Four major infidelity trends have been identified by infidelity expert Ruth Houston, founder of www.InfidelityAdvice.com and author of Is He Cheating on You? – 829 Telltale Signs.

Houston, who has been researching infidelity for the past 15 years, has even coined unique terms to describe the types of infidelity associated with these four trends, which she predicts will have a major impact on marriages and relationships in 2009 and beyond.

• work spouse infidelity
• internet-assisted infidelity
• media-motivated infidelity
• empty nest infidelity

Houston is a New York-based infidelity expert who is frequently called on by the media to comment on infidelity issues in the news, high profile infidelity court cases, celebrity infidelity and infidelity-relates breaking news. She has been quoted in USA Today, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, and numerous other print and online media; and has appeared on The Today Show, Good Morning America, CNN, Fox & Friends, Fox News, The Morning Show, BBC, CBC and over 480 other radio and TV shows worldwide.

Below are infidelity expert Ruth Houston's comments on four emerging infidelity trends.

Work Spouse Infidelity

Houston predicts that there will be a noteworthy increase in work spouse infidelity - workplace affairs which are an outgrowth of the work husband/work wife, or work spouse relationships which have become so common in the workplace today.

Says Houston, "For two years now, I've been sounding the alarm that work spouse relationships are not as benign as most people consider them to be. Research in this area is still relatively new, but as more studies are conducted on the long-term effects of work spouse relationships, it will become apparent that they are not so harmless after all. Unless certain precautions are put into place, today's work spouse relationship will quickly become tomorrow's workplace affair. The dual (sexual/emotional) bond that results from work spouse infidelity will undermine the marriage or committed relationship of the two work spouses involved."

Internet-Assisted Infidelity

In calling attention to the dominant role the internet plays in infidelity and extramarital affairs, Houston says, "In almost every episode of infidelity, the internet is involved in some way – either to initiate, facilitate, or maintain the illicit affair."

Houston continues, "The internet can be credited with creating a whole new category of infidelity - cyber cheating, or online affairs. At least 30% of these internet affairs go on to become actual physical or sexual affairs. "

Commenting on how the internet has changed the way cheaters locate willing mates, Houston says, "There are websites where any type of extramarital alliance can be arranged, from a one-night stand to a long-term affair. There are adult dating sites that exist solely for the purpose of connecting married men and women with others who want to cheat on their mates. A simple click of the mouse, gives these cheaters access to like-minded people from all over the world. The internet has removed all the risk. And by means of chat rooms, e-mail, and instant messaging, the internet helps these affair partners stay in touch."

Houston predicts that internet-assisted infidelity will continue to increase, because the internet has made it easy for anyone to cheat, at anytime.

Media-Motivated Infidelity

Houston also predicts a surge in what she calls 'media-motivated infidelity', saying, "Infidelity has always been a dominant theme in movies, soap operas, TV talk shows, magazine /newspaper articles, and novels. In fact, infidelity has now become a form of entertainment – a spectator sport. As the media continues to publicize, dramatize, sensationalize, and glamorize infidelity, and provide widespread coverage of cheaters from every walk of life -- young and old alike, male and female will be influenced by what they see. In the wake of news reports about everyone from presidents and politicians, to the guy next door having extramarital affairs –people have already begun to view infidelity as the norm, and many will be tempted to get in on the act."

Empty Nest Infidelity

Last but not least, Houston predicts an increase in what she calls "empty nest infidelity" - a form of infidelity among baby boomers which occurs after the children have left the nest.

Houston explains, "Once the children are gone, many baby boomer couples will realize that they've drifted apart over the years, and now have little or nothing in common with their marriage mate. In a significant number of these situations, empty nest infidelity will occur."

Houston says, "Given the current state of the economy, many boomer couples will be unable to afford a divorce. Others will reject divorce as an option because of strong family, community, or financial ties -- or because they're unwilling to give up their current lifestyle, or start over at this stage in their life. These boomer couples will continue to live together, but will enter into "empty nest affairs" -- without their spouse's knowledge, or by mutual consent."

Interview Ruth Houston about Other Emerging Infidelity Trends

These are only four of the infidelity trends that by Ruth Houston predicts will influence marriage and relationships in the year 2009, and beyond.

To interview infidelity expert Ruth Houston about other emerging infidelity trends,
call 718 592-6039 or e-mail InfidelityExpert@gmail.com

For more information, visit www.InfidelityAdvice.com or Ruth Houston's Infidelity News and Views Blog at http://infidelitynewsandviews.blogspot.com