A recent study investigated the extent to which sexual activity, including sex with a partner and masturbation (with or without orgasm), affects sleep latency and sleep quality. After examining 14-day diaries, the researchers found that only orgasmic partner sex was associated with shorter sleep onset times and better sleep quality. This research sleep research journal.
About 30% of the population experiences symptoms of insomnia, and only 6% meet the diagnostic criteria. Given that sleep deprivation negatively impacts the health and quality of life of large segments of the population, researchers are interested in studying what might improve sleep.
In this study, Carlotta Florentine Oesterling and colleagues recruited 256 participants to study the effects of sexual activity on sleep. Participants received daily email reminders. It also included a link to her 14-day personalized questionnaire, which she completed upon waking up in the morning.
Cross-sectional studies included questionnaires on demographic characteristics, mental health or sleep disturbances, sexual dysfunction, medication, alcohol or caffeine intake. Insomnia was assessed using the Insomnia Severity Index, a 7-item questionnaire. Participants retrospectively perceived how sexual activity (including intercourse and masturbation with or without orgasm) affected sleep latency and quality using an 8-item questionnaire I evaluated how well I did.
After the cross-sectional study, participants kept a daily diary for 14 days. This includes a core consensus sleep diary, alcohol intake, menstruation, and items that measure any unusual events in the last 24 hours that may have affected your sleep. Participants also indicated whether they had been sexually active and, if so, completed a nine-item questionnaire detailing their sexual activity.
On the final day, participants also completed questionnaires assessing honesty, social desirability, incidence of life-changing events, and the impact of participation in the study on sexual activity and sleep.
Cross-sectional data revealed that partner sex and masturbation with orgasm were perceived to reduce the time it took to fall asleep and improve the quality of sleep in both men and women. In addition, both men and women reported that sex with a partner without orgasm and masturbation increased sleep latency and decreased sleep quality, and the effects were reported to be stronger in men.
However, the results of longitudinal studies are somewhat different. Orgasmic partner sex decreased sleep latency and improved sleep quality, whereas orgasmic masturbation did not affect sleep. Similarly, partner sex or masturbation without orgasm did not affect sleep in either direction. In addition, longitudinal data showed gender differences.
A limitation of this study is its reliance on a Dutch university student sample. Given the young population and cultural differences in understanding of sexuality, future studies should collect a more diverse sample.
the study, “Effects of Sexual Activity on Sleep: A Diary StudyThe authors are Carlotta Florentine Osterling, Charmaine Borg, Elina Juhora and Marique Lansel.
