Casual sex won’t leave you emotionally wrecked: Study

Hooking up casually no longer fuels depression, and it is quite easy to step out from the "friends with benefits" relationship unaffected, researchers affirm.

1,311 young adults (574 men and 737 women) from the University of Minnesota were enrolled for the study. Aged between 18 and 24 years, the cluster was made up of full-time students, part-time students, or young adults who weren't students at all.

The participants were questioned about their sexual behaviors and emotional well-being.

Speaking about their recent sexual encounters, about one-fifth reported it as casual; for 25 percent it was out of intimacy and commitment; 12 percent admitted it to be with a ‘close but not exclusive partner’; and 55 percent disclosed it to be with an exclusive partner.

The upshot of the trial
Interestingly, the emotional status of those engaged in casual sex was the same as those in committed relationships, researchers aver.

Moreover, regardless of the type of sexual encounter, the researchers spotted no difference in incidence of depression or loss of self-esteem cases.

"When we looked at the emotional well being across these groups we really found no differences, in things like body satisfaction, in self-esteem and depressive symptoms" reported Marla Eisenberg, study’s lead researcher.

"We were so surprised" Eisenberg said. "The conventional wisdom is that casual sex, 'friends with benefits,' and hooking up is hurtful. That's what we've been teaching kids for decades."

Also, the results of the current trail contradict the results of the study released last year that found more women to report depressive and negative feelings after casual sexual encounters, compared to men.

Researchers say ‘No’ to casual sex
Though the findings of the study seem to spare mental health, casual sex is extremely detrimental to overall health and well-being, Eisenberg marked. "The study does not encourage casual sex."

Young adults who engage in such casual hookups are exposing themselves to physical harms. Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), unplanned and teen pregnancies, and interpersonal violence can only lead to potential disaster, Eisenberg cautioned.

Eisenberg said, "Its things like STD prevention and pregnancy prevention and we really need to focus on those when we're doing health education programming with young adults."