We investigated the relationships between boredom susceptibility, perceived meaninglessness, and attitudes to sex among heterosexual and bisexual men. We propose that meaninglessness is associated with men's increased endorsement of sensational and uncommitted sex via boredom susceptibility. In Study 1, we found a significant indirect relationship consistent with our hypothesis. In Study 2, we replicated this finding in a larger sample. Further, we showed that using sex as a coping mechanism to deal with unpleasant affective states explained the relationship between boredom susceptibility and our sex composite. Specifically, meaninglessness in life was associated with increased boredom susceptibility. In turn, boredom susceptibility was associated with the use of sex as a coping mechanism, which ultimately was associated with increased endorsement of sexual sensation seeking and promiscuous attitudes. We discuss these findings in light of research on sexuality, boredom, and meaninglessness.
History
Publication
Personality and Individual Differences;168, 110295
Publisher
Elsevier
Note
peer-reviewed
The full text of this article will not be available in ULIR until the embargo expires on the 21/08/2022
Rights
This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Personality and Individual Differences Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Personality and Individual Differences, 2021, 168, 110295, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2020.110295