Depressed women seek sex to ward off blues

Melbourne, Mar 20 (UNI) Depressed women seek more sexual intimacy than those who are happier as it makes them feel secure, a new study has found.

A city survey women concluded that women who suffered from mild to moderate depression have a third more sexual activity than others, regardless of whether they were in a relationship or not.

They had more sexually liberated attitudes, a bigger variety of sexual experiences and were more likely to partake in casual sex, lead researcher Sabura Allen said.

The study recorded the sexual experiences of 107 women who were in relationships and concluded that depressed women indulged in more sex, kissing, petting, foreplay and intercourse.

''When people are depressed they feel more insecure about their relationships and concerned that their partner may not care about them or find them valuable,'' the Herald Sun quoted Dr Allen as saying.

Asked whether intercourse could be an effective balm for depression, she said it had been presumed that it gave these women opportunities to be close to their partner and loved.

''Having sex helps them feel that closeness and security.'' The study on depressed single women found a trend towards more casual sex than happier singles.

UNI XC SYU AS1505