationships are being seen as a way to escape the stress of everyday life. This is true of all age groups and is not limited to the young, Ashley Madison says.

Why are married people looking to have casual relationships? Expert answers

Stress is driving people towards seeking relationships outside their marriages, a survey by Ashley Madison has revealed. According to new global member data gathered by the dating website for married people, the state of affairs in today's world is influencing how people approach romantic connections. It stated that people are looking for new relationships as a way to escape the stress and handle anxiety. The website polled 2,404 Ashley Madison members between July 8–10, 2025. Nearly half (49%) of member respondents said they look to engage in additional relationships during stressful times. Women are more likely than men to have an affair to get rid of stress, with 50% of them admitting to looking for excitement or escape, as compared to 43% men.&nbsp;&nbsp;Ashley Madison further found that inflation is another factor that leads them to stray. More than 1 in 3 women (33%) and more than a quarter of men (27%) said inflation impacts their approach to relationships more than recession, political uncertainty, or unstable employment.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/ashley-madison-india-data-extramarital-affair-cheating-delhi-mumbai-kanchipuram-1753248635305">Ashley Madison reveals EXTRA-MARITAL AFFAIR capital of India; Delhi covers most bases, and Mumbai...</a>&nbsp;<h2>Casual relationships help during tough times&nbsp;</h2>A majority of them said that when times got tough, they tried to stick to the relationship, instead of breaking up. Forty-three per cent of them stated that more people sought casual relationships during difficult times. A whopping 87% of respondents said they saw people around them either dating, pursuing relationships, or taking relationships to the next level. Casual dating was seen as a mechanism to manage anxiety by 21% of the respondents, as compared to being in a committed relationship, with 19% saying they preferred the latter. Women found more comfort in dating or relationships than men. The survey found that human connection played a crucial role in times of global challenges, and having a partner motivated them to keep going.&nbsp;

 Ashley Madison, the dating website for married people, has revealed in a new survey that the stress of today's world is driving more people to seek casual relationships and have affairs. The respondents say it helps them stay sane during tough times.

Stress is driving people towards seeking relationships outside their marriages, a survey by Ashley Madison has revealed. According to new global member data gathered by the dating website for married people, the state of affairs in today's world is influencing how people approach romantic connections. It stated that people are looking for new relationships as a way to escape the stress and handle anxiety. The website polled 2,404 Ashley Madison members between July 8–10, 2025. Nearly half (49%) of member respondents said they look to engage in additional relationships during stressful times. Women are more likely than men to have an affair to get rid of stress, with 50% of them admitting to looking for excitement or escape, as compared to 43% men. Ashley Madison further found that inflation is another factor that leads them to stray. More than 1 in 3 women (33%) and more than a quarter of men (27%) said inflation impacts their approach to relationships more than recession, political uncertainty, or unstable employment. Also Read: Ashley Madison reveals EXTRA-MARITAL AFFAIR capital of India; Delhi covers most bases, and Mumbai... Casual relationships help during tough times A majority of them said that when times got tough, they tried to stick to the relationship, instead of breaking up. Forty-three per cent of them stated that more people sought casual relationships during difficult times. A whopping 87% of respondents said they saw people around them either dating, pursuing relationships, or taking relationships to the next level. Casual dating was seen as a mechanism to manage anxiety by 21% of the respondents, as compared to being in a committed relationship, with 19% saying they preferred the latter. Women found more comfort in dating or relationships than men. The survey found that human connection played a crucial role in times of global challenges, and having a partner motivated them to keep going.

&nbsp;Ashley Madison, the dating website for married people, has revealed in a new survey that the stress of today's world is driving more people to seek casual relationships and have affairs. The respondents say it helps them stay sane during tough times.

Is your partner stressed? WATCH OUT! An affair might be in the offing, Ashley Madison reveals

Ashley Madison, the global dating platform infamous for getting married people hooked on extramarital affairs, has released the list of top 20 Indian districts with the most number of illicit relationships. The top slot has been claimed by a rather unconventional small town in southern India, leaving behind major metropolitan cities. Kanchipuram, a town in Tamil Nadu, has been crowned the extramarital affair capital of India, according to the June 2025 data. The small town made a big leap last year, jumping from 17th spot to bag the first position. Ashley Madison did not reveal the reason for this massive jump, although the app's reach in tier-2 and tier-3 cities seems to have bolstered their access to extramarital affairs. However, the biggest impression was left by the Delhi-NCR region, which claimed nine spots in the list. Surprisingly, another major metro city doesn't even feature in the top 20. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/coldplay-ceo-what-happened-at-the-coldplay-concert-entire-cheating-scandal-featuring-astronomer-ceo-andy-byron-explained-chris-martin-1752849360929">What happened at the Coldplay concert: Entire cheating scandal featuring Astronomer CEO Andy Byron explained</a>&nbsp;<h2>Delhi-NCR leads the way in extra-marital affairs</h2>Central Delhi is placed second on the extramarital affair list. Six Delhi districts—Central Delhi, South West Delhi, East Delhi, South Delhi, West Delhi, and North West Delhi—and Gurgaon, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddha Nagar (Noida), are the nine Delhi-NCR districts on the list. The Ashley Madison infamous list has been compiled based on the number of people who signed up for the service, along with activity intensity and engagement data. Notably, Mumbai did not make it to top 20. The other smaller cities that feature include Jaipur, Chandigarh, Raigarh and Kamrup. Ashley Madison's list shows the growing trend of infidelity in smaller Indian cities. Paul Keable, chief strategy officer at Ashley Madison, said that the data highlights that "India is leading the way in redefining modern relationships with more than half of surveyed adults admitting to infidelity." He added that among global markets, "India is already ranked sixth". He thinks that the numbers are going to rise further by the end of the year. "These numbers suggest the growing acceptance of non-monogamy," he added. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/is-coldplay-banning-cameras-after-andy-byron-s-alleged-affair-here-s-what-we-know-1752842231866">Is Coldplay banning cameras after Astronomer's CEO alleged affair? Here's what we know</a> &nbsp;<h2>Ashley Madison explodes in India</h2>In April, Ashley Madison shared a YouGov survey in which a whopping &nbsp;53 per cent of surveyed Indians admitted to cheating on their spouse. Brazil stood alongside India in the rate of adults who admitted infidelity globally. The app that helps married people have extramarital affairs launched in the early 2000s. Its tagline, "Life Is Short. Have an Affair", has appealed to several people worldwide. In India, the app did not promote its presence as much. Despite this, it saw a surge in signups by Indians. Keable said India was eighth in sign-ups, and it is because of an interest in what Ashley Madison offers.&nbsp;

Ashley Madison, the app that helps married people cheat, has revealed which districts in India are leading the way in extra-marital affairs. The top 20 list includes one city grabbing multiple spots, a surprise leader and a shocking absence.   

Ashley Madison, the global dating platform infamous for getting married people hooked on extramarital affairs, has released the list of top 20 Indian districts with the most number of illicit relationships. The top slot has been claimed by a rather unconventional small town in southern India, leaving behind major metropolitan cities. Kanchipuram, a town in Tamil Nadu, has been crowned the extramarital affair capital of India, according to the June 2025 data. The small town made a big leap last year, jumping from 17th spot to bag the first position. Ashley Madison did not reveal the reason for this massive jump, although the app's reach in tier-2 and tier-3 cities seems to have bolstered their access to extramarital affairs. However, the biggest impression was left by the Delhi-NCR region, which claimed nine spots in the list. Surprisingly, another major metro city doesn't even feature in the top 20. Also Read: What happened at the Coldplay concert: Entire cheating scandal featuring Astronomer CEO Andy Byron explained Delhi-NCR leads the way in extra-marital affairs Central Delhi is placed second on the extramarital affair list. Six Delhi districts—Central Delhi, South West Delhi, East Delhi, South Delhi, West Delhi, and North West Delhi—and Gurgaon, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddha Nagar (Noida), are the nine Delhi-NCR districts on the list. The Ashley Madison infamous list has been compiled based on the number of people who signed up for the service, along with activity intensity and engagement data. Notably, Mumbai did not make it to top 20. The other smaller cities that feature include Jaipur, Chandigarh, Raigarh and Kamrup. Ashley Madison's list shows the growing trend of infidelity in smaller Indian cities. Paul Keable, chief strategy officer at Ashley Madison, said that the data highlights that "India is leading the way in redefining modern relationships with more than half of surveyed adults admitting to infidelity." He added that among global markets, "India is already ranked sixth". He thinks that the numbers are going to rise further by the end of the year. "These numbers suggest the growing acceptance of non-monogamy," he added. Also Read: Is Coldplay banning cameras after Astronomer's CEO alleged affair? Here's what we know Ashley Madison explodes in India In April, Ashley Madison shared a YouGov survey in which a whopping 53 per cent of surveyed Indians admitted to cheating on their spouse. Brazil stood alongside India in the rate of adults who admitted infidelity globally. The app that helps married people have extramarital affairs launched in the early 2000s. Its tagline, "Life Is Short. Have an Affair", has appealed to several people worldwide. In India, the app did not promote its presence as much. Despite this, it saw a surge in signups by Indians. Keable said India was eighth in sign-ups, and it is because of an interest in what Ashley Madison offers.

Ashley Madison, the app that helps married people cheat, has revealed which districts in India are leading the way in extra-marital affairs. The top 20 list includes one city grabbing multiple spots, a surprise leader and a shocking absence. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Ashley Madison reveals EXTRA-MARITAL AFFAIR capital of India; Delhi covers most bases, and Mumbai...

Ashley Madison, the website for cheaters that was hit by a massive hack that exposed millions, is rebooting under new leadership as an &quot;open-minded dating&quot; service. 
 
And its Canadian-based parent company said it will no longer use female &quot;bots&quot; or automated programs that respond to members pretending to be women on the hunt for men. 
 
A statement on Monday from Avid Life Media, the parent firm of Ashley Madison, announced&nbsp;&quot;a new direction and total repositioning&quot; of the service. 
 
It said that newly appointed chief executive Rob Segal and president James Millership are three months into their new roles and were making &quot;transformative changes&quot; for the company and its flagship brand Ashley Madison. 
 
&quot;Our new team is committed to taking care of our members and to building on our portfolio of unique and open-minded online dating brands,&quot; said Millership. 
 
&quot;Millions of people have continued to connect on our sites during the past year and they deserve a discreet, open-minded community where they can connect with like-minded individuals.&quot; 
 
The statement said the company&#39;s forensic accounting investigation confirmed that &quot;bots&quot; were no longer in use, stopped in North America in 2014 and internationally in 2015. 
 
&quot;My understanding is that bots are widespread in the industry, but they are no longer being used, and will not be used, at Avid Life Media and Ashley Madison,&quot; said Millership. 
 
Some media reports after last year&#39;s hack claimed that many of the female members on Ashley Madison were, in fact, bots that gave the impression there were more women on the site. 
 
Last year, a hacker group released what was said to be personal data on more than 30 million members of Ashley Madison. The fallout led to reports of blackmail and even suicides. 
 
The company said it was stepping up security and had hired a cyber-security team from professional services firm Deloitte to implement new safeguards and monitoring. 
 
On the Ashley Madison website, the longtime slogan &quot;Life is Short, Have an Affair&quot; was gone and replaced by an image of a modestly dressed woman and a button saying &quot;See Your Matches&quot;. 
 
The retooled website says it is &quot;more than an affair site&quot;. 
 
&quot;Ashley Madison today is about so much more than infidelity, it&#39;s about all kinds of adult dating,&quot; the website says. 
 
&quot;In fact, a large number of our millions of members around the globe are singles drawn to the site because they want the kind of discretion Ashley Madison has been synonymous with for over a decade. Many members are in fulfilling relationships and need a safe place to explore polyamory together. Others still are looking for same-sex relationships but want to keep it separate from their personal and professional networks.&quot; 
 
The site says it has &quot;over 46 million members&quot;. 
 
(AFP)

The company said it was stepping up security after last year's mega hack, and that it no longer uses female 'bots' pretending to be women

Ashley Madison, the website for cheaters that was hit by a massive hack that exposed millions, is rebooting under new leadership as an "open-minded dating" service. And its Canadian-based parent company said it will no longer use female "bots" or automated programs that respond to members pretending to be women on the hunt for men. A statement on Monday from Avid Life Media, the parent firm of Ashley Madison, announced "a new direction and total repositioning" of the service. It said that newly appointed chief executive Rob Segal and president James Millership are three months into their new roles and were making "transformative changes" for the company and its flagship brand Ashley Madison. "Our new team is committed to taking care of our members and to building on our portfolio of unique and open-minded online dating brands," said Millership. "Millions of people have continued to connect on our sites during the past year and they deserve a discreet, open-minded community where they can connect with like-minded individuals." The statement said the company's forensic accounting investigation confirmed that "bots" were no longer in use, stopped in North America in 2014 and internationally in 2015. "My understanding is that bots are widespread in the industry, but they are no longer being used, and will not be used, at Avid Life Media and Ashley Madison," said Millership. Some media reports after last year's hack claimed that many of the female members on Ashley Madison were, in fact, bots that gave the impression there were more women on the site. Last year, a hacker group released what was said to be personal data on more than 30 million members of Ashley Madison. The fallout led to reports of blackmail and even suicides. The company said it was stepping up security and had hired a cyber-security team from professional services firm Deloitte to implement new safeguards and monitoring. On the Ashley Madison website, the longtime slogan "Life is Short, Have an Affair" was gone and replaced by an image of a modestly dressed woman and a button saying "See Your Matches". The retooled website says it is "more than an affair site". "Ashley Madison today is about so much more than infidelity, it's about all kinds of adult dating," the website says. "In fact, a large number of our millions of members around the globe are singles drawn to the site because they want the kind of discretion Ashley Madison has been synonymous with for over a decade. Many members are in fulfilling relationships and need a safe place to explore polyamory together. Others still are looking for same-sex relationships but want to keep it separate from their personal and professional networks." The site says it has "over 46 million members". (AFP)

Ashley Madison: Affair site repositions itself as 'open-minded dating' service

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Why are married people looking to have casual relationships? Expert answers

Is your partner stressed? An affair might be in the offing: Ashley Madison

Ashley Madison reveals EXTRA-MARITAL AFFAIR capital of India. Delhi, Mumbai...

Ashley Madison: Affair site repositions itself as 'open-minded dating' service