Cybersex as Leisure: Socio-Demographic and Socio-Psychological Profiling of the (Non)Participants in Online Sexual Activities

Exploring the intersection of sexuality and leisure in the digital age, this study profiles individuals based on their online sexual repertoires. Using cross-sectional online survey data (N = 1,006), we examined the socio-demographic and socio-psychological characteristics using MANOVA and Chi-Square tests. Individuals with broader online sexual experiences, often older, male, and in open/casual relationships, reported more positive attitudes toward online sexual activity, greater sexual comfort, and a stronger view of sex as leisure, encompassing intrinsic pleasure and its biopsychosocial benefits. They also endorsed more egalitarian sexual standards. Individuals without online sexual experience, typically younger, female, and in exclusive relationships, and those with narrower repertoires, often never-married and not in relationships, differed significantly in these profiles. These findings highlight the importance of considering cybersex within the context of leisure and inform targeted and tailored interventions for health and cybersecurity.