While most of us would (understandably) consider sex with anyone other than our partner a deal breaker of the highest order, the findings of a recent study have done much to highlight the emphasis members of the public place on the emotional element of any relationship.

According to a recent study, which harnessed the opinions of more than 60,000 people, the idea of a partner indulging in an emotional affair was considered much more damaging than the thought of them jumping into bed with someone else.

The research, which was conducted by Dr David Frederick at Chapman University in California, established that flirtatious behaviour, the exchange of messages  and verbal intimacy can be equally, if not more, detrimental to a relationship as a physical affair might be.

The study, which was published in the Archives of Sexual Behaviour, claims that 65 per cent of straight women considered ’emotional cheating’ worse than physical cheating while 46% of men felt the same.

The research, which included both the heterosexual and LGBT communities, also established that 70 per cent of bisexual men, 68 per cent of gay men and 73 per cent of bisexual women consider emotional cheating worse than sexual infidelity.

Where do you stand on this one?