Men in relationships have better sexual functioning, regardless of sexual orientation, study finds

A new study published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior has found that men in relationships experience higher levels of sexual functioning compared to their single counterparts, regardless of sexual orientation. The research also revealed that sociosexuality—individuals’ openness to casual sexual encounters—only weakly predicts variations in sexual function. These findings suggest that male sexual functioning may be more closely aligned with long-term relationship maintenance than short-term mating strategies.

To address gaps in previous research, the authors of new study aimed to explore the relationship between male sexual functioning, mating strategies, sociosexuality, and sexual orientation. They hypothesized that men in relationships would exhibit better sexual performance due to its role in maintaining stable partnerships, while sociosexuality might predict sexual functioning due to their experience with diverse partners. By including men of diverse sexual orientations, the study sought to clarify whether male sexual functioning is a universal or variable aspect of human mating psychology.

“Sexual function in sexual minorities remains underexplored, as most studies tend to focus on heterosexual populations. Often, the interest in investigating evolutionary hypotheses places greater emphasis on heterosexual individuals. However, a deeper understanding of the evolution of sexual behavior can only be achieved by including data on individual differences, such as people’s sexual orientation,” said study author Mauro Silva Júnior, an assistant professor at the University of Brasília.

“Moreover, sexual function has a strong evolutionary component, as it is a necessary condition for reproduction. Even though non-heterosexual individuals may not engage in relationships leading to reproduction, they possess all the psychological and physiological mechanisms for it. Therefore, investigating men of any sexual orientation is an important step in understanding the variables associated with better or worse sexual function.”

The researchers recruited 427 healthy Brazilian men from diverse cities across the country. Participants ranged in age from 18 to 65, with an average age of 28.8 years. They represented various sexual orientations, including 203 heterosexuals, 77 bisexuals, and 147 gay men. Participants were carefully screened to exclude those with health conditions or treatments known to affect sexual functioning, ensuring the sample reflected a non-clinical population.

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The men completed several questionnaires, including the Male Sexual Function Index, which evaluates sexual functioning across five domains: desire, arousal, erection, orgasm, and satisfaction. To assess sociosexuality, participants also completed a survey measuring their attitudes, behaviors, and desires related to casual sex. Relationship status was categorized as “partnered” (including those who were married or dating) or “single” (including single and divorced men).

The researchers found that men in relationships reported higher levels of sexual arousal, erection quality, orgasm frequency, and satisfaction compared to single men. These results suggest that being in a stable relationship provides a context that enhances male sexual functioning. In contrast, sociosexuality had only weak associations with sexual functioning. For instance, men with more liberal attitudes toward casual sex reported slightly better erectile functioning, but sociosexual behaviors, such as the number of casual partners, showed no significant impact on sexual function.

“I was surprised that sociosexuality, the willingness to engage in casual sex, turned out to be a poor predictor of sexual function,” Silva Júnior told PsyPost. “I expected a different result because sociosexuality is one of the components of short-term sexual strategies and, as such, is associated with a range of other psychological characteristics important for these strategies, such as sexual disgust, extradyadic relationships, and risky sexual behavior.”

Sexual orientation also had little influence on male sexual functioning. While bisexual men reported slightly lower arousal levels than heterosexual and gay men, these differences were minimal and did not extend to other aspects of sexual functioning. Overall, sexual orientation was not a strong predictor of sexual performance, supporting the idea that male sexual functioning is a universal aspect of human mating psychology.

The researchers interpreted these findings through an evolutionary lens. Long-term relationships may provide an environment conducive to sexual and emotional intimacy, which enhances sexual functioning. This aligns with the theory that mate retention strategies are supported by mechanisms like improved sexual performance, ensuring relationship stability and reproductive success.

“I believe the main message of the study is that sexual function was associated with being in a romantic relationship rather than being single or having multiple romantic partners—regardless of sexual orientation,” Silva Júnior explained. “We hypothesize that this occurs because, although humans reproduce through various sexual strategies, the primary strategy is undoubtedly through building and maintaining long-term relationships. In such relationships, it is more likely to find greater intimacy and comfort during sex, less performance-related anxiety, and fewer uncertainties about the preferences of partners with whom we have little or no prior experience.”

While the study provides valuable insights, it is not without limitations. The sample predominantly consisted of young, white, and relatively well-educated individuals, which may limit the generalizability of the findings to other populations. Additionally, the study relied on self-reported data, which can be influenced by social desirability and recall biases.

The cross-sectional design also prevents causal conclusions. For example, it remains unclear whether being in a relationship enhances sexual functioning or whether men with better sexual performance are more likely to enter and maintain relationships. Future longitudinal studies could address this question by tracking changes in sexual functioning over time.

“The primary goal of this research is to investigate the similarities and differences among men of various sexual orientations,” Silva Júnior said. “While some studies tend to emphasize differences in sexual psychology, particularly due to the discrimination that gay and bisexual men still face, another perspective suggests that, despite these cultural differences, gay and bisexual men are men just like heterosexuals. They share the same psychological traits that were selected over millions of years.

“Perhaps they differ fundamentally in very specific contexts, such as upbringing and social acceptance, but this does not alter the common male sexual psychology they share. Our study demonstrated precisely this: sexual orientation was a very weak predictor of sexual function.”

“I believe that despite the challenges in sampling individuals of different sexual orientations and/or genders, we researchers must not shy away from making this effort,” Silva Júnior added. “Doing so will greatly enhance our understanding of human sexual behavior, including for researchers approaching it from an evolutionary perspective.”

The study, “Relationship Status Rather than Sociosexuality or Sexual Orientation Predicts Male Sexual Functioning,” was authored by Maria Luíza R. S. de Souza, Adna J. Silva, Jaroslava Varella Valentova, and Mauro Dias Silva Júnior.