Slow But Sure: Does the Timing of Sex During Dating Matter?
Highlights
- Two recent studies call into question the wisdom of testing sexual chemistry early in dating. Tweet This
- Why couples may benefit from delaying sexual involvement: intentional partner selection and sexual symbolism. Tweet This
Is it better to assess sexual compatibility early in dating or to delay having sex? Does “true love wait” or should you “test drive” a relationship before saying I do? These are important questions to ask since most single adults report that they desire to one day have a successful, lifelong marriage-and while dating, many couples move rapidly into sexual relationships. In fact, as noted in Figure 1, recent studies have found that between 30 and 40% of dating and married couples report having sex within one month of the start of their relationship, and the numbers are even higher for currently cohabiting couples. Continue Reading