Southerners 56% More Likely to Sleep with an Ex

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Updated:
C. Price
Lillian Castro

By: C. Price

Editor: Lillian Castro

DatingAdvice's team of research and dating experts conducts studies through nationwide surveys and in-depth analysis of relationship trends and dating behaviors.

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.


Sex with an ex often leads to one of two things: regret or renewed romance.But what makes a person fall back into bed with a former lover?

Is it lingering feelings? Is it lack of personal resistance? Or is it where you live?

In a new study conducted by DatingAdvice.com, Southerners were 56 percent more likely to have slept with an ex than Midwesterners.

With 39 percent answering in the affirmative, Southerners had the highest likelihood of hooking up with a partner from the past than respondents living in other regions.

Men and women living in the West and Northeast followed closely at 37 percent and 32 percent, respectively. Only 25 percent of Midwesterners admitted to doing so.

Southerners had the highest likelihood,

with 39 percent answering yes.”

DatingAdvice.com expert Gina Stewart said this information gives a new meaning to Southern hospitality.

“It sounds like it is possibly to be too friendly,” she said. “And Midwesterners are probably just sticking to their famous Midwestern values.”

Homosexuals were also among the most likely groups to have a sexual encounter with an ex-girlfriend or ex-boyfriend.

Nearly half of gay men and women said they have slept with an ex versus just one in three of their straight counterparts.

High-wage earners were among the least likely demographics to embrace the concept. Respondents earning between $50,000 and $74,999 a year were almost twice as likely to have sex with an ex than respondents earning $125,000 or more annually.

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 Have Slept with an Ex

By gender:

  • Male: 39%
  • Female: 30%

By sexuality:

  • Straight: 34%
  • Gay: 49%

By marital status:

  • Single, Never Married: 40%
  • Married: 29%
  • Divorced: 44%

By age:

  • 18 to 24: 34%
  • 25 to 34: 43%
  • 35 to 44: 41%
  • 45 to 54: 41%
  • 54 to 64: 27%
  • 65 and older: 16%

By race:

  • White: 31%
  • African-American: 52%
  • Hispanic: 40%
  • Asian: 18%

By income:

  • Under $25,000: 32%
  • $25,000 to $49,999: 35%
  • $50,000 to $74,999: 43%
  • $75,000 to $99,999: 37%
  • $100,000 to $124,999: 34%
  • $125,000 or higher: 23%

By region:

  • Northeast: 32%
  • Midwest: 25%
  • South: 39%
  • West: 37%

VisitDatingAdvice.com/Studies for more research on dating and relationship topics.

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About the Author

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C. Price

By: C. Price

Managing Editor

C. Price is part of DatingAdvice.com's content team. She writes advice articles, how-to guides, and studies — all relating to dating, relationships, love, sex, and more.

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