Asexuality: prevalence and associated factors in a national probability sample

J Sex Res. 2004 Aug;41(3):279-87. doi: 10.1080/00224490409552235.

Abstract

I used data from a national probability sample (N > 18,000) of British residents to investigate asexuality, defined as having no sexual attraction to a partner of either sex. Approximately 1% (n = 195) of the sample indicated they were asexual. A number of factors were related to asexuality, including gender (i.e., more women than men), short stature, low education, low socioeconomic status, and poor health. Asexual women also had a later onset of menarche relative to sexual women. The results suggest that a number of pathways, both biological and psychosocial, contribute to the development of asexuality.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • England / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors
  • Sampling Studies
  • Scotland / epidemiology
  • Self Concept*
  • Sex Factors
  • Sexual Abstinence / psychology*
  • Sexual Abstinence / statistics & numerical data
  • Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / epidemiology
  • Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / psychology*
  • Sexuality / psychology*
  • Sexuality / statistics & numerical data
  • Social Class
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Wales / epidemiology