Original scientific paper
Physically active female college students have a better sexual health
Luka Leško
; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Kinesiology, Croati
Renata Barić
; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Kinesiology, Croati
Anamaria Ivanko
; University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Pharmacy, Slovenia
Abstract
Due to a lack of research on correlation between physical activity and sexual health in people with no diagnose of sexual disturbances, the primary aim was to examine the correlation between the physical activity level and three factors of sexual health in women (sexual desire, sexual function and sexual satisfaction). A sample consisted 521 female students aged 18 to 30 (M=19.7, SD=1.1). Data has been gathered by International Physical Activity Questionnaire short form, New Sexual Satisfaction Scale short form, Female Sexual Function Index short form, Figure Rating Scale and the level of sexual desire indicator. The results show a significantly higher level of sexual desire and sexual satisfaction in sufficiently physically active, comparing to insufficiently physically active women. Physically active women have a significantly better total sexual function and its separate domains of sexual arousal and lubrication, while no significant differences in orgasm and pain during sexual intercourse were obtained. Positive effects of physical activity on women’s sexual health can be achieved by both aerobic and/or anaerobic type of physical activity. Although previous studies suggest a positive correlation between physical activity and sexual health in older age groups than used in this research, this study points to a better sexual health of physically active women already in the college student age.
Keywords
exercise; sport; sexual desire; sexual function; sexual satisfaction
Hrčak ID:
237526
URI
Publication date:
30.4.2020.
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