2 Out of 5 Gay Americans Would Leave a Relationship If the Sex is Unsatisfying

This is an exclusive study conducted by DatingAdvice.com, which surveyed respondents over the course of three weeks to reflect an accurate representation of the U.S. population.

How important is sex in a relationship, and if the sex is bad, is it worth breaking up over? New research shows it depends on who you ask.

In an exclusive study conducted by DatingAdvice.com, 39 percent of gay Americans said they would leave a relationship if the sex is unsatisfying. Lesbian women were 16 percent more likely to do so than gay men.

In terms of straight respondents, about one in three men and one in five women would break up with a partner if their sexual needs weren’t being met.

DatingAdvice.com expert Dr. Brian Rzepczynksi said society has created a stereotype about gay sexuality, one that suggests gay men only think about their next sexual conquest.

“Sadly, many gay men, and even portions of the gay community, have bought into these messages,” he said. “It is for this very reason some gay men may turn to sex as an outlet in response to this discrimination as a way of defiant rebellion and control over their lives or as an expression of projective identification with this image.”

“Thirty-nine percent of gay Americans would

leave a relationship if the sex is unsatisfying.”

Divorcees were also among the most likely groups to answer in the affirmative, 38 percent compared to 22 percent of their married counterparts.

At almost three times the rate of Asian-Americans, African-Americans also had some of the highest responses.

Older Americans and high-wage earners were among the least likely demographics to agree with this concept.

Only 24 percent of respondents aged 65 and older said they would end a relationship if the sex was bad versus 32 percent of men and women aged 35 to 44.

Among those earning between $100,000 and $124,999 a year, 36 percent said unsatisfying sex is a reasonable excuse for discontinuing a relationship, while just 21 percent of those earning $125,000 or more a year thought so.

Rzepczynski said sex is an important aspect of life in general, especially for the male species – straight or gay.

“For those men in hot pursuit of sexual expression and release, it tends to speak more to the fact they are men rather than being gay,” he said. “Studies have shown the male sex drive tends to be higher, mostly accounting for the fact there are higher levels of testosterone raging through their bodies.”

The study surveyed 1,080 respondents over the course of three weeks, balancing responses by age, gender, income, race, sexuality and other factors in order to accurately represent the U.S. population. The study has a margin of error of +/- 2.8%.

The Breakdown: Americans Who Would Leave if Sex is Unsatisfying

By gender:

• Male: 33%
• Female: 22%

By sexuality:

• Straight: 26%
• Gay: 39%

By marital status:

• Single, Never Married: 30%
• Married: 22%
• Divorced: 38%

By age:

• 18 to 24: 29%
• 25 to 34: 27%
• 35 to 44: 32%
• 45 to 54: 25%
• 54 to 64: 25%
• 65 and older: 24%

By race:

• White: 26%
• African-American: 38%
• Hispanic: 30%
• Asian: 13%

By income:

• Under $25,000: 27%
• $25,000 to $49,999: 25%
• $50,000 to $74,999: 31%
• $75,000 to $99,999: 30%
• $100,000 to $124,999: 36%
• $125,000 or higher: 21%

By region:

• Northeast: 29%
• Midwest: 27%
• South: 26%
• West: 26%

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