The Prevalence of Sexsomnia in a General Population Sample

Few studies have surveyed the prevalence of sexsomnia and sexsomnic behaviors in general population samples. In the present study, 1002 respondents (508 males and 494 females), mean age 50.3 years (SD = 17.5), recruited from a Norwegian survey panel, participated in an online survey about sleep phenomena and sleep habits. The survey included questions about lifetime and current parasomnias, such as sleepwalking, sleep terrors, confusional arousals, and dream enactment, as well as sleep duration and sleep need. Questions about lifetime and current sexsomnia, various sexsomnic behaviors, and frequency of current sexsomnia episodes were included. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify predictors of lifetime and current sexsomnia. A total of 10.5% and 6.1% reported lifetime and current sexsomnia, respectively. In the adjusted analysis, male sex (OR = 1.58; 95% CI = 1.03-2.42), sleep terrors (OR = 2.80; 95% CI = 1.64-4.78), and dream enactment (OR = 2.46; 95% CI = 1.56-3.88) were significant predictors for lifetime sexsomnia, whereas sleep terrors (OR = 2.86; 95% CI = 1.48-5.51), and dream enactment (OR = 1.97; 95% CI = 1.10-3.51) were significant predictors for current sexsomnia. Among those who reported lifetime sexsomnia, 6.5% had current sexsomnia episodes with at least a weekly frequency. Masturbation (5.4%), and fondling (4.0%) were the two most common behaviors, whereas consummated intercourse (1.8%) was the least common sexsomnic behavior. Most participants with sexsomnia reported a relatively restricted range of sexsomnic behaviors. The results are discussed in light of the existing literature. Recommendations for future research are provided.