Sex in Australia: Sexual difficulties in a representative sample of adults
Abstract Objectives : The Australian Study of Health and Relationships reports on sexual behaviours in a representative sample of Australian adults. Method Between May 2000 and June 2001, computer‐assisted telephone interviews were completed by a representative sample of 10,173 men and 9,134 women a...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2003-04-01
|
| Series: | Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-842X.2003.tb00804.x |
| _version_ | 1827886334907252736 |
|---|---|
| author | Juliet Richters Andrew E. Grulich Richard O. deVisser Anthony M.A. Smith Chris E. Rissel |
| author_facet | Juliet Richters Andrew E. Grulich Richard O. deVisser Anthony M.A. Smith Chris E. Rissel |
| author_sort | Juliet Richters |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Objectives : The Australian Study of Health and Relationships reports on sexual behaviours in a representative sample of Australian adults. Method Between May 2000 and June 2001, computer‐assisted telephone interviews were completed by a representative sample of 10,173 men and 9,134 women aged 16 to 59 years (response rate 73.1%). Respondents were asked whether in the past year they had for a period of at least one month experienced a range of sexual difficulties. Results : The most common sexual difficulty was lack of interest in having sex (24.9% men, 54.8% women). Women were more likely than men to report being unable to come to orgasm (28.6% vs. 6.3%), not finding sex pleasurable (27.3% vs. 5.6%), physical pain during intercourse (20.3% vs. 2.4%) or worrying during sex about their body looking unattractive (35.9% vs. 14.2%). Men were more likely to report coming to orgasm too quickly (23.8% vs. 11.7%). Men (16.0%) and women (17.0%) were equally likely to have felt anxious about their ability to perform sexually. Erectile difficulties and lack of interest in sex were higher among the over‐40s. Anxiety about performance was highest among men under 20. Experience of sexual difficulties correlated with self‐reported ill health. Conclusion The assumption that everyone should be interested in sex, should want to have it and should enjoy having it is a socially normative prescription and not a description of the actual state of affairs. Women reported less interest in sex, less pleasure and more pain than men. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T20:01:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a32a81faee3c42e9aadac4ff95becdf8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1326-0200 1753-6405 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T20:01:02Z |
| publishDate | 2003-04-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-a32a81faee3c42e9aadac4ff95becdf82023-08-02T02:26:29ZengElsevierAustralian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health1326-02001753-64052003-04-0127216417010.1111/j.1467-842X.2003.tb00804.xSex in Australia: Sexual difficulties in a representative sample of adultsJuliet Richters0Andrew E. Grulich1Richard O. deVisser2Anthony M.A. Smith3Chris E. Rissel4National Centre in HIV Social Research, University of New South WalesNational Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research, University of New South WalesAustralian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University, VictoriaAustralian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University, VictoriaHealth Promotion Unit, Central Sydney Area Health Service, and Australian Centre for Health Promotion, University of SydneyAbstract Objectives : The Australian Study of Health and Relationships reports on sexual behaviours in a representative sample of Australian adults. Method Between May 2000 and June 2001, computer‐assisted telephone interviews were completed by a representative sample of 10,173 men and 9,134 women aged 16 to 59 years (response rate 73.1%). Respondents were asked whether in the past year they had for a period of at least one month experienced a range of sexual difficulties. Results : The most common sexual difficulty was lack of interest in having sex (24.9% men, 54.8% women). Women were more likely than men to report being unable to come to orgasm (28.6% vs. 6.3%), not finding sex pleasurable (27.3% vs. 5.6%), physical pain during intercourse (20.3% vs. 2.4%) or worrying during sex about their body looking unattractive (35.9% vs. 14.2%). Men were more likely to report coming to orgasm too quickly (23.8% vs. 11.7%). Men (16.0%) and women (17.0%) were equally likely to have felt anxious about their ability to perform sexually. Erectile difficulties and lack of interest in sex were higher among the over‐40s. Anxiety about performance was highest among men under 20. Experience of sexual difficulties correlated with self‐reported ill health. Conclusion The assumption that everyone should be interested in sex, should want to have it and should enjoy having it is a socially normative prescription and not a description of the actual state of affairs. Women reported less interest in sex, less pleasure and more pain than men.https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-842X.2003.tb00804.x |
| spellingShingle | Juliet Richters Andrew E. Grulich Richard O. deVisser Anthony M.A. Smith Chris E. Rissel Sex in Australia: Sexual difficulties in a representative sample of adults Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health |
| title | Sex in Australia: Sexual difficulties in a representative sample of adults |
| title_full | Sex in Australia: Sexual difficulties in a representative sample of adults |
| title_fullStr | Sex in Australia: Sexual difficulties in a representative sample of adults |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sex in Australia: Sexual difficulties in a representative sample of adults |
| title_short | Sex in Australia: Sexual difficulties in a representative sample of adults |
| title_sort | sex in australia sexual difficulties in a representative sample of adults |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-842X.2003.tb00804.x |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT julietrichters sexinaustraliasexualdifficultiesinarepresentativesampleofadults AT andrewegrulich sexinaustraliasexualdifficultiesinarepresentativesampleofadults AT richardodevisser sexinaustraliasexualdifficultiesinarepresentativesampleofadults AT anthonymasmith sexinaustraliasexualdifficultiesinarepresentativesampleofadults AT chriserissel sexinaustraliasexualdifficultiesinarepresentativesampleofadults |