Men and women may experience jealousy differently, particularly when it comes to sexual and emotional infidelity, according to a study conducted by researchers at Chapman University.

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Published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior in 2015, the research surveyed approximately 65,000 American adults. Participants were asked which situation would upset them more: their partner having sex with someone else without developing romantic feelings, or falling in love with another person without becoming physically involved.

The findings showed a difference among heterosexual respondents. Around 54% of heterosexual men said sexual infidelity would be more upsetting, compared with 35% of heterosexual women. In contrast, 65% of heterosexual women considered emotional infidelity more upsetting, while 46% of heterosexual men shared that view.

The researchers also found that bisexual men and women showed relatively little difference in their responses. Similar patterns were observed among gay men and lesbians, suggesting that the differences were particularly pronounced among heterosexual participants.

Lead researcher David Frederick said heterosexual men stood out from the other groups because they were more likely to report greater distress over sexual rather than emotional infidelity.

The study discussed evolutionary explanations for the findings, including the concept of paternal uncertainty. Researchers also reported that the patterns remained broadly consistent across factors such as age, income, relationship length and previous experiences of infidelity. Younger participants, however, were more likely than older respondents to be troubled by sexual infidelity.

The findings highlight differences in how people interpret relationship betrayal, while also showing that responses to infidelity are not the same across all sexual orientation groups.