Sleep Health and Sexual Risk Taking

The current study explored the relationship between sleep health and sexual risk taking. The study consisted of 104 participants (41 males, 63 females) ages 18-35, who were not presently in a monogamous relationship. Participants completed a series of measures assessing sleep, sexual risk taking, sexual activity, and personality. Results revealed significantly higher levels of sexual risk taking in Unhealthy Sleepers (poor sleep quality and daytime sleepiness) than in Healthy Sleepers (good sleep quality and no daytime sleepiness) for both males and females. However, this relationship was significantly stronger among the women (accounting for 22% of the variance in risk taking) than among the men (accounting for 3.1% of the variance in risk taking). Sleepers who reported daytime sleepiness or poor sleep quality (but not both) also showed a number of significant differences in sexual risk taking compared to the other two groups. Implications and recommendations for future research are discussed.