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Topics: Sex and Relationships, Science, Mental Health, Health
Poppy Bilderbeck
Topics: Sex and Relationships, Science, Mental Health, Health
A study has broken down the things people most enjoy about having a sexual experience with a partner and it may make you rethink your approach.
Indiana University Bloomington surveyed over 4,000 people about their favorite aspects of being sexual with a partner in a bid to get to the bottom of what people value most in sexual relationships.
And if you've not watched series like Sex Education to make up for the lack of sex ed you were given in school, well, the results may surprise you.
A total of 4,030 participants were enlisted in the study - made up of 2,016 women and 2,014 men aged between 18 all the way to 91.
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The study - published in the Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy - then asked participants: "[Describe your] favorite things about being sexual with a partner."
Now, given the topic of discussion and some people's lack of maturity still on it, it's not a massive surprise some participants didn't take the study too seriously - one person joking 'sex is great, period,' and another simply saying 'everything'.
There were also some more disheartening responses such as one 66-year-old woman voicing she sees sex as simply 'just part of [her] job being married'.
However, there was an overwhelming amount of positive responses and they were ultimately broken down into 22 key groups.
Researchers revealed many participants 'addressed sex acts that they like or enjoy' from 'kissing' to 'oral sex' - many of said participants reportedly male.
However, there were also mentions of 'hugging', 'massage' and 'touching stomachs' among the less x-rated answers.
Other aspects of sexual relations with a partner that came up top including 'pleasing' your partner, feeling 'love/care' and 'feeling good'.
'Orgasm' reportedly only actually made it as the sixth most popular category and other less common groups including 'kink and pain', 'fantasy/imagination', 'bodies and primal urges' and 'children/procreation'.
But the most prevalent thing participants said they value during sexual relations with a partner?
Well, the study revealed 912 participants value 'closeness' or 'intimacy' the most when it comes to being sexual with a partner - whether it be intimacy in the sense of physically, but also emotionally and spiritually.
One participant wrote about 'overwhelming feelings of closeness,' and another getting 'lost in the moment,' and a third feeling like the world didn't 'exist' anymore and it was 'just the two of us' that 'matters'.
The study resolved by reflecting the 'diverse aspects of sex enjoyed by people across the lifespan,' solidifying the 'positive aspects of sexuality' and helping people consider 'more expansive ideas of sexual pleasure and enjoyment' to also 'affirm a wide range of sexual experiences'.
So, have a think about that the next time you get down and frisky with someone, eh?