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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Sleep Sci 2022; 15(S 01): 80-88
DOI: 10.5935/1984-0063.20220005
ORIGINAL ARTICLES

Sleeping together: understanding the association between relationship type, sexual activity, and sleep

Madeline Sprajcer
1   Central Queensland University, Appleton Institute - Adelaide - South Australia - Australia.
,
Catherine O’Mullan
2   Central Queensland University, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences - Bundaberg - Queensland - Australia.
,
Amy Reynolds
3   Flinders University, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute (Sleep Health) - Bedford Park - South Australia - Australia.
,
Jessica L. Paterson
1   Central Queensland University, Appleton Institute - Adelaide - South Australia - Australia.
,
Alysa Bachmann
1   Central Queensland University, Appleton Institute - Adelaide - South Australia - Australia.
,
Michele Lastella
1   Central Queensland University, Appleton Institute - Adelaide - South Australia - Australia.
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Objective Insufficient sleep, and particularly difficulties initiating sleep, are prevalent in the community. Treatment for poor sleep typically consists of pharmacological intervention, or cognitive behavioural therapies - which can be both costly and time-consuming. Evidence suggests that sexual activities may positively impact sleep. However, little is known about relationship types, sexual activities, and perceived sleep outcomes. The aim of this study was to explore the association between relationship type (e.g., having a regular, occasional, or casual partner), sexual activity and satisfaction, and perceived sleep outcomes, to identify potential strategies to improve sleep.

Methods Seven-hundred and seventy-eight participants aged 18 years and over (442 females, 336 males; mean age 34.5 ± 11.4 years) responded to a cross-sectional online anonymous survey at their convenience. Participants were asked about their sleep, sexual activity and satisfaction, and relationship type.

Results Results from multiple regression analyses with age and gender covariates revealed that shorter sleep latencies were associated with regular relationships (p = 0.030), greater emotional satisfaction with sexual activity (p = 0.029), and increased frequency of orgasm (p < 0.001). Men reported a greater frequency of orgasm than women (p < 0.001).

Discussion Findings indicate that relationship type may be associated with improved sleep outcomes, including sleep latency. Relationship type should therefore be taken into consideration by clinicians when developing treatment plans for individuals with poor sleep.

Sexual Behavior - Family Relations - Orgasm - Sleep


Publication History

Received: 13 April 2021

Accepted: 20 July 2021

Article published online:
01 December 2023

© 2023. Brazilian Sleep Association. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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