![[Adobe Stock]](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_750,h_375/https://www.psypost.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/couple-in-bed-750x375.jpg)
A new study published in the journal Personal Relationships provides evidence that single adults who engage in casual sex tend to report higher sexual satisfaction and a stronger sense of their own desirability compared to those who are sexually inactive. The findings challenge earlier assumptions that casual sexual encounters are inherently linked to negative psychological outcomes for single people.
Psychological research has historically focused on sexual activity within the context of committed romantic relationships. When researchers have examined casual sex, they have often restricted their attention to university students or “hookup culture.” This specific focus has left a gap in scientific understanding regarding the sexual lives of single adults in the broader community. The authors of the new paper sought to address this oversight by examining how often average single people engage in partnered sexual activity.
The research team aimed to determine if casual sex contributes to or detracts from the general happiness of single adults. They also sought to identify if specific personality traits, such as attachment style, distinguish singles who have casual sex from those who do not. By looking at singlehood as a distinct life phase rather than just a transitional period, the researchers hoped to provide a clearer picture of how singles navigate their sexual needs.
The investigation consisted of two distinct studies. The first study involved 747 participants recruited through an online platform called Prolific. The participants ranged in age from 20 to 59 years old. To ensure the sample was relevant, the researchers excluded anyone who was currently in a committed partnership.
In this first study, the researchers asked participants to describe their relationship status and any romantic or sexual connections they currently maintained. This was done using an open-ended text box, which allowed participants to describe their situations in their own words. The researchers then analyzed these responses to categorize participants as either engaging in a casual sexual relationship or not.
The participants also completed several standardized psychological questionnaires. These measures assessed attachment style, which includes attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance. Attachment anxiety involves a fear of rejection and a need for reassurance. Attachment avoidance involves discomfort with intimacy and a preference for excessive self-reliance.
Additional measures evaluated the participants’ satisfaction with their single status and their desire for a partner. The survey also included assessments of general wellbeing. These included scales for sexual satisfaction, life satisfaction, and symptoms of depression. Finally, the researchers measured “perceived mate value,” which is an individual’s self-assessment of their own attractiveness and desirability to potential partners.
The results of the first study showed that about 15 percent of the single participants were currently in a casual sexual relationship. A detailed look at the responses revealed that the majority of these partners were friends, “friends with benefits,” or former romantic partners. Only a small portion of the encounters involved strangers.
When comparing the groups, the researchers found that singles in casual sexual relationships reported lower levels of attachment avoidance. This suggests that these individuals are generally more comfortable with intimacy and closeness than their sexually inactive peers. This finding contradicts some previous theories that suggest avoidant individuals might seek casual sex to bypass emotional connection.
The study also found significant differences in how the two groups perceived themselves. Singles engaging in casual sex reported higher perceived mate value. They viewed themselves as more desirable partners than those who were not having sex. As might be expected, the sexually active group also reported significantly higher levels of sexual satisfaction.
To verify these initial findings and gather more specific details, the researchers conducted a second study. This replication included 483 single participants recruited through the same online platform. The second study used a more direct approach to identify sexual activity.
Participants in the second study were asked simply to answer yes or no regarding whether they had engaged in consensual sexual activity in the past month. Those who answered yes were presented with additional questions about the characteristics of their sexual relationship. These questions covered the frequency of contact, the level of emotional closeness, and the degree of exclusivity.
In this second sample, approximately 26 percent of the singles reported being sexually active. The participants described these relationships as having relatively low levels of emotional closeness. They also indicated that there was limited interest in transitioning these casual connections into committed romantic relationships.
Despite the lack of deep emotional intimacy, these relationships often involved frequent social and sexual contact. The data indicated that these arrangements were “mostly about sex,” yet they often occurred between people who knew each other well. Agreements regarding sexual exclusivity were typically assumed rather than explicitly discussed.
The psychological findings from the second study largely mirrored those of the first. Sexually active singles again scored lower on attachment avoidance. They appeared more secure in their ability to connect with others. The link between casual sex and higher perceived mate value was also replicated.
The second study provided additional insights into general wellbeing. In this sample, singles who engaged in casual sex reported higher life satisfaction compared to those who did not. They also reported fewer symptoms of depression. This stands in contrast to some studies on college students, which have occasionally linked casual sex to lower life satisfaction.
The researchers also examined how specific characteristics of the casual relationship related to sexual satisfaction. They found that greater sexual satisfaction was associated with higher levels of interpersonal closeness at the time of the survey. More frequent sexual and social contact also predicted greater satisfaction.
These studies provide evidence that casual sex among singles is not typically driven by a desperate search for a committed partner. The participants generally reported low motivation to turn their casual partners into romantic ones. This suggests that these relationships serve to fulfill immediate needs for sexual expression and physical intimacy.
The association between casual sex and lower attachment avoidance is a notable contribution to the literature. It indicates that engaging in partnered sex, even casually, requires a certain level of comfort with another person. Individuals who are highly avoidant may find even the physical intimacy of a casual encounter too intrusive or demanding.
The consistent link between casual sex and high perceived mate value highlights a potential feedback loop. It is possible that people who feel attractive are more likely to pursue sexual opportunities. It is also possible that finding a sexual partner validates a person’s sense of desirability, thereby boosting their confidence.
The study has some limitations that should be noted. The research was cross-sectional, meaning it captured data at a single point in time. This design prevents the researchers from determining cause and effect. It is unclear whether casual sex leads to better wellbeing or if people with better wellbeing are simply more likely to have casual sex.
The first study was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Social distancing measures and health concerns likely influenced the behavior of the participants. This unique context might explain the lower rate of sexual activity observed in the first study compared to the second.
The samples used in both studies were not nationally representative. They relied on online recruitment, which may attract a specific demographic of participants. Future research would benefit from using probability-based sampling methods to get a more accurate estimate of how common casual sex is among singles.
The researchers also noted that they did not assess the specific types of sexual acts engaged in. Future studies could explore how different sexual behaviors relate to satisfaction and wellbeing. Longitudinal research is also needed to track how these casual relationships evolve over time and how they impact mental health in the long run.
Despite these limitations, the research offers a more nuanced view of singlehood than is often presented. It suggests that casual sex can be a positive or neutral part of life for many singles. It challenges the narrative that sex outside of commitment is inherently damaging or a sign of dysfunction.
The study, “Who Is “Doing It”? Casual Sex and WellBeing in Singlehood,” was authored by Anuki Amarakoon, Nicholas Latimer, Geoff MacDonald, and Samantha J. Dawson.
