Lovehoney, the sexual wellness brand, has released a new study of more than 1,600 people looking at the relationship between happiness and the cost-of-living crisis. The study found that a staggering 95% of people have been affected by the cost-of-living crisis, with 24% strongly affected.
Breaking this down, it showed that 64% of UK adults are more stressed than usual, 55% are sleeping worse than usual, and 57% have noticed an impact on their mental wellbeing. All three of these aspects were found to disproportionately affect women, with a higher-than-average 60% reporting worse sleep, 69% feeling more stressed, and 61% feeling an impact on mental wellbeing.
Looking at how these issues have been combatted, it was found that 57% have found sexual activity a good way to unwind and relieve tension recently, while 61% report to a better night’s sleep after sex. When asked specifically about the benefits, 63% agreed that it has a positive impact on stress relief, and 52% on sleep and mental wellbeing.
How the crisis has impacted our dating lives was also looked at, with 65% of people confessing to going out to pubs and restaurants less frequently, and 35% enjoying more at-home date lives instead of going out.
A further one in ten people have considered moving in with a partner to save on costs (with this number rising to 20% of 25–34-year-olds), while 20% of people have considered sex in lieu of turning the heating on. Again, this number was higher among 25-34 -year-olds (29%) and 18-24-year-olds (27%).
A spokesperson for Lovehoney said: “The study offers stark insight into the effect of the cost-of-living crisis on our sex and dating lives, but also a look at the benefits. The fact that so many are unaware of the ways in which sex can improve our general wellbeing is something we are on a mission to change.”
