Young adults engaging in casual sex don’t seem to be at increased risk for harmful psychological outcomes as compared to sexually active young adults in more committed relationships, claims a University of Minnesota study.
The study deals with only psychological harm. Precious research of 16,000 adult Americans by David Blanchflower has correlated the highest levels of happiness with high levels of sexual activity with one partner.
The Minnesota study, published in the December 2009 issue of “Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health,” used data from Project EAT (Eating Among Teens), an ongoing study that assessed a diverse sample of 1,311 sexually active young adults.
Marla E. Eisenberg, University of Minnesota (UM) Medical School and colleagues reviewed 1,311 sexually active young adults, 574 males and 737 females aged an average age of 20.5 years from 2003-2004. They were surveyed regarding sexual behaviors and emotional well-being.
Scores of psychological well-being tests were generally consistent across sex partner categories, with no significant associations between partner type and well-being were found in adjusted analyses.
Of the sexually active respondents, 55 percent reported that their last sexual partner was an exclusive dating partner followed by 25 percent whose most recent partner was a fiance, spouse, or life partner, a UM release said.
12 percent reported their last sexual partner was a close but not exclusive and eight percent a casual acquaintance.
casual acquaintance or close but nonexclusive partner). Casual partnerships were more common among men than among women (vs.), and the proportions of male and female respondents reporting a recent casual partner diff ered by race or ethnicity. Scores of psychological well-being were generally consistent across sex partner categories, and no significant associations between partner type and well-being were found in adjusted analyses.
29% of males and 14% of females reported that their last partner was either a “casual acquaintance” or “close but not exclusive partner”.
The proportions of male and female respondents reporting a recent casual partner differed by race or ethnicity.
“While the findings from this study show that young adults engaging in casual sexual encounters do not appear to be at increased risk for harmful psychological outcomes compared to those in more committed relationships, this should not minimize the legitimate threats to physical well-being associated with casual sexual relationships, and the need for such messages in sexuality education programs and other interventions with young adults,” said Eisenberg.
Project EAT was primarily designed to investigate the factors influencing eating habits of adolescents, to determine if youth are meeting national dietary recommendations, and to explore dieting and physical activity patterns among youth.
Although the study did not find psychological damage, a study from the University of Atlanta revealed thatnegative emotional experinces were more likely in less mature youths.
It would be interesting to study the psychological impact of long term relationships on maturation and personal responsibility and measures of shared intimacy between couples.
