Major Study Reveals What Celibacy Indicates About Health, Psychology, and Environment

How much do intelligence, education, or our environment determine whether we ever have sex? A new study involving over 400,000 people shows: Lifelong celibacy is not a fringe phenomenon—it is linked to personality traits, health, social factors, and even genetic influences. Particularly among men, a surprisingly complex interplay emerges—with societal implications.

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Why Have People in Late Adulthood Never Had Sex?

This is precisely the question an international research team, consisting of scientists from the Amsterdam University Medical Center, the University of Queensland in Australia, and the Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics (MPIEA) in Frankfurt/Main, sought to answer. The study aimed to better understand the characteristics and causes of lifelong celibacy (i.e., never having had vaginal, oral, or anal intercourse). Previous research was limited and mostly focused on younger people or sexual orientations, making the findings difficult to generalize.¹

The significance of this research lies in the fact that sex is not just a personal matter—it influences social relationships, mental health, and potentially even societal structures.

Also interesting: Can Even Prevent Diseases! How Healthy Regular Sex is

Over 400,000 Participants from the UK and Australia

The data used comes from 405,117 British and 13,500 Australian adults, with the former sourced from the UK Biobank—a comprehensive health study with genetic, physical, and social information from people aged 39 to 73.

The researchers analyzed 251 characteristics (known as “phenotypes”), including mental health, cognitive abilities, social relationships, drug use, and body measurements. Additionally, the researchers conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS), examining millions of genetic variants to see if genes are associated with celibacy. They also analyzed the influence of environmental factors such as gender ratio and income distribution in residential areas.

For the genetic analyses, the so-called polygenic score was calculated—a measure of genetic predisposition to a particular trait. These scores were tested in an independent Australian sample to verify the transferability of the results.

Also interesting: What Happens in a Man’s Body When He Hasn’t Had Sex for a Long Time

Those Who Never Had Sex Are Often Highly Educated, Avoid Alcohol, and Feel Lonely

In the British sample, 3,929 people (about one percent) reported never having had sexual intercourse. These individuals differed significantly in many characteristics from sexually active people. The key findings at a glance:

Social and Emotional Characteristics: Celibate individuals were more often lonely, nervous, and unhappy. They had fewer close confidants and less social contact with friends or family.
Health and Behavior: They consumed less alcohol, smoked less, and used their phones less. Men also showed lower physical strength (e.g., less grip strength).
Cognition and Education: Celibate individuals were, on average, more highly educated and exhibited genetic traits associated with higher IQ and socioeconomic status.
Environmental Factors: Men who never had sex were more likely to live in regions with a surplus of men and higher income inequality.
Genetics: Genetic variants explained 17 percent in men and 14 percent in women of the differences in celibacy, with moderate overlap but also differences.

In the Australian sample, many of these correlations were confirmed. The genetic score for celibacy was associated with later sexual initiation, fewer sexual relationships, and less partnership experience—especially among women.

Co-first author Abdel Abdellaoui reports: “Most striking is the overlap with genetic factors related to intelligence, education, and neurological developmental disorders such as autism.” Co-senior author Brendan Zietsch adds: “We see here a group of people who tend to be more socially withdrawn and therefore more often have difficulty finding a partner.”²

What Is the Significance of These Findings?

The study provides a new, nuanced view of lifelong celibacy. Sexually abstinent individuals exhibit a complex interplay of education, mental state, social isolation, and genetic disposition. Particularly among men, physical strength plays a role, while loneliness is widespread across all groups. “Romantic and sexual relationships are often an important social support. Their absence is associated with loneliness, anxiety, depressive feelings, and reduced well-being for many,” explains co-first author Laura Wesseldijk from MPIEA.

The findings are also relevant for society. The authors point out that men in regions with many men and high social inequality are particularly at risk of remaining celibate, which can be associated with increased psychological distress and social risks (e.g., radicalization in “incel” groups; involuntary celibacy). The study thus provides starting points for social policy measures to promote social inclusion and mental health.

For genetic research, it shows that celibacy is not just a personal or cultural issue but could also be significant from an evolutionary perspective. Those who never have intercourse do not have offspring—a possible biological “dead end.” Certain gene variants associated with celibacy today have become rarer over the past 10,000 years because they likely reduced reproductive chances and were thus less frequently passed on.

Researchers Warn Against Overinterpreting the Results

The scientists emphasize that their findings contain no value judgments. Some people consciously choose a celibate life. They could not distinguish between voluntary (e.g., asexuality) and involuntary celibacy (e.g., social isolation) but could highlight the associated factors.

The strengths of the study lie in the high data quality, consideration of cultural contexts, and the ability to analyze genetic influences in a differentiated manner. However, the survey is partly based on self-reports, which can lead to distortions—such as social desirability. Men might exaggerate their sexual experience, while women might understate it.

Moreover, genetic correlations are always context-dependent: A genetic trait associated with celibacy today may have had no or different meanings in earlier cultures. The researchers themselves explicitly warn against overinterpreting the genetic results. The study only shows correlations, not causality.