Skowronski, D. P.1; Kobayashi, M.1; Waszynska, K.2; Kowalczyk, R.3; Kowalczyk, R.3
1Temple University Japan Campus, Tokyo, Japan; 2Adam Mickiewicz University, Pozna#, Poland; 3Warszawa, Poland
Objective: Ivestigate the reasons for the sexual abstinence among young women and men. So called “celibacy syndrome” in young people is raising concern over the future of the Japanese society. According to a 2011 survey conducted by the Japanese National Institute of Population and Social Security Research, the results show that 61% of unmarried men and 49% of unmarried women aged 18–34 were not in any kind of romantic relationship. The survey by the Japan Family Planning Association found similar data showing that 45% of women aged 16–24 were not interested in or even despised sexual contact.
Methods: Hypothesis: Subjects do not engage in sexual relationships because of the combination of the socio-cultural factors. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted (23 subjects) and qualitative statistical methodology was implemented.
Results: The outcome of the study supports the hypothesis that interviewed subjects do not engage in sexual relationships because of the number of social factors, which include: the widening gap in the intergenerational role models, the fear of being forced to fit in the traditional roles and social expectations, the emergence of alternative ways to satisfy the sexual expressions and needs, the negative emotional responses toward long-lasting relationships, economical factors, and discouraging working environment and policies.
Conclusion: The reasons behind the statistical data seem to be the combination of the dramatic changes in the structure of society and deeply rooted culture-specific factors, contributing to the significant challenges in sexuality counselling practice in Japan, and are crucial to address the pressing concerns over the Japanese demographic crisis, as well as sexual well-being of the Japanese.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/enhanced/doi/10.1111/jsm.12872_2/
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