Women are more likely to want sex after a break up – and scientists think they know why
WOMEN want break-up sex more than men because they have a greater fear of being single, a study suggests.
Both genders are motivated to have one last romp before they call it quits — but only women do so because they do not want to be alone, US researchers found.
This could be because there is greater stigma around being a single woman or having casual sex, they said.
Dr James Moran, of Tulane University, said: “Women reported engaging in past breakup sex more frequently than men.
“For women, it may be less stigmatising to sleep with an ex-partner than with a new partner.
“Results suggest that both men’s and women’s desire for casual sex impacts engagement in breakup sex and that women’s desire is also motivated by their fear of being single.”
Nearly a quarter of divorced adults say they have since slept with their former spouse, according to research.
Studies also show around 27 per cent of teenagers and 14 per cent of college students say the last person they slept with was with an ex-partner.
The latest paper, published in the Elsevier journal Personality and Individual Differences, looked at break-up sex specifically — having relations immediately after a relationship ends.
Researchers surveyed 987 single adults to see how often they have had it, and what motivated them.
Participants were asked about their opinions on casual sex, their fear of being single, how much they desired break-up sex, and break-up sex experiences.
Men reported more positive attitudes around casual sex in general, although both men and women who enjoyed casual sex also had greater desire for break-up sex.
Fear of being single did not impact men’s desire for break-up sex but it did for women.
Dr Moran said: “Women are more likely to engage in breakup sex and this may be due to greater stigma regarding being single.
“They could also be motivated by a greater stigma regarding having casual sex and as an attempt to narrow the orgasm gap.
“It could also be a strategy to prevent an old partner from finding a new relationship whilst simultaneously searching for a new partner themselves.”