If men show a decreased interest in sex, a Japanese study suggests it could be a sign of a deeper underlying issue.
Research has uncovered a possible link between a lack of sexual interest and life expectancy.
A study conducted in Japan involving 20,969 participants examined sexual interest as a reflection of “positive sexual relationships and sexual function,” both of which are considered key indicators of overall health and quality of life.
But how does having either an increased or decreased interest in sex impact longevity?
The study—titled Association Between Lack of Sexual Interest and All-Cause Mortality in a Japanese General Population: The Yamagata Prospective Observational Study and published in Journals—builds on previous research showing that positive psychological factors contribute to longevity by lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer.
Sex itself can be one such positive factor, as the chemicals released during intimacy help enhance mood and alleviate stress.
To determine whether a lower interest in sex affects overall health and lifespan, researchers conducted a study involving 20,969 individuals (8,558 men and 12,411 women) under the age of 40 in Japan. The study tracked participants from 2009 to 2015.
Throughout the follow-up period, 541 participants either relocated or were lost from the study. However, those who remained were monitored annually for up to nine years, with a median follow-up duration of 7.1 years. Researchers then analyzed the connection between reduced sexual interest and overall mortality, including deaths related to cardiovascular disease and cancer.
Sex can benefit mood (Getty Stock Images)
Participants completed self-report questionnaires covering a range of topics, including medical history, current medication use, symptoms, blood pressure, laughter frequency, sexual interest, smoking habits, alcohol consumption, physical activity, marital status, education level, perceived mental stress, and social engagement.
Focusing on heterosexual relationships, the study explained: “Lack of sexual interest was determined through a single-question assessment: ‘Currently, do you have any interest in people of the opposite sex?’
“Respondents could choose between two answers: ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ Those who selected ‘no’ were classified as lacking sexual interest.”
The study focused on a community in Japan and heterosexual interests (Getty Stock Images)
During the follow-up period, researchers recorded 503 participant deaths, including 162 from cancer and 67 from cardiovascular disease.
By applying the Kaplan-Meier analysis—a statistical method used to estimate survival probabilities over time—the study found that men with low sexual interest had a significantly higher risk of overall mortality and cancer-related deaths.
The Cox proportional hazards model—a statistical method used to analyze how factors like sex influence mortality risk—revealed a significant finding. After adjusting for variables such as age, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, smoking, alcohol consumption, BMI, education, marital status, laughter frequency, and psychological distress, the study found that men who lacked sexual interest had a notably higher risk of all-cause mortality compared to those who maintained sexual interest.
The study concluded: “Lack of sexual interest appears to be a risk factor for all-cause mortality in Japanese males over 40. This finding underscores the importance of sexual interest in promoting longevity within this population.