A frustrating sex life could lead to a shorter lifespan, a new study says.
The University of Michigan tested fruit flies and found that aging and health problems are affected by how the brain reacts to sexual expectations.
The study revealed male flies that anticipated sexual activity but were denied the opportunity to mate experienced more stress, a decrease in fat stores and resistance to starvation.
The sexually frustrated male fruit flies had shorter lives than those that mated. The results indicated that sensory perception and psychological state are in a part of the brain that affects long-term health.
Though UF students are a bit more complex than fruit flies, the results might have implications for students’ lives. Frustration is related to not getting something you are expecting and is linked to a higher level of stress, said Samantha Evans, sexual health educator at GatorWell Health Promotion Services.
In order to be less disappointed over expectations, partners should communicate what they hope to get out of the relationship, Evans said.
Zee Krstic, an 18-year-old UF journalism freshman, said he does simple things to relax.
“When I was little, my sister used to show me these little tricks to calm me down,” Krstic said. “Just little practices like pushing my hands together and taking deep breaths and pausing for a couple seconds.”
A version of this story ran on page 8 on 12/4/2013 under the headline "Flies have needs, too: Sexual frustration could shorten life"
