CHICAGO (Reuters Health) - While it might not necessarily lead to cheating, any increase in a man's roving eye could signal an ebb in desire for his current mate, researchers report.

A study focused on men's appraisals of women's physiques found that they are "more tuned into others when their own relationships aren't as passionate," said Dr. Regan Gurung of the University of Wisconsin in Green Bay.

Researchers who study the psychology of sexual attraction have long known that men spend a large amount of time scanning their environment for suitable mates. But does the nature of this "scoping" change according to current relationship quality?

In their study, Gurung's team had 48 women and 42 men--all currently in relationships--complete questionnaires designed to measure levels of relationship commitment, satisfaction, passion, intimacy and likelihood of cheating. They then were asked to rate the attractiveness of 12 young adult females of various body shapes.

The result? Men who tested low on the passion and intimacy sections of the relationship questionnaire consistently rated women higher in attractiveness, compared with men who said they were satisfied with the level of romance in their relationship.

Gurung presented the findings here Thursday at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association.

Speaking with Reuters Health, the Wisconsin researcher theorized that some men may at least be toying with the idea of cheating as they check out women. Men who tested as "more likely to cheat" on the relationship questionnaire tended to give women especially high marks for sex appeal, Gurung noted.

"They're thinking, 'You know what? I'm not that psyched with what I have--yeah, she looks good,"' he said. Not surprisingly, levels of sexual arousal also rose as men checked out women.

In a more unexpected finding, the researchers found that heterosexual women's ratings of other women's attractiveness may be influenced by current relationship quality as well.

While women in "low-passion" relationships tended to give other women high grades for sexiness, women in more satisfying relationships gave the same women just so-so marks. Gurung speculates that romantic happiness may help women feel more attractive--and less threatened--in relation to other women.

Gurung stressed that a roving eye does not necessarily mean that a man is seriously considering cheating or ending a relationship. Many of the men who wished for more passion in their relationship also told the researchers they remained fully committed to their mate, and were generally satisfied with the relationship.

"This study shows that even men who are very satisfied could still be looking at other women," Gurung said. The study "gives us good suggestions for things we should be watching out for," he said, "but it's not saying 'dump your boyfriend if he looks at someone else."'

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