Study reveals 70% of people use sex to alleviate boredom

A review of 19 studies published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine indicates that approximately 70% of participants use sex to alleviate boredom and routine monotony. Researcher Justin Lehmiller noted that while sex can be used to mitigate boredom, a repetitive sexual life can also intensify feelings of boredom.

Research from the National Library of Medicine links boredom, loneliness, anxiety, and depression to Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder (CSBD), which has been recognized by the World Health Organization since 2022. The studies suggest that sex is often used as an emotional regulation mechanism, similar to binge eating or excessive alcohol consumption.

Furthermore, research in the American Journal of Science and Education Research found that boredom within relationships is linked to lower sexual satisfaction. Experts suggest that because boredom lacks the stigma of addiction or the severity of trauma, it is often underestimated, even though it may drive behaviors often misclassified as sexual deviations.