A recent study examined the extent to which sexual activity, including partnered sex and masturbation (with or without orgasm), had an effect on sleep latency and quality. Across a 14-day diary, the researchers found that only partnered sex with orgasm was associated with less time to fall asleep and improved sleep quality. This study was published in the Journal of Sleep Research.
Approximately 30% of the population experiences symptoms of insomnia, while 6% meet the diagnostic criteria. Given poor sleep negatively affects the health and quality of life of a large proportion of the population, researchers are interested in studying what may improve sleep.
In this work, Carlotta Florentine Oesterling and colleagues recruited 256 participants to study the effects of sexual activity on sleep. Participants received a daily email reminder, which also included an individualized survey link for 14 days that they completed upon waking up in the morning.
The cross-sectional study included a questionnaire on demographic characteristics, mental health or sleep disorders, sexual dysfunction, medication, and alcohol or caffeine consumption. Insomnia was assessed using the Insomnia Severity Index, which is a seven item questionnaire. An eight item questionnaire was used to assess how participants retrospectively perceived sexual activity (including intercourse and masturbation both with and without orgasm) impacted their sleep latency and quality.
After the cross-sectional study, participants kept a daily diary for 14 days. This included the Core Consensus Sleep Diary, items measuring alcohol use, menstruation, and unusual events in the past 24 hours that could have influenced sleep. Participants also indicated whether they had engaged in sexual activity, and if so, they responded to a nine item questionnaire for more details.
On the last day, participants also responded to items assessing honesty, social desirability, occurrence of life-altering events, and the perceived influence of participating in this research on their sexual activity and sleep.
The cross-sectional data revealed that partnered sex and masturbation with orgasm were perceived to reduce how long it took to fall asleep, and increased sleep quality in both men and women. Both sexes also reported that partnered sex and masturbation without orgasm increased sleep latency and decreased sleep quality, with a stronger effect among men.
However, the results of the longitudinal study slightly differ. While partnered sex with orgasm reduced sleep latency and improved sleep quality, masturbation with orgasm had no effect on sleep. As well, partnered sex and masturbation without orgasm did not influence sleep in either direction. Further, sex differences emerged in the longitudinal data.
A limitation to this research is that it relied on a student sample from a Dutch University. Given the young population, and that sexuality is understood differently across cultures, future research ought to recruit a more diverse sample.
The study, “The influence of sexual activity on sleep: A diary study”, was authored by Carlotta Florentine Oesterling, Charmaine Borg, Elina Juhola, and Marike Lancel.