John Lindsey
5th July 2001, 06:26
Full story at:
http://www.asahi.com/english/asahi/0705/asahi070504.html
The survey, overseen by Chineko Araki, a professor of clinical psychology at Chofu Gakuen Junior College, found that 28 percent of the 1,000 respondents between the ages of 20 and 59 said they had not had sex with their spouse at all, or only a few times, in the past year. The Japan Society of Sexual Science says such a low level of sexual activity qualifies a couple as ``sexless.''
Even so, 84 percent of the husbands surveyed and 77 percent of the wives were either satisfied or somewhat satisfied with their married lives. Among all respondents, 44 percent said they made their sexual feelings clear to their spouses and 90 percent of those were either satisfied or somewhat satisfied with their marriages.
The ``none or almost none'' responses on sexual activity came from 26 percent of respondents in their 30s, 36 percent in their 40s and 46 percent in their 50s.
The survey found the most common excuse for abstaining from sex for men and women was that it was ``too much bother.'' The second most frequent answer from the 500 men in the sample was that they were worn out from work, while the second most frequent answer among the women was that ``there were other more enjoyable choices, such as hobbies.''
In terms of general marital satisfaction, 18 percent of the husbands in their 50s were either dissatisfied or somewhat dissatisfied, and 36 percent of the wives in that age range were dissatisfied or somewhat dissatisfied.
The satisfaction issue was validated by a related question on whether marriage partners got physical and psychological satisfaction in their sex relations. About 70 percent of the husbands said they were satisfied or somewhat satisfied on the physical and emotional measure, but only about half the wives said so.
Across the age spectrum, women were less likely to be satisfied than their husbands, but about one in four women in their 40s said they were dissatisfied both physically and psychologically.
Other survey questions suggested that men are more likely to initiate sex. Overall, 20 percent of the wives said their spouses had made their sexual feelings and desires clear, while they themselves did not. At the same time, just 5 percent of the husbands said their wives expressed their sexual desires while they did not.
Araki said communication seemed to be the significant element in the survey responses that suggest happy marriages. Overall, 44 percent of the respondents said they expressed their sexual desires.
Men seemed to demonstrate a stronger sense of ``obligation'' to perform their perceived sexual roles. About 70 percent of the wives in their 30s and 40s disagreed with the statement that a wife should respond to her husband's advances, but more than 70 percent of the husbands between 20 and 49 agreed that husbands should respond to their wives' needs. Only about 40 percent of the wives in that age bracket agreed to that second statement.
The decision to do without sex in marriage seemed to follow age lines. Among those in the 20s, husbands most often said that they gave up having sex with their wives ``because it was too much of a bother,'' while wives complained that sex was ``painful.''
For those in their 30s, husbands bowed out most often because of ``fatigue from work,'' while wives said ``for vague reasons following childbirth.''
Men in their 40s were most likely to express concerns about impotence. And women in their 50s said they opted out of sex because ``there were other more enjoyable tasks such as hobbies'' and ``the spouse came to seem like just a blood relative.''
http://www.asahi.com/english/asahi/0705/asahi070504.html
The survey, overseen by Chineko Araki, a professor of clinical psychology at Chofu Gakuen Junior College, found that 28 percent of the 1,000 respondents between the ages of 20 and 59 said they had not had sex with their spouse at all, or only a few times, in the past year. The Japan Society of Sexual Science says such a low level of sexual activity qualifies a couple as ``sexless.''
Even so, 84 percent of the husbands surveyed and 77 percent of the wives were either satisfied or somewhat satisfied with their married lives. Among all respondents, 44 percent said they made their sexual feelings clear to their spouses and 90 percent of those were either satisfied or somewhat satisfied with their marriages.
The ``none or almost none'' responses on sexual activity came from 26 percent of respondents in their 30s, 36 percent in their 40s and 46 percent in their 50s.
The survey found the most common excuse for abstaining from sex for men and women was that it was ``too much bother.'' The second most frequent answer from the 500 men in the sample was that they were worn out from work, while the second most frequent answer among the women was that ``there were other more enjoyable choices, such as hobbies.''
In terms of general marital satisfaction, 18 percent of the husbands in their 50s were either dissatisfied or somewhat dissatisfied, and 36 percent of the wives in that age range were dissatisfied or somewhat dissatisfied.
The satisfaction issue was validated by a related question on whether marriage partners got physical and psychological satisfaction in their sex relations. About 70 percent of the husbands said they were satisfied or somewhat satisfied on the physical and emotional measure, but only about half the wives said so.
Across the age spectrum, women were less likely to be satisfied than their husbands, but about one in four women in their 40s said they were dissatisfied both physically and psychologically.
Other survey questions suggested that men are more likely to initiate sex. Overall, 20 percent of the wives said their spouses had made their sexual feelings and desires clear, while they themselves did not. At the same time, just 5 percent of the husbands said their wives expressed their sexual desires while they did not.
Araki said communication seemed to be the significant element in the survey responses that suggest happy marriages. Overall, 44 percent of the respondents said they expressed their sexual desires.
Men seemed to demonstrate a stronger sense of ``obligation'' to perform their perceived sexual roles. About 70 percent of the wives in their 30s and 40s disagreed with the statement that a wife should respond to her husband's advances, but more than 70 percent of the husbands between 20 and 49 agreed that husbands should respond to their wives' needs. Only about 40 percent of the wives in that age bracket agreed to that second statement.
The decision to do without sex in marriage seemed to follow age lines. Among those in the 20s, husbands most often said that they gave up having sex with their wives ``because it was too much of a bother,'' while wives complained that sex was ``painful.''
For those in their 30s, husbands bowed out most often because of ``fatigue from work,'' while wives said ``for vague reasons following childbirth.''
Men in their 40s were most likely to express concerns about impotence. And women in their 50s said they opted out of sex because ``there were other more enjoyable tasks such as hobbies'' and ``the spouse came to seem like just a blood relative.''