Watch out for those silver foxes, as a study this week reports that the likelihood of a man having had an affair peaks at age 55. For a woman, the peak is 45. The research, conducted by scientists at the University of New Hampshire, investigated the reasons why people cheat on their spouses.

According to the study, which analysed data from a US nationwide survey in which respondents admitted whether they or their partner had ever cheated, the different “peaks of infidelity” centre on the ability to bear children.

“The reproductive benefits of an affair expend farther into a man’s lifetime than a woman’s,” say the researchers.

As well as revealing that a man is 7 per cent more likely to have an affair than a woman, the paper also found that a woman calculates the cost benefits before hopping into bed with another man. She assesses his financial stability, education and fathering skills. A man, however, does not undertake such lengthy evaluations, say the researchers.

Being posh and clever also influences the likelihood of whether you’ll have an extra-marital fling. According to the paper, an upper-class woman is 8 per cent more likely to be unfaithful than a middle or lower-class woman.

Men from all social standings are equally likely to have an affair; but those with a university degree are 3 per cent less likely to cheat.

And a woman who is married to a university-educated man is also less likely to embark on extra-curricular activity because the financial loss will be too high.

“If a couple divorces, a woman married to a highly-educated man will lose income and may not be able to find another partner of similar quality. However, men \ act as if this consideration is not important,” the New Hampshire team says.

The team also assessed whether religion played a role. While a religious woman is less likely to play away, a devout man is just as likely to have an affair as one who is not religious.

So is marriage good for your health? Well, despite previous research showing that married people are healthier than singletons, another new study this week suggests that the health gap is closing.

This may be because single people have greater access to resources and social support. Or perhaps it’s just because they’re having more fun?

Times recommends

• Live fashion chat: How to stay warm and chic
• How I lost the gift of joy for a while
• The A-Z of winter style rules