Choosiness as a Predictor of Sexual (In)frequency in Single Heterosexual Adults

TL;DR

This study explores how choosiness in partner selection relates to sexual frequency among single heterosexual adults.

Contribution

The study introduces two distinct measures of choosiness and shows their opposing associations with sexual activity.

Findings

Stated choosiness correlates with higher sexual frequency.

Revealed choosiness correlates with lower sexual frequency.

These associations remain significant after controlling for gender and attractiveness.

Abstract

Increasing numbers of young men and women report celibacy or infrequent sex. In the present work, we consider “choosiness” as a potential correlate of partnered sexual activity for single people. We examined the tendency to be “choosy” in selecting a partner (i.e., choosiness) in two ways: choosiness based in reported essential characteristics in a partner (stated choosiness) and revealed by ratings of dating profiles (revealed choosiness). Results from a survey of 340 single, heterosexual, American participants (aged 18–40 years, 170 female) showed that choosiness relates to sexual frequency, but it depended on how it was measured. Stated choosiness was associated with more partnered sexual activity, whereas revealed choosiness was associated with engaging in less partnered sexual activity. These relationships remained significant even when controlling for pre-established correlates of sexual frequency, such as gender and self-rated attractiveness. This research provides a starting point for understanding choosiness and its role in single heterosexual adults’ sexual experience.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10508-025-03160-z.

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