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Sexual diversity in the United States: Results from a nationally representative probability sample of adult women and men

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  • Debby Herbenick
  • Jessamyn Bowling
  • Tsung-Chieh (Jane) Fu
  • Brian Dodge
  • Lucia Guerra-Reyes
  • Stephanie Sanders

Abstract

In 2015, we conducted a cross-sectional, Internet-based, U.S. nationally representative probability survey of 2,021 adults (975 men, 1,046 women) focused on a broad range of sexual behaviors. Individuals invited to participate were from the GfK KnowledgePanel®. The survey was titled the 2015 Sexual Exploration in America Study and survey completion took about 12 to 15 minutes. The survey was confidential and the researchers never had access to respondents’ identifiers. Respondents reported on demographic items, lifetime and recent sexual behaviors, and the appeal of 50+ sexual behaviors. Most (>80%) reported lifetime masturbation, vaginal sex, and oral sex. Lifetime anal sex was reported by 43% of men (insertive) and 37% of women (receptive). Common lifetime sexual behaviors included wearing sexy lingerie/underwear (75% women, 26% men), sending/receiving digital nude/semi-nude photos (54% women, 65% men), reading erotic stories (57% of participants), public sex (≥43%), role-playing (≥22%), tying/being tied up (≥20%), spanking (≥30%), and watching sexually explicit videos/DVDs (60% women, 82% men). Having engaged in threesomes (10% women, 18% men) and playful whipping (≥13%) were less common. Lifetime group sex, sex parties, taking a sexuality class/workshop, and going to BDSM parties were uncommon (each

Suggested Citation

  • Debby Herbenick & Jessamyn Bowling & Tsung-Chieh (Jane) Fu & Brian Dodge & Lucia Guerra-Reyes & Stephanie Sanders, 2017. "Sexual diversity in the United States: Results from a nationally representative probability sample of adult women and men," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(7), pages 1-23, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0181198
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0181198
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