Post date: Mar 31, 2012 10:57:29 PM
ATHENS, GREECE (MARCH 30, 2012)(REUTERS) - The economic crisis has led Greeks to have less sex, fewer weddings and more infidelity, according to a new study by sex doctors in Athens.
"During the last year we saw there is a decrease in sexual activity due to financial problems. Financial
Greeks are having less sex, but cheating more says a new study linking sexual behaviour with the economic crisis.
problems and sexual activity is connected because there's a kind of depression, you don't have money, you don't have work, you don't see future in your life, these are depressive, melancholic feelings so this decreases sexual activity, decrease the life, the feelings, the good feelings, and creates a kind of depression," said Dr. Konstantinos Konstantinidis, who conducted the study, adding that these feelings have led to a loss of libido for many of his patients.
The study was commissioned by Athens's Andrology Institute after demand for their services skyrocketed in the last two years.
Konstantinidis began conducting the twice-yearly survey two years ago to see whether the economic crisis brought on depressive feelings to the general Greek population, as well as those seeking his help.
The study, published on March 29, showed that 30% agreed the economic crisis had a large influence on sex life.
About 34 percent of Greeks said their economic woes have led to a loss of sexual appetite, and 46 percent saying the economic crisis has affected their personal lives. Marriages dropped by 76 percent and there was a rise in cases of infidelity, as 30 percent of men said they cheated on their wife in the past three months because of family friction caused by the economic crisis, a 50 percent rise.
Some Greeks on Friday (March 30) agreed that the crisis has led them to have a decreased sexual appetite.
"Of course, a person's psychological state is the most important thing in sex. When you have a (certain) psychological state then everything around you is dead," said pensioner Panagiotis Toulousidis.
"Certainly it's had an effect, my wife and I have observed that our sex drive has decreased," said 40-year-old civil engineer Efthimios Efthimoudis in reply to whether his own sexual activity has been affected by the Greek financial crisis.
"Yes, of course it has influenced it, and to a great extent," said new mother Evaggelia, adding that both her own and her friends' sex drive has been affected by the situation in the economy.
"My children's sex life yes, it has been influenced a lot, as for mine, I've set that aside, I'm done," said 63-year-old Athens resident Adriana.
But one man said his sex life was just fine.
"Not mine, I'm doing just fine, thanks," said 47-year-old private sector worker Lasonas Constantopoulos. Some Greeks even said they had a increased sex drive in the last three months because of the economic crisis.
"Wealth creates anxiety, poverty makes you nonchalant. When you have a lot you are grumpy, pathetic, a miser, you are miserable. (It's) unacceptable, you are a grump. When you are poor, you are blithe, full of joy, light-hearted. Therefore, you have more drive," said 56-year-old civil servant Christos Malakos.
The study also surveyed how people's sex life was influenced by the crisis according to their political orientation, showing 58 percent of those more right wing saying it affected their sex life, while 33 percent of those with left wing political saying it affected their sex life.
Six-hundred people between the ages of 25-64 took part in the study which was conducted between February 22-29.