Why some adults never want to have sex? Science decoded
**Life Without Sex: Insights from a Landmark Study on Lifelong Sexlessness**
A new research study centered around 400,000 participants has explored the differences between mature adults who have sex and those who have never engaged in sexual activity. Published in the prestigious journal *Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS)*, the study sheds light on the complex social, biological, and environmental factors linked to lifelong sexlessness.
Using one of the largest datasets of its kind, researchers analyzed responses from more than 400,000 UK adults and 13,500 Australians to understand why some people never engage in sexual activity. The findings reveal that while sexual partnerships play a central role in mental health, social well-being, and even evolutionary success, a small but notable share of adults report never having had sex.
### Who Are the Lifelong Sexless?
In the UK sample, around 1% of participants—just under 4,000 people—identified as lifelong sexless. Researchers discovered some surprising patterns among this group:
– On average, individuals who had never had sex were more highly educated.
– They were less likely to smoke or drink alcohol.
– However, they reported higher levels of loneliness, unhappiness, and nervousness compared to their sexually active peers.
For men, physical traits such as upper body strength appeared more closely tied to sexlessness than for women. Geography and economic inequality also played a role: sexless men were more likely to live in regions with fewer women, suggesting a demographic imbalance. More broadly, areas with greater income inequality saw higher rates of lifelong sexlessness.
### The Role of Genetics and Environment
The study also uncovered genetic influences on sexlessness, with common genetic variants accounting for 14-17% of the variation between individuals. These genetic factors overlapped partly between men and women, pointing to a shared biological basis alongside social and environmental influences.
### Implications for Mental Health and Society
The authors argue that the absence of sexual relationships should be seen as more than a personal matter—it carries important implications for mental health, societal well-being, and even evolutionary fitness. Sexual partnerships are deeply tied to human health and happiness.
“Our findings reveal just how many factors, from education to economic inequality, can shape intimate lives,” the researchers noted.
By highlighting the social and biological dimensions of lifelong sexlessness, this study opens new directions for exploring human intimacy, its role in society, and its long-term impact on mental and physical well-being.
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