The relationship of number of sexual partners with personality traits, age, gender and sexual identification

ABSTRACT

Although personality has been tested as a predictor of sexual behaviours, little is known about the contribution of personality to the number of sexual partners. This study aimed to examine the models of association between the number of lifetime sexual partners and personality traits in lesbian, gay, bisexual (LGB) and heterosexual people. A web-based questionnaire was administered to the 768 Polish adults aged between 16 and 42 years old, including 61% women. Of the participants, 61% identified themselves as heterosexual, 22% as bisexual and 17% as homosexual. A series of multiple regression analyses was conducted to find the best predictors for the association between Big-Five personality traits and the number of lifetime sexual partners. Age, gender, and sexual identification were also included in the analysis. Higher level of extraversion and lower level of agreeableness were the best predictors of a higher number of sexual partners. Sexual identification was a moderator of the relation between emotional stability and the number of sexual partners, whereas age and gender were separate moderators of the association between extraversion and number of sexual partners. Scientists and clinicians may use these predictors to prepare prevention and therapy for people at risk of sexual addiction or STIs.

KEYWORDS:

• Big Five
• personality traits
• sexual identification
• number of sexual partners

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Aleksandra Rogowska

Aleksandra Rogowska is an Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Opole. Her research interests focus on individual differences in young adults.

Magdalena Tofel

Magdalena Tofel is a graduate of a master's studies in psychology at the University of Opole. Her research interests include sexuality and LGB psychology.

Barbara Zmaczyńska-Witek

Barbara Zmaczyńska-Witek is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Opole (Poland).

Zofia Kardasz

Zofia Kardasz is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Opole. Her research interests include psychology of intimate relationships, especially Family and couple psychology, and LGBT psychology.