The Experts Were Wrong: Casual Sex Doesn't Make You Depressed

Maybe it's just their changing attitudes, but kids these days don't get all bummed out after having casual sex. By that we mean that maybe it's because society doesn't see casual sex as such a big deal anymore, so there's no reason to get all depressed over it.

University of Minnesota researchers interviewed 1,311 people in the crucial 18-24 demographic about their sex lives and had this to say about it:

"The conventional wisdom is that casual sex, 'friends with benefits,' and hooking up is hurtful. That's what we've been teaching kids for decades," especially in the federally funded abstinence-only sex education programs, she said.

Not that Eisenberg advocates casual sex. Far from it.

"Casual sex is not for everyone" as an emotional matter, she said. Moreover, there is real physical risk: Rates of sexually transmitted diseases are rising relentlessly, and teen pregnancy rates in Minnesota are on the increase as well. [The Star-Tribune]

Eisenberg reiterates that sex ed needs to stop scaring kids about sex itself, and instead focus on the real terrors: people. That is, what people are capable of-- violence, STDs, etc.-- and how to deal with the trouble that can arise from getting naked with partners who may not turn out to be Prince or Princess Charming.

The Star-Tribune report also makes clear that the idea that "hooking up for casual sex is bad for young people because it causes emotional or psychological damage" is refuted in the report, although the writer doesn't get into the details. We drew our own conclusions, just so you know...

Image.