PMID: 11329726May 2, 2001Paper

Which behaviors constitute "having sex" among university students in the UK?

Archives of Sexual Behavior
M Pitts, Q Rahman

Abstract

The aim of this study was to establish which behaviors were considered to constitute sexual relations and to compare a group of undergraduates in the UK with a group in the US. An opportunistic sample of 190 female and 124 male UK undergraduate university students was surveyed by questionnaire. The main outcome measure was percentage of responses to 11 different behaviors believed to constitute "having sex." The majority of respondents regarded having sex as involving penile-vaginal and penile-anal intercourse. One-third of respondents regarded oral-genital contact as having sex, around 17% regarded touching genitals, whilst 6% regarded oral or other touching of breasts and nipples as constituting having sex. There were significant gender- and age-related differences in responses. These findings broadly support the findings of an earlier US study. It is clear that British students hold divergent opinions about which behaviors do and do not constitute having sex. The age-related trends merit further exploration. Any studies of sex-related behaviors need to specify precisely which are encompassed by the terms used.

Citations

Sep 20, 2007·Journal of Sex Research·Zoe D Peterson, Charlene L Muehlenhard
Jun 30, 2007·Journal of Sex Research·Juliet RichtersAnthony Smith
Oct 19, 2007·The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews·K UnderhillP Montgomery
Jan 22, 2008·Archives of Sexual Behavior·E Sandra ByersKristina M Hobson
Jun 24, 2008·Journal of Sex Research·Carlos J Velez-Blasini
Aug 20, 2011·Sexual Health·Eva MalacovaBasil Donovan
Apr 20, 2014·Journal of Sex Research·Kelsey K Sewell, Donald S Strassberg
Feb 7, 2008·The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews·K UnderhillD Operario
Jul 25, 2009·Archives of Sexual Behavior·Jiun-Hau HuangJeffrey L Derevensky
Jan 9, 2013·Archives of Sexual Behavior·Spencer B OlmsteadFrank D Fincham
Mar 10, 2017·Journal of Sex Research·Kimberly R McBrideJune M Reinisch
Dec 31, 2003·Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health·Chris E RisselAnthony M A Smith
Feb 16, 2010·Sexual Health·Stephanie A SandersRobin R Milhausen
May 31, 2019·Culture, Health & Sexuality·Jessamyn BowlingDebby Herbenick
Dec 20, 2005·Archives of Sexual Behavior·Sara B OswaltJeffrey J Koob
Feb 22, 2012·Sexual Health·Cynthia A Graham

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