There has been a lot of media debate recently regarding the role of casual sex and deteriorating mental health in people aged between 18 and 25. You might think we wouldn’t want to talk about this at all considering the nature of our site, but contrary to what anyone may think, we take the mental health of all our members very seriously and are happy and willing to engage in a debate over the role of casual sex in people’s lives.
Having sex when you’re younger
Hormones rage when you hit puberty. It’s a biological fact. You constantly want to have sex and often you don’t give a shit if it’s in a relationship or with a random person you meet at a party. Now many studies conducted globally have been saying that college students and other young people who engage in casual sex often suffer from depression and other negative mental health effects. However the studies also say that younger people often engage in casual sex when they are already feeling depressed and vulnerable. The casual sex then increases the deterioration of their mental health.
These facts are hardly revelatory. Anyone who already suffers from a mental health issue will already be extremely emotionally vulnerable so is more likely to be negatively affected by an activity as physically intimate as sex if it isn’t done in an environment they feel secure in, such as a committed relationship.
So from our standpoint, we feel that anyone should have the opportunity to engage in casual sex, but we strongly suggest you ask yourself some questions before deciding it is for you at this stage in your life.
What are the questions I need to ask myself before engaging in casual sex?
1. Am I happy and secure with who I am in my life?
2. Am I aware of all the precautions I need to take to practise safe sex?
3. Have I recently broken up with someone and is it likely to affect my judgement?
4. Do I want to have sex because I’m horny or because I’m looking for a new long term relationship?
5. Am I in a good place in my life?
6. Do I have friends and family I can talk to and confide in?
If you answered ‘yes’ to most if not all of those questions, then I would say engaging in casual sex is not likely to do you any harm. However if you answered ‘no’ to the majority of those questions (especially no. 1) then I would recommend you pause and consider your position seriously before engaging in casual sex. You can have a great time, but you could end up causing yourself more long term damage mentally.
Be smart!
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