65 pc of those engaging in cybersex cheat on spouse

Sydney: Sixty-five percent of people who engage in cybersex also cheat on their spouses or girlfriends, says a new research.

The study, conducted by Swinburne University of Technology (SUT) doctoral candidate Marcus Squirrell, surveyed over 1,300 net users.

The people frequented online sex, fetish and swinging sites to engage in online sexual activities - ranging from downloading erotic pictures and chatting online to using webcams to interact with others.

The Swinburne study also found that cybersex participants are mostly male, well educated and with an average age of 41 years.

Many people can benefit from using the internet for sexual activity. But for some participants, particularly those in relationships, it can become problematic and damage their 'real life' interactions, says Squirrell.

"For many people, chat-lines can provide a vehicle for exploring their sexuality in a safe environment, which may increase their sense of social and emotional connectedness to their community," he said.

"But for some people their use of the internet for cybersex becomes unmanageable and their behaviour takes on an obsessive and compulsive flavour," he said, according to a SUT release.

"These people are putting so much energy into cybersex - in some cases up to 10 hours per day - that it is detracting from their relationship with their partner. It can also adversely affect other areas of their lives, such as their education and employment."

These findings will be presented at the Australian Psychological Society conference in Darwin that starts September 30.