the naked truth about the sex lives of canadians

the naked truth is that canadians are having less sex, not more, according to a  national survey  by researchers at the university of british columbia. reasons for this decrease could include  increased mental health problems ,  too much time together for couples  or too much time alone for singles.

it’s an unfortunate twist, because we need this type of feel-good activity when stress is at an all-time high. research has consistently found that more frequent intimate sexual encounters are associated with  greater well-being . regardless of their personal situation, improving sexual flexibility may be just what canadians need to perk up their drooping sex lives.

stéphanie gauvin, a doctoral student in psychology at queen’s university, created a measure of such flexibility, which she named the  sexflex scale :

individuals able to try alternate strategies to preferred sexual scripts are thought to cope better with acute and chronic sexual issues. in their study of post-prostate cancer patients, university of new brunswick researchers found  most men had fairly narrow and traditional sexual scripts that required penile-vaginal intercourse .

erectile dysfunction was often seen as the end of their sex life and many chose to discontinue all sexual activity, even when their desire for sex was still intact. the findings from another  study on sex after prostate cancer  epitomizes the importance of sexual script flexibility in improving sexual satisfaction for self and a potential partner: “if you’ve got 10 fingers and a tongue, sex ain’t dead.”

motivation is also critical. the distinction between a sensory experience that mutually gratifies both partners and sex to accommodate the desires of just one is important. engaging in sex to avoid conflict or disappointment  is associated with lower relationship and sexual satisfaction . unsurprisingly, sex that enhances intimacy or promotes closeness with a partner has the opposite outcome.

those seeking to expand their sexual menu but don’t know how to start, need to begin with a (probably uncomfortable) conversation about sexuality. but  sexual self-disclosure , discussing sexual likes and dislikes, can produce a menu that is consensual and mutually pleasurable.

and as always nowadays, there are apps — like  mojo  — that are useful for helping to add sexual novelties. new flavours that, with ongoing discussion and consent, could spice up the menu. for those with vulvas,  omgyes!  is recommended by sexperts for understanding more about what makes you feel good.

there is evidence that those adapting their sexual lives in creative ways are thriving despite the swirling pandemic storm. the kinsey institute at indiana university surveyed 1,559 adults — 70 per cent female and 75 per cent american — and found that while nearly half reported a decline in their sex life, those expanding their sexual repertoire by including new activities such as sexting, trying new sexual positions or sharing sexual fantasies  were three times more likely to see their sex life improve .