Having sex with an ex seems to be a fairly typical part of the breakup process for young adults, a new study shows.But the behavior could be risky, pushing former partners into emotionally complicated territory where safe-sex measures
are likely to be cast aside, researchers say.The study's authors collected data on 792 "emerging adults" ages 17 to 24, who had been part of a longitudinal survey (meaning scientists followed them through time) in Lucas County, Ohio, which includes the city of Toledo. All had been in a relationship within the past two years.
The researchers found that nearly half (44 percent) had broken up and gotten back together with a girlfriend or boyfriend. Among those who had rekindled a flame, 53 percent said sex was part of the reconciliation. Racial minorities in particular were more likely to reconcile and have sex with an ex, the study found.
This so-called "relationship churning" is far more common among young people than married adult couples
,
the researchers say. This could reflect the general instability and
romantic exploration that are characteristic of emerging adulthood,
though the team warns that such behavior could have negative emotional
consequences.
"Having sex with an ex could put people in a position of technically
being broken up, but still emotionally connected," the authors wrote in
an article published in the Journal of Adolescent Research in November
2012."Those who stay in contact following a breakup
continue
to feel the pain of the breakup more intensely and may have more
difficulty moving on. Previous research found that college students who
had sex with their exes mostly described this as a 'difficult or
negative event.'"The behavior is also risky from a health perspective. Previous research has shown that condom use
is
high at the beginning of relationships but tends to drop over time.
Though sex with an ex might be treated as a casual encounter, exes might
be less likely to use a condom or take the safe-sex precautions they
would with a less familiar partner.