Heterosexual experience and recent heterosexual encounters among Australian adults: the Second Australian Study of Health and Relationships
Chris Rissel A I , Paul B. Badcock B C , Anthony M. A. Smith B H , Juliet Richters D , Richard O. de Visser E , Andrew E. Grulich F and Judy M. Simpson GA Sydney School of Public Health, Charles Perkins Centre (D17), University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
B Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University, 215 Franklin Street, Melbourne, Vic. 3000, Australia.
C Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, 35 Poplar Road, Parkville, Vic. 3052, Australia.
D School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
E School of Psychology, Pevensey 1, University of Sussex, Falmer BN1 9QH, UK.
F The Kirby Institute, Wallace Wurth Building, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
G Sydney School of Public Health, Edward Ford Building (A27), University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
H Deceased.
I Corresponding author. Email: chris.rissel@sydney.edu.au
Sexual Health 11(5) 416-426 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH14105
Submitted: 8 June 2014 Accepted: 19 August 2014 Published: 7 November 2014
Abstract
Background: Current information about numbers of other-sex partners, experiences of different heterosexual behaviours and the recent heterosexual experiences among a representative sample of Australian adults is needed. It is not known whether these practices have changed between 2001–02 and 2012–13. Methods: Computer-assisted telephone interviews were completed by a representative sample of 9963 men and 10 131 women aged 16–69 years from all states and territories. The overall participation rate among eligible people was 66.2%. Results: Men reported more sexual partners than women, although the lifetime number of heterosexual partners reported by women increased significantly between 2001–02 and 2012–13. In 2012–13, 14.7% of men and 8.6% of women reported two or more sexual partners in the last year. Reporting multiple partners was significantly associated with being younger, being bisexual, living in major cities, having a lower income, having a blue-collar occupation and not being married. The proportion of respondents reporting ever having had oral sex or anal intercourse increased significantly since the last survey. At the last heterosexual encounter, 91.9% of men and 66.2% of women had an orgasm, oral sex was reported in only approximately one in four encounters and anal intercourse was uncommon. Conclusion: There were increases between 2001–02 and 2012–13 in partner numbers among women and in the lifetime experience of oral and anal sex. The patterns of heterosexual experience in Australia are similar to those found in studies of representative samples in other countries.
Additional keywords: anal intercourse, Australia, contraceptive behaviour, cunnilingus, fellatio, heterosexuality, national survey, oral sex, orgasm, sexual behaviour, sexual practices.
References
[1] Warszawski J. Self-reported sexually transmitted diseases and at-risk sexual behaviour. In Hubert M, Bajos N, Sandfort T, editors. Sexual behaviour and HIV/AIDS in Europe. London: UCL Press; 1998. pp. 219–41.[2] Richters J, Grulich AE, de Visser RO, Smith AM, Rissel CE. Sex in Australia: contraceptive practices among a representative sample of women. Aust N Z J Public Health 2003; 27 210–6.
| Sex in Australia: contraceptive practices among a representative sample of women.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 14696713PubMed |
[3] Sonnenberg P, Clifton S, Beddows S, Field N, Soldan K, Tanton C, et al Prevalence, risk factors, and uptake of interventions for sexually transmitted infections in Britain: findings from the National Surveys of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal). Lancet 2013; 382 1795–806.
| Prevalence, risk factors, and uptake of interventions for sexually transmitted infections in Britain: findings from the National Surveys of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 24286785PubMed |
[4] de Visser RO, Smith AMA, Rissel CE, Richters J, Grulich AE. Sex in Australia: heterosexual experience and recent heterosexual encounters among a representative sample of adults. Aust N Z J Public Health 2003; 27 146–54.
| Sex in Australia: heterosexual experience and recent heterosexual encounters among a representative sample of adults.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 14696705PubMed |
[5] Grulich AE, de Visser RO, Smith AMA, Rissel CE, Richters J. Sex in Australia: homosexual experience and recent homosexual encounters among a representative sample of adults. Aust N Z J Public Health 2003; 27 155–63.
| Sex in Australia: homosexual experience and recent homosexual encounters among a representative sample of adults.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 14696706PubMed |
[6] Richters J, Grulich AE, de Visser RO, Smith AMA, Rissel CE. Sex in Australia: sexual and emotional satisfaction in regular relationships and preferred frequency of sex among a representative sample of adults. Aust N Z J Public Health 2003; 27 171–9.
| Sex in Australia: sexual and emotional satisfaction in regular relationships and preferred frequency of sex among a representative sample of adults.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 14696708PubMed |
[7] Rissel CE, Richters J, Grulich AE, de Visser RO, Smith AMA. Sex in Australia: selected characteristics of regular sexual relationships. Aust N Z J Public Health 2003; 27 124–30.
| Sex in Australia: selected characteristics of regular sexual relationships.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 14696702PubMed |
[8] Richters J, de Visser RO, Rissel CE, Smith AMA. Sexual practices at last heterosexual encounter and occurrence of orgasm in a national survey. J Sex Res 2006; 43 217–26.
| Sexual practices at last heterosexual encounter and occurrence of orgasm in a national survey.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 17599244PubMed |
[9] Smith AMA, Patrick K, Heywood W, Pitts MK, Richters J, Shelley JM, et al Sexual practices and the duration of last heterosexual encounter: findings from the Australian Longitudinal Study of Health and Relationships. J Sex Res 2012; 49 487–94.
| Sexual practices and the duration of last heterosexual encounter: findings from the Australian Longitudinal Study of Health and Relationships.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[10] Laumann E, Gagnon J, Michael R, Michaels S. The social organisation of sexuality: sexual practices in the United States. Chicago: University of Chicago Press; 1994.
[11] Chandra A, Mosher WD, Copen C. Sexual behavior, sexual attraction, and sexual identity in the United States: data from the 2006–2008 National Survey of Family Growth. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics; 2011. Available online at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr036.pdf [verified 15 May 2014].
[12] Johnson A, Wadsworth J, Wellings K, Field J. Sexual attitudes and lifestyles. Oxford: Blackwell; 1994.
[13] Johnson AM, Mercer CH, Erens B, Copas AJ, McManus S, Wellings K, et al Sexual behaviour in Britain: partnerships, practices, and HIV risk behaviours. Lancet 2001; 358 1835–42.
| Sexual behaviour in Britain: partnerships, practices, and HIV risk behaviours.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD3MjgtVCmtw%3D%3D&md5=1e3b40ecde11ae45c30d7d4426b17ab3CAS | 11741621PubMed |
[14] Mercer CH, Tanton C, Prah P, Erens B, Sonnenberg P, Clifton S, et al Changes in sexual attitudes and lifestyles in Britain through the life course and over time: findings from the National Surveys of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal). Lancet 2013; 382 1781–94.
| Changes in sexual attitudes and lifestyles in Britain through the life course and over time: findings from the National Surveys of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 24286784PubMed |
[15] Bajos N, Bozon M, Beltzer N, Laborde C, Andro A, Ferrand M, et al Changes in sexual behaviours: from secular trends to public health policies. AIDS 2010; 24 1185–91.
| Changes in sexual behaviours: from secular trends to public health policies.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 20299962PubMed |
[16] Richters J, Badcock PB, Simpson JM, Shellard D, Rissel C, de Visser RO, et al Design and methods of the Second Australian Study of Health and Relationships. Sex Health 2014; 11 383–96.
| Design and methods of the Second Australian Study of Health and Relationships.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[17] Department of Health and Aged Care (DoHC). Measuring remoteness: accessibility/remoteness index of Australia (ARIA). Canberra: DoHC; 2001.
[18] Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Household income and income distribution, Australia 2009–10. Catalogue Number 6523.0. Canberra: ABS; 2011.
[19] Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Australian standard classification of occupations, 2nd edn. Catalogue no. 1220.0. Canberra: ABS; 1997.
[20] StataCorp. Stata statistical software (computer program): Release 11.2. College Station, TX: StataCorp LP; 2009.
[21] Smith AM, Rissel CE, Richters J, Grulich AE, de Visser RO. Sex in Australia: the rationale and methods of the Australian Study of Health and Relationships. Aust N Z J Public Health 2003; 27 106–17.
| Sex in Australia: the rationale and methods of the Australian Study of Health and Relationships.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 14696700PubMed |
[22] Brown N, Sinclair R. Estimating number of lifetime sexual partners: men and women do it differently. J Sex Res 1999; 36 292–7.
| Estimating number of lifetime sexual partners: men and women do it differently.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[23] Cubbins LA, Tanfer K. The influence of gender on sex: a study of men’s and women’s self-reported high-risk sex behavior. Arch Sex Behav 2000; 29 229–57.
| The influence of gender on sex: a study of men’s and women’s self-reported high-risk sex behavior.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD3cvksVWmsw%3D%3D&md5=5694f0b1ca0fecf40dfd180e6ca8acf8CAS | 10992980PubMed |
[24] Rissel CE, Richters J, Grulich AE, de Visser RO, Smith AM. Sex in Australia: attitudes towards sex in a representative sample of adults. Aust N Z J Public Health 2003; 27 118–23.
| Sex in Australia: attitudes towards sex in a representative sample of adults.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 14696701PubMed |
[25] Heywood W, Smith AMA. Anal sex practices in heterosexual and male homosexual populations: a review of population-based data. Sex Health 2012; 9 517–26.
| Anal sex practices in heterosexual and male homosexual populations: a review of population-based data.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 22951046PubMed |
[26] Herbenick D, Reece M, Schick V, Sanders SA, Dodge B, Fortenberry JD. An event-level analysis of the sexual characteristics and composition among adults ages 18 to 59: results from a national probability sample in the United States. J Sex Med 2010; 7 346–61.
| An event-level analysis of the sexual characteristics and composition among adults ages 18 to 59: results from a national probability sample in the United States.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21029390PubMed |
[27] Fugl-Meyer KS, Oberg K, Lundberg PO, Lewin B, Fugl-Meyer A. On orgasm, sexual techniques and erotic perceptions in 18- to 74-year-old Swedish women. J Sex Med 2006; 3 56–68.
| On orgasm, sexual techniques and erotic perceptions in 18- to 74-year-old Swedish women.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 16409218PubMed |
[28] Simon W, Gagnon J. Sexual scripts: permanence and change. Arch Sex Behav 1986; 15 97–120.
| Sexual scripts: permanence and change.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaL283ktFertQ%3D%3D&md5=331f5ba5a29791041529ccc0673d1067CAS | 3718206PubMed |
[29] Richters J, Visser R, Rissel C, Smith A. Sexual practices at last heterosexual encounter and occurrence of orgasm in a national survey. J Sex Res 2006; 43 217–26.
| Sexual practices at last heterosexual encounter and occurrence of orgasm in a national survey.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 17599244PubMed |
[30] Grulich AE, de Visser RO, Badcock PB, Smith AMA, Richters J, Rissel C, et al Knowledge about and experience of sexually transmissible infections in a representative sample of adults: the Second Australian Study of Health and Relationships. Sex Health 2014; 11 481–94.
| Knowledge about and experience of sexually transmissible infections in a representative sample of adults: the Second Australian Study of Health and Relationships.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[31] de Visser RO, Badcock PB, Rissel C, Richters J, Smith AMA, Grulich AE, et al Safer sex and condom use: findings from the Second Australian Study of Health and Relationships. Sex Health 2014; 11 495–504.
| Safer sex and condom use: findings from the Second Australian Study of Health and Relationships.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
