CALGARIANS TALK ABOUT SEX

The research results presented are based on an Angus Reid Group/Calgary Herald telephone survey of Calgarians. Telephone interviews were conducted between February 24 and February 28, 1999, among a representative cross-section of 700 Calgary adults.

These data were statistically weighted to ensure the sample's age and gender composition reflects that of the actual Calgary population according to the 1996 Census data.

With a citywide sample of 700, one can say with 95 percent certainty that the overall results are within +3.7 percentage points of what they would have been had the entire adult population of Calgary been polled. The margin of error will be larger for other sub-groupings of the survey population.

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This first-of-its-kind telephone survey conducted with a random sample of 700 adult Calgarians identifies a variety of interesting findings ranging from Calgarians' personal sexual behaviour, to their attitudes about sex, relationships and infidelity. Key findings from the research include:

• "Age is a powerful influence on sex, both in terms of perception and behaviour".
• "Calgarians favour the idea of commitment in a sexual relationship - casual sex is not appropriate for a majority. While love might happen at first sight, sex should only happen after 9 dates."
• "In general, sex is an important part of the lives of Calgarians and one about which they are overwhelmingly satisfied with and careful about. A majority of Calgarians like to experiment in the bedroom and very few have communication problems with their partners. Most Calgarians also favour requiring parenting and sex education classes for those planning to wed, and only a modest minority subscribe to U.S. President Bill Clinton's "definition of sex".
• "Calgarians report attendance at a strip clubs and readership of erotic literature in higher proportions than Canadians living elsewhere. Sex in public places is also an activity that is more common than one might think in Calgary."
• "Our February survey asked a number of questions dealing explicitly with infidelity in a relationship. These findings suggest that "cheating" in a relationship is not very common, but would likely have profound implications for a relationship if ever discovered".
• "On average, adult Calgarians and Canadians in general have much in common when it comes to the total number of sexual partners in the course of their lives, however our February survey suggests that Calgarians are having more sex than Canadians living elsewhere"

This research was gathered using a telephone survey methodology with a random sample of 700 adult Calgarians between February 24 and February 28, 1999. These data were statistically weighted to ensure the sample's age and gender composition reflects that of the actual Calgary population according to the 1996 Census data. With a citywide sample of 700, one can say with 95 percent certainty that the overall results are within +3.7 percentage points of what they would have been had the entire adult population of Calgary been polled. The margin of error will be larger for other sub-groupings of the survey population.

We remind readers that due to the subject matter, that certain behavioural results contained in this research should be greeted with a certain amount of healthy skepticism. As Tim Olafson, Senior Vice President of the Angus Reid Group, noted:

"With a study about sex, a telephone survey is the most expedient research method but not necessarily the most accurate. We expect that there will be a certain amount of inaccuracies in these data: under-estimating, over-estimating - whether conscious or unconscious, research about sex inevitably involves compensating for societal biases about the topic. A clinical study would likely yield more precision with respect to certain aspects of Calgarians' sex lives, but that was really not our intent. Rather, we are establishing a general gauge of the city's feelings and behaviour - in essence, we are taking a long glance at the subject rather than using a microscope".

Our reporting of this survey's findings have been broken into six discrete areas of investigation: A Relationship/Child Profile of Respondents, Views on Sex and Age, Views on Casual Sex/Sex & Dating, Calgarians' Attitudes Toward Sex, Calgarians' Sexual Behaviour, and Sex & the Internet.

align="center"> Over one-half (57%) of our February sample of Calgarians is made up of those who are married or co-habitating, while another 10% categorize themselves as "single but in an exclusive relationship", and 32% are simply "single". Nearly six-in-ten (59%) have children, while 41% do not. (SEE TABLE 1) align="center">

"Age is a powerful influence on sex, both in terms of perception and behaviour".

Age and gender are two of the most powerful predictive indicators of sexual attitudes and behaviour. Our February survey asked respondents their views on a variety of questions dealing with sex as it relates to age. Overall, this investigation finds that many Calgarians are of the view that most teenagers today are becoming sexually active at a younger-than-appropriate age. While these data suggest a modest trend toward sex at an earlier age across broad generational categories (i.e. younger respondents tend to report initial sexual contact at a younger age than older respondents do), people's perceptions on this front may not entirely be in keeping with reality.

Appropriate Age to Begin Having Sex

Our February poll posed the question, "What is appropriate to start sexual activity?". Results show that most Calgarians believe that sex is an activity that should accompany adulthood - 18.2 is the mean age cited by respondents. Indeed, only 13% of those interviewed feel it is appropriate for those aged 16 or younger to be having sex, while 17 years of age is selected by 10%. Another 20% of those interviewed maintain that sexual activity is more appropriate for those aged 19 or older, and 16% are unsure on the question. (SEE TABLE 2A)

• Women tend to suggest that sex is appropriate at a slightly older age than men (18.6 vs. 17.8). Also, evaluations of the proper age for sexual activity to start tend to increase with the age of respondents.

Perceived Average Age When Sex Starts These Days

Comparing Calgarians' views on the "proper" age for sexual activity to perceptions about when most teens are actually starting to have sex these days yields some remarkable contrasts - people tend to believe that most teens are having sex well before an age deemed "appropriate". On average, Calgarians believe that most teens are starting to have sex in and around their 14th birthday (mean of 14.6 years). Indeed, over one-fifth (22%) of the sample estimate that the majority of teens are first having sex by the time they are 13 years old, and only 9% believe that most teens are initiated in sex at 17 years of age or older. (SEE TABLE 2B)

• Older respondents (i.e. those aged 55 years or more) offer the lowest average estimates for initial sexual encounters among teens (14.2 years of age), and indeed nearly one-third of those in this age category believe that sexual activity is typically occurring at age 13 or younger.

Age Respondents First Became Sexually Active

On the whole, Calgarians are generally consistent about the age they think is appropriate compared to the age that they personally began having sex. When posed the question, "When did you first become sexually active?", the average age cited by Calgarians stands at 18, while 2% of our total sample say they have never been sexually active. The mean age for initial sexual experience is lower among men (17.3 compared to 18.6 for women) and increases progressively across generational categories. Among those aged 18 to 24, first experiences with sex typically occurred around age 16 compared to age 20 among the oldest respondents (i.e. those 55 or older). (SEE TABLE 2C)

Perceived Age When Sex Typically Ceases

On the eve of federal regulatory approval for Viagra, our February poll also asked Calgarians to estimate the typical age when most people stop having sex, and here we find an interesting reversal in earlier age trends (i.e. younger respondents tend to forecast a halt in sex well before their older counterparts). On the main, in and around 70 years of age is the time when Calgarians believe their sex life will end, although nearly four-in-ten (39%) maintain that sex continues into one's 80's or never stops. At the other end of the spectrum, fully 4% of the sample believe that sex ends in one's fourth decade and 8% maintain that most people in their 50's tend to stop having a sex life. (SEE TABLE 2D)

• As mentioned earlier, estimates of the typical that one's sex life ends tend to vary heavily with the age of the respondent. For instance, on average those found in the 18 to 24 year old category believe that sex stops for most around 63 years of age (63.5), but these predictions increase progressively with age, so that for those aged 55 or more, the estimate stands at 74.1 years. Those found in our oldest generational category also report the highest incidence of uncertainty about when the average sex life ends (25% are unsure on this question, compared to an average of 12%).

VIEWS ON CASUAL SEX AND SEX & DATING

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"Calgarians favour the idea of commitment in a sexual relationship - casual sex is not appropriate for a majority. While love might happen at first sight, sex should only happen after 9 dates."

Our February survey sought to divide Calgarians into two broad camps based upon general views related to casual sex. Respondents were asked to decided which of two statements best captured their own feelings on the subject, i.e. "There's really nothing wrong with having casual sex as long as it involves two consenting adults" OR "Sex is a very special experience and should only take place between those in a committed relationship". To this end, Calgarians favour commitment over casual sex. Nearly six-in-ten (59%) Calgarians maintain that their own feelings are in keeping with the need for commitment in a sexual relationship, compared to 38% who believe there is really nothing wrong with a casual rendezvous from time to time. (SEE TABLE 3)

• There is a definite gender bias associated with views on this issue - a majority of men (51%) tend to endorse the propriety of casual sex between consenting adults, compared to only one-quarter (25%) of women.
• Age also drives views on this front. A majority (52%) of those under the age of 35 find themselves in the "causal sex is OK with me" camp, however this figure drops to nearly one-fifth (22%) among those aged 55 or more.
• Involvement in a relationship also relates to opinions on this matter. Those categorizing themselves as "single" are evenly split on the issue (49% casual sex, 49% commitment sex), while numbers endorsing sex exclusively in a committed relationship rise as one looks along this continuum - increasing to 58% for those single but in a relationship and to 65% for those married or co-habitating

Adults in Calgary were also questioned about their views on dating in our Angus Reid Group/Calgary Herald survey. Specifically, we asked "When two people are first attracted to one another, how many dates, if any, do you feel are appropriate before they first have sex?". Here again, Calgarians suggest that casual sex is not entirely appropriate. On average, Calgarians believe that at least 9 dates are appropriate before two people begin a sexual relationship, however the distribution of answers on this question covers a broad range. On one end of the spectrum, only 2% of those interviewed believe its okay for two individuals who are attracted to one another to have sex without any dating, while shifting to the other extreme, fully 14% maintain that sex should only occur after marriage. (SEE TABLE 4)

• Men are more likely than women to believe that sex should occur earlier in a new relationship, however even here most endorse a significant period of introduction before sex (on average men say 7 dates is about right before a sexual relationship should start, compared to women at 9.5).
• Those under the age of 35 typically offer a slightly shorter "courting" before sex, compared to those over the age of 35.
• Single respondents offer lower estimates than those married or co-habitating.

CALGARIANS' ATTITUDES TOWARD SEX

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"In general, sex is an important part of the lives of Calgarians and one about which they are overwhelmingly satisfied with and careful about. A majority of Calgarians like to experiment in the bedroom and very few have communication problems with their partners. Most Calgarians also favour requiring parenting and sex education classes for those planning to wed, and only a modest minority subscribe to U.S. President Bill Clinton's "definition of sex".

Survey participants were presented with a battery of eight general statements about sex and asked to indicate whether they personally agree or disagree with each. Several of these items were used in a March 1998 National Angus Reid Poll of 1000 Canadians (margin of error, +/- 3.0 percentage points, 19 times out of 20) and have been included for comparative analysis. Results to this line of questioning are as follows: (SEE TABLE 5)

• A large majority (84%) of adult Calgarians says they always take steps to avoid sexually transmitted disease. These responses are more common among those under the age of 35 and less common among those married or co-habitating (monogamy presumably the driver of the latter).
• The same proportion (84%) report that they are generally satisfied with their sex life, with satisfaction higher among women, and those currently in a relationship (either married/co-habitating or exclusive dating). Among single respondents, only 66% are satisfied with their sex life.
• Over three-quarters (76%) of those interviewed say that "sex is an important part of my life", a figure nearly identical to that registered Canada-wide in March of 1998 (72%). Sex tends to be "more important" to those aged 25 to 54, and among those currently in a relationship.
• Two-thirds (67%) of Calgarian adults consider themselves "sexually experimental" in the sense that they like to try new things. "Adventurous types" are more likely to be male than female, under the age of 35, and single but dating exclusively.
• Fully 65% of those interviewed argue that "engaged people should be required to take parenting and sex education classes before getting married" - a view more commonly held by women and those over the age of 35.
• Although a large majority of Calgarians are satisfied with their sex life, a sizable plurality wishes "they were getting more". Over four-in-ten (44%) agree that they would like to be getting more sex than they are currently. Single people and men are most likely to put forward this opinion - a view that also declines with a respondent's age.
• U.S. President Bill Clinton's public explanation of an "inappropriate relationship" with a White House intern would not hold up to public scrutiny in Calgary. Regardless of how it is defined in Arkansas or Washington D.C., only 25% of Calgary adults agree with the statement "my definition of sex does not include oral sex".
• Finally, only 13% of those interviewed say that they have difficulty discussing sex with their partner.

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"Calgarians report attendance at a strip club and readership of erotic literature in higher proportions than Canadians living elsewhere. Sex in public places is also an activity that is more common than one might think in Calgary."

General Sexual Behaviour

Survey participants were presented with a battery of fourteen broadly based behaviours associated with sex, and asked which ones apply to them personally. Again, several of these items were used in a March 1998 National Angus Reid Poll of 1000 Canadians (margin of error, 3.0 percentage points, 19 times out of 20) and have been included for comparative analysis. Results to this line of questioning are as follows: (SEE TABLES 7A, 7B & 7C)

• Fully 97% of adult Calgarians are currently or have been at some time in the past sexually active.
• Calgarians are more likely to have gone to a strip club (61%) or read erotic magazines or literature (37%) than average Canadians (in March 1998, 55% of Canadians reported attending a strip club at some point in the past and 21% were readers of erotic literature).
• In Calgary, those aged 55 or older are less likely to have gone to a strip club, while erotic literature readers are more common in the 25 to 54 age grouping.
• Men report higher than women in both of these categories.
• Roughly one-third (34%) of Calgary adults have taken-out x-rated movies before - a figure identical to the national average in 1998. Again, this sort of activity is more common among men and those aged 25 to 54.
• Fantasizing about sex with a colleague from work is reported by one-third (32%) of those interviewed, and is higher than average among men, those under 35 and single respondents. Sexual fantasizing about a colleague declines with age.
• Fewer than one-in-twenty Calgarians have used telephone sex lines in the past (4%) or newspaper personal ads (3%). Both of these figures are comparable to the national average set out in our March 1998 Angus Reid Poll.
• Sex in public places is more common among Calgarians than you might think. Fully 31% of our February sample report taking part in this activity in the past (32% of those sexually active). This type of sex is reported more often by men than women, single respondents and those under 35 years of age.
• Almost one-in-five (18%) survey respondents report having sex with a work colleague before - again, gender, age and relationship status variations appear.
• One-in-ten (10%) Calgarians report that they have had sexual encounters with multiple partners at the same time before, a figure comparable to reporting on personally watching others have sex (8%) and having sex at one's workplace (9%), while only 6% of those interviewed report that they have had a sexual experience with a partner of the same sex.

Infidelity

"Our February survey asked a number of questions dealing explicitly with infidelity in a relationship. These findings suggest that "cheating" in a relationship is not very common, but would likely have profound implications for a relationship if ever discovered".

As found in TABLES 7B & 7C of the appendixes:

• Fully 16% of those interviewed this February report that while in a committed relationship, they have had sex with someone other than their partner. Infidelity is more likely to be reported by men, those under the age of 35, and those who are currently single and not in an exclusive dating relationship.

Our survey asked those currently married, co-habitating or in an exclusive dating relationship two hypothetical questions about infidelity, i.e. "What would happen if they ever discovered that a partner was being unfaithful?" and "What would happen if a partner ever discovered their infidelity?". (SEE TABLE 6)

• Calgarians in a committed relationship are relatively split on the issue of what to do if they ever discovered a partner's infidelity, although they lean towards "ending the relationship". Fully 49% of respondents say that this discovery would be a call to action for them to end the relationship, while 45% say they would stay with their partner and try to work things out. Women are more likely to report "dumping" their partner for unfaithfulness, while this reaction tends to decline according to age and status of relationship (i.e. 43% of married/co-habitating respondents would end the relationship, while 79% of those dating exclusively say likewise).
• Similar results appear when the shoe is placed on the other foot, although here responses lean toward preserving the relationship. Fully 47% of those interviewed believe that if their partner ever discovered cheating, the partner would try to preserve the relationship, compared to 45% who predict a break-up in this event. On this front, the gender skew of the first question erodes somewhat, although similar trends appear for age and relationship status.

Profiling Sexual Activity in Calgary: How many partners, How often?

"On average, adult Calgarians and Canadians in general have much in common when it comes to the total number of sexual partners in the course of their lives, however our February survey suggests that Calgarians are having more sex than Canadians living elsewhere".

As shown is Tables 7D and 7E of the appendixes:

• The typical adult Calgarian has had almost nine (8.6 mean) sexual partners over the course of their lifetime, a figure comparable to the national average of 1998 (8.0). In Calgary, men tend to report sexual activity with more partners (10.3) than women (7.0), and those between 25 and 54 tend to report more sexual encounters with different partners than those in other age groupings do.
• According to this research, Calgarians have sex almost nine (8.8 mean) times per month, a figure considerably higher than the national average of 1998 (6.6). Frequency of sex is higher among those under 35, and much more common among those single but dating exclusively.

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"One-in-five Calgarians have looked for sexual material on the Internet"

Nearly seventy percent of Calgary adults say they have access to the Internet at home, work or school, and a sizable minority (30%) have looked for sexual material on the computer network (this constitutes 21% of the entire adult population of Calgary). (SEE TABLE 8)

• Men and those under the age of 35 are more likely to be surfing the Internet for sexual material than those in other demographic categories.

For further information, please contact:

Tim Olafson
Senior Vice-President
Angus Reid Group
(403) 237-0066