A Global Survey of Sexual Behaviours
Abstract
Objective: To identify the variety of sexual behaviours undertaken by adults across the world.
Materials and methods: A global survey was undertaken using the internet to access 26,032 participants across 26 countries that completed a set of questions on line.
Results: Three in five people agreed that sex was important to them with nearly one in three strongly agreeing with the statement. Sex was important for both men and women and remains important as people grow older. Sixty nine percent of respondents agreed that sex is fun and that they enjoyed sex. Two thirds agreed that "a good sex life is a vital part of life" of which a third strongly agreed. In addition 56% of non-sexually active individuals agreed with the statement. Two thirds agreed that "sex is beneficial for your health and well being" of which a third strongly agree. Fifty three percent of non-sexually active people agreed as well.
Conclusion: Sex is important for people and contributes to their overall global well being.
Laumann EO, Gagnon JH, Michael RT, Michaels S. The social organization of sexuality: sexual practices in the United States, University of Chicago Press, Chicago 1994. Atkins DC, Dimidjian S, Jacobson NS. Why do people have affairs? Recent research and future directions about attributions for extramarital involvement. In Manusov VL
& Harvey HJH. (Eds) Attribution, communication behaviour, and close relationships. Cambridge University Press. 2001: 305-19.
Allen EB, Atkins DC, Baucom DH, Snyder DK, Gordon KC, Glass SP. Intrapersonal, interpersonal, and contextual factors in engaging in and responding to infidelity. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice 2005;12: 101— 30.
Coleman E. Promoting sexual health and responsible sexual behaviour. Journal of Sex Research 2002; 39: 3-6.
Dunn KM, Croft PR, Hackett GI. Satisfaction in the sex life of a general population sample. Journal of sex and marital therapy 2000; 26 :141-51.
Bancroft J, Janssen E, Strong D, Carnes L, Vukadinovic Z, Long JS. Sexual risk-taking in gay men: the relevance of sexual arousability, mood, and sensation seeking. Archives of sexual behaviour 2003; 32:555-72.
Laumann EO, Paik A, Glasser DB, Kang JH, Wang T, Levinson B, et al. A cross-national study of subjective well being among older men and women: findings from the global study of sexual attitudes and behaviours. Archieves of Sexual Behaviour 2006; 35:145- 61.
DeLamater J, Moorman SM. Sexual Behavior in Later Life. Journal of Aging and Health 2004; 6: 921- 45.
Burgess E .Sexuality in midlife and later life couples. In Harvey J.H., Wenzel A & Sprecher S (Eds) The Handbook of Sexuality in Close Relationships. Routledge 2004.
Lindau ST, Schumm LP, Laumann EO, Levinson W, O'Muircheartaigh CA, Waite LJ. A study of sexuality and health among older adults in the United States. New England Journal of Medicine 2007; 357:762-74.
Laumann EO, Nicolosi A, Glasser DB, Paik A, Gingell C, Moreira E, et al. GSSAB Investigators' Group. Sexual problems among women and men aged 40-80 y: prevalence and correlates identified in the Global Study of Sexual Attitudes and Behaviours. International Journal of Impotence Research 2005; 17:39-57.
Blanchflower DG, Oswald AJ. Money, Sex and Happiness: An Empirical Study Scandinavian Journal of Economics 2004; 106 : 393–415.
Vilarinho S, Nobre P. Portuguese women's sexuality and biopsychossocial determinants: a focus on sexual well- being. Sexologies 2008; 17: S149.
Wylie KR. Assessment and management of sexual problems in women. J R Soc Med 2007; 100: 547-50.
Wylie KR, DeColomby P, Giami A. Sexology as a profession in the United Kingdom. International Journal of Clinical Practice 2004; 58:764-8.
Macneil S, Byers S. The Relationships between Sexual Problems, Communication and Sexual Satisfaction. The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality 1997; 6: 277- 83. Santtila P, Wager I, Witting K, Harlaar N, Jern P, Johansson A, et al. Discrepancies between sexual desire and sexual activity: gender differences and associations with relationship satisfaction. J Sex Marital Ther 2008;34: 29-42.
Mulhall J, King R, Glina S, Hvidsten K. Importance of and satisfaction with sex among men and women worldwide: Results of the Global Better Sex Survey. J Sex Med 2008;5:788– 95.
Hulbert DR, Apt C. Female sexual desire, response, and behavior. Behavior Modification 1994; 18: 488-504. Davison JK, Darling CA. Self-perceived differences in the female orgasmic response. Family Practice Res J 1989;8:75-84.
Rosenzweig JM, Dailey DM. Dyadic adjustment/sexual satisfaction in women and men as a function of psychological sex role self-perception. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy 1989; 15:42-56.
Sanchez DT, Kiefer AK. Body concerns in and out of the bedroom: implications for sexual pleasure and problems. Archives of Sexual Behaviour 2007; 36: 808-20.
Snyder DK, Whisman MA. Treating distressed couples with coexisting mental and physical disorders; directions for clinical training and practice. Journal of Martial and Family Therapy 2004; 30: 1-12.
Baldwin JD, Baldwin JI. Gender differences in sexual interest. Achieves of Sexual Behaviour 1997; 26: 181-210. Boul L, Hallam-Jones R, Wylie KR. Sexual Pleasure And Motivation. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy 2009; 35:25-39.
Ryff CD, Dienberg Love G, Urry HL, Muller D, Rosenkranz MA, Friedman EM, et al. Psychological well- being and ill-being: do they have distinct or mirrored biological correlates? Psychotherapy Psychosomatic 2006;75: 85-95.
Basson R.Female sexual response: the role of drugs in the management of sexual dysfunction. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 2001; 98: 350-3.
Lewis RW, Fugl-Meyer KS, Bosch R, Fugl-Meyer AR, Laumann EO, Lizza E, et al. Epidemiology/Risk Factors of Sexual Dysfunction. The Journal of Sexual Medicine 2004; 1: 35–9.
Basson R, Leiblum S, Brotto L, Derogatis L, Fourcroy J, Fugl-Meyer K, et al. Revised definitions of women’s sexual dysfunction. Journal of Sexual Medicine 2004; 1:40- 8.
Schneidewind-Skibbe A, Hayes RD, Koochaki PE, Meyer J, Dennerstein L. The frequency of sexual intercourse
reported by women: a review of community-based studies and factors limiting their conclusions. Journal of Sexual Medicine 2008; 5: 301-35.
Files | ||
Issue | Vol 3, No 2 (June 2009) | |
Section | Original Articles | |
Keywords | ||
Global survey Sexual behaviour Well being |
Rights and permissions | |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |