‘ Holy people trying to suppress sex think about it more’

◗ A final study found that the religious teenagers were more likely to report attempts to suppress unwanted sexual thoughts and fantasies

Research suggests that an attempt to suppress sexual thoughts among religious people in fact causes a rebound effect, creating a greater fixation on sexual fantasies and desires.

The study, called “God I Can’t Stop Thinking About Sex”, examined differences between Jewish Orthodox teenagers and secular adolescents in Israel.

Overall, it found that religious teenagers had greater preoccupation with sexual thoughts, were more likely to report lower- well being.

The first survey of 661 teenagers found that religious people had greater preoccupation with unwanted sexual thoughts, also known as compulsive sexual behaviour ( CSB) than secular teens.

A second survey of 522 adolescents discovered that religious adolescents reported lower well- being, which researchers believe is linked to their preoccupation with CSB.

A final study interviewed 317 teenagers, and it found that the religious teenagers were more likely to report attempts to suppress unwanted sexual thoughts and fantasies, which then led to more compulsive sexual behaviour and lower well- being.

“The study reflects, in my opinion, the complex reality among religious adolescents. It seems that the religious public should examine its ways regarding the importance of discourse and the ability to engage in sexuality and sexual education even in the early stages of adolescence,” study author Yaniv Efrati said to PsyPost.

“It is very important that religious society discuss sexuality and deal with sexuality in the right manner at the beginning of adolescence and even at the elementary age in order to prevent the development of CSB,” he said.

“In my studies and work with sexual compulsive behavior in adults, I find that parental responses to child sexual behavior ( masturbation, pornography viewing) are very significant in compulsive sexual development.

Efrati also observed that religious people tend to overestimate their compulsive sexual behaviour.