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Cited by 931Evolutionary Psychology and Human BehaviorGender Roles and Identity StudiesGender and Feminist Studies

A meta-analytic review of research on gender differences in sexuality, 1993–2007.

Petersen, Jennifer L., Hyde, Janet Shibley·2010·Psychological Bulletin
DOI 10.1037/a0017504
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Abstract

In 1993 Oliver and Hyde conducted a meta-analysis on gender differences in sexuality. The current study updated that analysis with current research and methods. Evolutionary psychology, cognitive social learning theory, social structural theory, and the gender similarities hypothesis provided predictions about gender differences in sexuality. We analyzed gender differences in 30 reported sexual behaviors and attitudes for 834 individual samples uncovered in literature searches and 7 large national data sets. In support of evolutionary psychology, results from both the individual studies and the large data sets indicated that men reported slightly more sexual experience and more permissive attitudes than women for most of the variables. However, as predicted by the gender similarities hypothesis, most gender differences in sexual attitudes and behaviors were small. Exceptions were masturbation incidence, pornography use, casual sex, and attitudes toward casual sex, which all yielded medium effect sizes in which male participants reported more sexual behavior or permissive attitudes than female participants. Most effect sizes reported in the current study were comparable to those reported in Oliver and Hyde's study. In support of cognitive social learning theory, year of publication moderated the magnitude of effect sizes, with gender differences for some aspects of sexuality increasing over time and others decreasing. As predicted by social structural theory, nations and ethni…

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Crossref · 10.1037/a0017504

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  • Evidence for social-structural theory exists for several psychological gender differences, including mate preferences, mathematics performance, and some aspects of sexuality.

    “Evidence for this theory exists for several psychological gender differences, including mate preferences, mathematics performance, and some aspects of sexuality”

    From Gender Differences in Depression in Representative National Samples: Meta-Analyses of Diagnoses and Symptoms (2017) · cites this paper as Petersen & Hyde, 2010

  • There are sex differences indicating that men score higher on measures of Sexual behavior (e.g., extramarital sex, number of partners, pornography consumption, sex drive, sociosexuality; SMDs = 0.06-0.74).

    “There are sex differences indicating that men score higher on measures of Sexual behavior (e.g., extramarital sex, number of partners, pornography consumption, sex drive, sociosexuality; SMDs = 0.06–0.74; Barber, 2008; Lippa, 2009; Petersen & Hyde, 2010; Schmitt, 2005).”

    From A Systematic Review and New Analyses of the Gender-Equality Paradox (2025) · cites this paper as Petersen & Hyde, 2010

  • Women engage more in same-gender sex (SMD = 0.05).

    “Women engage more in same-gender sex (SMD = 0.05; Petersen & Hyde, 2010)”

    From A Systematic Review and New Analyses of the Gender-Equality Paradox (2025) · cites this paper as Petersen & Hyde, 2010

  • The association between living conditions and sex differences in Sexual behavior shows a rather consistent pattern with most previous data indicating that sex differences in Sexual behavior are smaller in countries with higher living conditions.

    “The association between living conditions and sex differences in Sexual behavior shows a rather consistent pattern with most previous data indicating that sex differences in Sexual behavior are smaller in countries with higher living conditions (Barber, 2008; Lippa, 2009; Petersen & Hyde, 2010; Schmitt, 2005).”

    From A Systematic Review and New Analyses of the Gender-Equality Paradox (2025) · cites this paper as Petersen & Hyde, 2010

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Related

Authors
Petersen, J. L., & Hyde, J. S.
Affiliations
University of Wisconsin–Madison (US)
ORCID
Venue
Psychological Bulletin
Publisher
American Psychological Association (APA)
Published
2010-01
Volume
136
Issue
1
Pages
21-38
ISSN
  • 0033-2909 (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-1455
DOI
10.1037/a0017504
OpenAlex
W2128715124
Cited by
931
References
50
Citations by year
2026: 19 · 2025: 37 · 2024: 31 · 2023: 56 · 2022: 40 · 2021: 74 · 2020: 134 · 2019: 70 · 2018: 63 · 2017: 48 · 2016: 57 · 2015: 64 · 2014: 76 · 2013: 64 · 2012: 43
FWCI
65.13
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Psychological Bulletin (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
  • Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender Roles and Identity Studies
  • Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender and Feminist Studies
Keywords
gender differences in sexuality, sexual behavior, sexual attitudes, evolutionary psychology, social cognitive learning theory, gender equity, casual sex, pornography use, masturbation, age differences
MeSH terms
Female, Humans, Male, Sexual Behavior, Sex Factors, Stereotyping, Sexuality

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