Paper Title
Changes in Penile-Vaginal Intercourse Frequency and Sexual Repertoire from 2009 to 2018: Findings from the National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior
Keywords
- penile-vaginal intercourse frequency
- masturbation
- sexual frequency
- sexual repertoire
- national survey of sexual health and behavior (nsshb)
- penile-vaginal intercourse (pvi)
- sexual behavior trends
- partnered sexual activities
- solo masturbation
- sexual health
- adolescent sexual behavior
- adult sexual behavior
- sexual activity decline
- non-coital sexual activities
- partnered masturbation
- oral sex
- sexual relationships
- intimacy patterns
- public health
- sexual well-being
- epidemiology of sexual behavior
- behavioral trends in sexuality
- changing sexual norms
- sexual practices over time
- sexuality research
- sexual partnering
- sexual satisfaction
- relationship dynamics
- sti prevention
- contraceptive use
- health psychology
Article Type
Original Article
Journal
Research Impact Tools
Publication Info
Volume: 51 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 1419–1433
Published On
November, 2021
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Abstract
Solo and partnered sexual behaviors are relevant to health, well-being, and relationships. Recent research shows that sexual frequency has declined in the U.S. and in other countries; however, measurement has been imprecise. We used data from 14- to 49-year-old participants in the 2009 and 2018 waves of the National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior (NSSHB), a confidential U.S. nationally representative survey that is conducted online. We aimed to: (1) assess changes in frequency of past-year penile-vaginal intercourse and (2) examine combinations of past-year sexual behaviors for each of the two waves. We hypothesized that we would observe lower frequency of penile-vaginal intercourse (PVI) from 2009 to 2018 and that we would observe greater engagement in sexual repertoires involving non-coital partnered behaviors (e.g., partnered masturbation, oral sex) in 2018 as compared to 2009. Participants were 4155 individuals from the 2009 NSSHB (Adolescents: 406 females, 414 males; Adults: 1591 women, 1744 men) and 4547 individuals from the 2018 NSSHB (Adolescents: 416 females, 411 males; Adults: 2007 women, 1713 men). Compared to adult participants in the 2009 NSSHB, adults in the 2018 NSSHB were significantly more likely to report no PVI in the prior year (28% in 2018 vs. 24% in 2009). A similar difference in proportions reporting no PVI in the prior year was observed among 14–17-year-old adolescents (89% in 2018 vs. 79% in 2009). Additionally, for both adolescents and adults, we observed decreases in all modes of partnered sex queried and, for adolescents, decreases in solo masturbation.
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