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Surprising fact about ‘duty sex’ revealed — and the real reason couples do it: study
A study of 252 young adults found that fear of a partner’s infidelity was most strongly linked to having sex out of obligation, known as “duty sex”. The researchers suggest it may function as a response to perceived risk of losing a partner, offering an evolutionary explanation for a behaviour often associated with relationship maintenance.
Men and women reported engaging in duty sex at similar rates, and relationship length was not linked to how often they did so. The participants were aged 18 to 24, including 176 women and 76 men; most identified as heterosexual. The authors cautioned that the findings rely on self-reports and a small, predominantly young sample, so further research is needed.
In short
- Fear of infidelity was the strongest factor linked to duty sex.
- Men and women reported doing it at similar rates.
- Researchers say the findings need testing in broader samples.
Explained simply
“Duty sex” refers to having sex because someone feels obliged to, rather than because they want to. People may feel that pressure for different reasons, including wanting to maintain a relationship or avoid conflict.
The study involved 252 adults aged 18 to 24, most of whom identified as heterosexual. It examined whether concerns about a partner’s infidelity were linked to reporting sex out of obligation; the researchers describe this as a possible response to feeling at risk of losing a partner.
The findings reflect participants’ own reports and a relatively small, young sample, so they do not show how common the behaviour is among all couples or establish why it happens. The study also found no reported difference in rates between men and women, and no link with relationship length.
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