Stress Adversely Impacting Americans Sex Lives

SAN FRANCISCO—Almost half (46 percent) of U.S. adults are more stressed-out than a year ago, according to a new nationwide survey. In addition, 62 percent of respondents to the Relora® - Stress & the City Survey reported they’re not having enough sex, and said stress is one of the main reasons. Financial issues were the major stressor (64 percent), followed by stress about work (40 percent), lack of time (39 percent), health concerns (32 percent), family problems (32 percent) and relationship issues (30 percent). Eating comfort foods, watching television and listening to music were the top methods respondents used to get rid of stress.

“Sex is more in the brain than below the belt,” said Peter Lambrou, Ph.D., chair of psychology, Scripps Memorial Hospital, La Jolla, Calif. “For most people, the greater the stress level, the less sex will be in the relationship. Whatever couples can do to better manage their stress will help improve both the frequency and satisfaction of their sex lives. From relaxation exercises such as yoga and meditation to supplements, people can take steps to turn up the heat in the bedroom.”

Next Pharmaceuticals, the supplier of Relora®, a patented natural ingredient for stress reduction, was the sponsor of the study. Results of a six-week, double blind clinical trial on Relora’s impact on stress in healthy adult women were published in April 2008 in Nutrition Journal (2008 Apr 21;7:11). Participants took Relora (250 mg capsules) or placebo three times daily for six weeks; the intervention helped reduce temporary, transitory anxiety.