TY - JOUR
T1 - Characteristics of heterosexual regular relationships among a representative sample of adults
T2 - The Second Australian Study of Health and Relationships
AU - Badcock, Paul B.
AU - Smith, Anthony M.A.
AU - Richters, Juliet
AU - Rissel, Chris
AU - De Visser, Richard O.
AU - Simpson, Judy M.
AU - Grulich, Andrew E.
PY - 2014/11/7
Y1 - 2014/11/7
N2 - Background: The aim of this study was to describe important characteristics of Australian adults' heterosexual regular sexual relationships and examine how these characteristics have changed since 2002. Methods: Computer-assisted landline and mobile telephone interviews were completed by a representative sample of 20 094 Australian residents aged 16-69 years. The participation rate among eligible people was 66.2%. Data were collected on respondents' social and demographic characteristics, relationship status and duration, cohabitation status, partner's age, contraception use, expectations about sexual exclusivity, sexual partners in the previous year, actual and ideal frequencies of sex and levels of physical pleasure and emotional satisfaction in their relationships. Results: Most sexually active respondents 89%; 74% of all respondents, were in a heterosexual regular relationship. Most (97%) expected sexual exclusivity in their relationships, with 3% reporting extradyadic sex in the previous year. Respondents reported an average frequency of sex of 1.44 times per week, with most reporting very high levels of physical pleasure (men, 88%; women, 76%) and emotional satisfaction (men, 86%; women, 84%) in their relationships. Comparisons with data from the First Australian Study of Health and Relationships revealed that significantly more sexually active men were in a relationship in the current survey; that respondents' average frequency of sex was significantly lower; and that women's reports of extreme emotional satisfaction had risen. Otherwise, results were consistent with those of the first study. Conclusions: In general, results suggested that the characteristics of Australians' heterosexual relationships changed little between 2002 and 2013. Despite a decline in respondents' average weekly frequency of sex, the majority of respondents reported being in a highly satisfying, sexually exclusive relationship.
AB - Background: The aim of this study was to describe important characteristics of Australian adults' heterosexual regular sexual relationships and examine how these characteristics have changed since 2002. Methods: Computer-assisted landline and mobile telephone interviews were completed by a representative sample of 20 094 Australian residents aged 16-69 years. The participation rate among eligible people was 66.2%. Data were collected on respondents' social and demographic characteristics, relationship status and duration, cohabitation status, partner's age, contraception use, expectations about sexual exclusivity, sexual partners in the previous year, actual and ideal frequencies of sex and levels of physical pleasure and emotional satisfaction in their relationships. Results: Most sexually active respondents 89%; 74% of all respondents, were in a heterosexual regular relationship. Most (97%) expected sexual exclusivity in their relationships, with 3% reporting extradyadic sex in the previous year. Respondents reported an average frequency of sex of 1.44 times per week, with most reporting very high levels of physical pleasure (men, 88%; women, 76%) and emotional satisfaction (men, 86%; women, 84%) in their relationships. Comparisons with data from the First Australian Study of Health and Relationships revealed that significantly more sexually active men were in a relationship in the current survey; that respondents' average frequency of sex was significantly lower; and that women's reports of extreme emotional satisfaction had risen. Otherwise, results were consistent with those of the first study. Conclusions: In general, results suggested that the characteristics of Australians' heterosexual relationships changed little between 2002 and 2013. Despite a decline in respondents' average weekly frequency of sex, the majority of respondents reported being in a highly satisfying, sexually exclusive relationship.
KW - Frequency of sex
KW - Relationship satisfaction
KW - Sexual exclusivity
KW - Sexual health
KW - Sexual infidelity
KW - Sexual satisfaction.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84910095412&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://purl.org/au-research/grants/NHMRC/1002174
U2 - 10.1071/SH14114
DO - 10.1071/SH14114
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84910095412
SN - 1448-5028
VL - 11
SP - 427
EP - 438
JO - Sexual Health
JF - Sexual Health
IS - 5
ER -