A survey of Melbourne women presented at an international mental health conference has concluded that females who suffer from mild to moderate depression have a third more sexual activity than those who are not.

They also had more sexually liberated attitudes, a bigger variety of sexual experiences and, if single, were more likely to partake in casual sex, Dr Sabura Allen, a clinical psychologist at Monash University, said.

“It was more sex and more of everything from kissing to petting, foreplay and intercourse,” said Dr Allen, who studied the recent sexual experiences of 107 depressed and non-depressed women who were in relationships. “We knew this anecdotally from clinical samples but this is the first time it’s been shown in research.”

She said depressed women were likely seeking out sexual intimacy more often to help feel more secure.

“When people are depressed they feel more insecure about their relationships and concerned that their partner may not care about them or find them valuable,” Dr Allen said. “Having sex helps them feel that closeness and security.”

There’s a technical term I’m looking for concerning this study. Oh yeah. I remember it: “DUH!”

It’s the sad truth that girls who don’t find unconditional love from home will find temporary lust as a replacement and then feel rejected as men use them for their own purposes. Sadly, I think security in young people’s lives is at a minimum.