09 Mar Too Busy? Too Tired? Not in a Relationship? Why are Americans Having Less Sex?

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:

Dr. Brooke Wells

Brooke E. Wells, Ph.D.
Associate Professor & PhD Program Director
Center for Human Sexuality Studies
Widener University
One University Place
Chester, PA 19013

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?

Response: It is widely believed that Americans today are more sexually liberated and open than ever before. While research indicates that Americans do indeed have more liberal attitudes about a range of sexual behaviors, Americans are actually reporting fewer sexual partners and higher rates of adult sexual abstinence. But are Americans reporting similar levels of sexual frequency with fewer partners? Our research set out to examine changes over time in sexual frequency to better understand our changing sexual landscape.

MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?

Response: We found that Americans are having sex less frequently than in previous generations—an average of about 9 fewer times a year in 2010-2014 compared to 2000-2004. The decline can be explained, in part, by fewer people who are in relationships and less frequent sex among those who are in relationships. Surprisingly, work hours did not explain the decline. In fact, those who worked more hours actually reported more frequent sex. However, the study did not examine time spent connected to work outside of work hours, or screen time, both of which may negatively impact sexual frequency. We also found that pornography consumption did not explain the decline, with those who had watched a pornographic movie reporting more frequent sex than those who had not. Finally, similar to other research, we found that older people reported less frequent sex than younger people.

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Response: Americans are having sex less frequently than in previous generations, which is driven by fewer people in relationships and less frequent sex among those who are in relationships. It’s unclear how this trend relates to other trends over time, such as declines in happiness, increases in screen time, rising individualism, socioeconomic gains that facilitate financial independence, or socioeconomic burdens that may prevent romantic partnering.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Response: To fully understand these trends, future research should examine the potential role of screen time on sexual frequency, in addition to other demographic characteristics, such as socioeconomic factors or sexual and gender identity. Because dissatisfaction with sexual frequency is one of the primary concerns of couples seeking counseling, it is important to better understand the sociocultural factors that may contribute to reports of low sexual frequency or to partner differences in desired sexual frequency. 

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Citation:

Jean M. Twenge, Ryne A. Sherman, Brooke E. Wells. Declines in Sexual Frequency among American Adults, 1989–2014 Archives of Sexual Behavior, 2017; DOI: 10.1007/s10508-017-0953-1

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Last Updated on March 9, 2017 by Marie Benz MD FAAD