Sex and Sleep: Perceptions of Sex as a Sleep Promoting Behavior in the General Adult Population
Objective: The main aim of this study was to explore the perceived relationship between sexual activities, sleep quality, and sleep latency in the general adult population and identify whether any gender differences exist.Participants/methods: We used a cross-sectional survey to examine the perceive...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2019-03-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpubh.2019.00033/full |
| _version_ | 1818446979403874304 |
|---|---|
| author | Michele Lastella Michele Lastella Catherine O'Mullan Jessica L. Paterson Jessica L. Paterson Amy C. Reynolds Amy C. Reynolds |
| author_facet | Michele Lastella Michele Lastella Catherine O'Mullan Jessica L. Paterson Jessica L. Paterson Amy C. Reynolds Amy C. Reynolds |
| author_sort | Michele Lastella |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective: The main aim of this study was to explore the perceived relationship between sexual activities, sleep quality, and sleep latency in the general adult population and identify whether any gender differences exist.Participants/methods: We used a cross-sectional survey to examine the perceived relationship between sexual activity and subsequent sleep in the general adult population. Seven-hundred and seventy-eight participants (442 females, 336 males; mean age 34.5 ± 11.4 years) volunteered to complete an online anonymous survey at their convenience.Statistical Analyses: Chi square analyses were conducted to examine if there were any gender differences between sexual activities [i.e., masturbation (self-stimulation), sex with a partner without orgasm, and sex with a partner with orgasm] and self-reported sleep.Results: There were no gender differences in sleep (quality and onset) between males and females when reporting sex with a partner [χ(2)2 = 2.20, p = 0.332; χ(2)2=5.73, p = 0.057] or masturbation (self-stimulation) [χ(2)2 = 1.34, p = 0.513; χ(2)2 = 0.89, p = 0.640] involved an orgasm.Conclusions: Orgasms with a partner were associated with the perception of favorable sleep outcomes, however, orgasms achieved through masturbation (self-stimulation) were associated with the perception of better sleep quality and latency. These findings indicate that the public perceive sexual activity with orgasm precedes improved sleep outcomes. Promoting safe sexual activity before bed may offer a novel behavioral strategy for promoting sleep. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T19:56:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dd1e6742cdb94d7b876a54639efebedf |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T19:56:19Z |
| publishDate | 2019-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-dd1e6742cdb94d7b876a54639efebedf2022-12-21T22:49:17ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652019-03-01710.3389/fpubh.2019.00033442331Sex and Sleep: Perceptions of Sex as a Sleep Promoting Behavior in the General Adult PopulationMichele Lastella0Michele Lastella1Catherine O'Mullan2Jessica L. Paterson3Jessica L. Paterson4Amy C. Reynolds5Amy C. Reynolds6Appleton Institute for Behavioural Science, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, QLD, AustraliaSchool of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, QLD, AustraliaSchool of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, QLD, AustraliaAppleton Institute for Behavioural Science, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, QLD, AustraliaSchool of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, QLD, AustraliaAppleton Institute for Behavioural Science, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, QLD, AustraliaSchool of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, QLD, AustraliaObjective: The main aim of this study was to explore the perceived relationship between sexual activities, sleep quality, and sleep latency in the general adult population and identify whether any gender differences exist.Participants/methods: We used a cross-sectional survey to examine the perceived relationship between sexual activity and subsequent sleep in the general adult population. Seven-hundred and seventy-eight participants (442 females, 336 males; mean age 34.5 ± 11.4 years) volunteered to complete an online anonymous survey at their convenience.Statistical Analyses: Chi square analyses were conducted to examine if there were any gender differences between sexual activities [i.e., masturbation (self-stimulation), sex with a partner without orgasm, and sex with a partner with orgasm] and self-reported sleep.Results: There were no gender differences in sleep (quality and onset) between males and females when reporting sex with a partner [χ(2)2 = 2.20, p = 0.332; χ(2)2=5.73, p = 0.057] or masturbation (self-stimulation) [χ(2)2 = 1.34, p = 0.513; χ(2)2 = 0.89, p = 0.640] involved an orgasm.Conclusions: Orgasms with a partner were associated with the perception of favorable sleep outcomes, however, orgasms achieved through masturbation (self-stimulation) were associated with the perception of better sleep quality and latency. These findings indicate that the public perceive sexual activity with orgasm precedes improved sleep outcomes. Promoting safe sexual activity before bed may offer a novel behavioral strategy for promoting sleep.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpubh.2019.00033/fullbedtimeorgasmmasturbationgenderbehaviorsex |
| spellingShingle | Michele Lastella Michele Lastella Catherine O'Mullan Jessica L. Paterson Jessica L. Paterson Amy C. Reynolds Amy C. Reynolds Sex and Sleep: Perceptions of Sex as a Sleep Promoting Behavior in the General Adult Population Frontiers in Public Health bedtime orgasm masturbation gender behavior sex |
| title | Sex and Sleep: Perceptions of Sex as a Sleep Promoting Behavior in the General Adult Population |
| title_full | Sex and Sleep: Perceptions of Sex as a Sleep Promoting Behavior in the General Adult Population |
| title_fullStr | Sex and Sleep: Perceptions of Sex as a Sleep Promoting Behavior in the General Adult Population |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sex and Sleep: Perceptions of Sex as a Sleep Promoting Behavior in the General Adult Population |
| title_short | Sex and Sleep: Perceptions of Sex as a Sleep Promoting Behavior in the General Adult Population |
| title_sort | sex and sleep perceptions of sex as a sleep promoting behavior in the general adult population |
| topic | bedtime orgasm masturbation gender behavior sex |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpubh.2019.00033/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT michelelastella sexandsleepperceptionsofsexasasleeppromotingbehaviorinthegeneraladultpopulation AT michelelastella sexandsleepperceptionsofsexasasleeppromotingbehaviorinthegeneraladultpopulation AT catherineomullan sexandsleepperceptionsofsexasasleeppromotingbehaviorinthegeneraladultpopulation AT jessicalpaterson sexandsleepperceptionsofsexasasleeppromotingbehaviorinthegeneraladultpopulation AT jessicalpaterson sexandsleepperceptionsofsexasasleeppromotingbehaviorinthegeneraladultpopulation AT amycreynolds sexandsleepperceptionsofsexasasleeppromotingbehaviorinthegeneraladultpopulation AT amycreynolds sexandsleepperceptionsofsexasasleeppromotingbehaviorinthegeneraladultpopulation |