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Sexting, cam girls and VR porn may be beneficial to your mental health

A new study from The Kinsey Institute at Indiana University has found using sex tech may be a potential mental health reprieve.

Sex tech refers to digital sexual technologies like virtual reality porn, erotic cam sites or even just sexting and sending nudes.

The study has shown that self-soothing behaviour like engaging in sexual acts can temporarily reduce the effects of psychological distress. You may want to keep that in mind next time you take a mental health day off work.

Credit: istock

The Kinsey Institute polled 8,004 American adults to examine whether people living with anxiety, depression and/or loneliness were more likely to use sex tech.

The study found that participants experiencing depression and anxiety were more likely to use sex tech and people who were lonely were less likely to engage with it.

Knowing that the more lonely someone is, the less likely they are to throw on a VR headset in their alone time means that using this kind of technology is not an indication of a lack of social connection.

Social psychologist Amanda Gesselman from The Kinsey Institute said it is a common misconception that people who use the internet or gaming devices for romantic or sexual pleasure are incapable of face-to-face relationships but this study has shown that simply isn’t the case.

“Our results provide evidence to the contrary, suggesting that online sexual spaces aren’t functioning as ‘last resorts’ for people who haven’t been able to form sexual relationships in real life,” Gesselman said in a statement on the Indiana University website. “Instead, it’s likely that many users in these spaces do have social support and adequate social networks, but they’re turning to online sexual technologies for a unique boost to their psychological mindset.”

The findings suggest that people struggling with mental health conditions may be drawn to sex tech because it can alleviate symptoms through distraction or self-soothing.

This new information could be imperative to exploring more mental health treatments and intervention methods.

“As the global need for innovative mental health resources and interventions increases, these emerging sexual technologies may provide relief for people with mental health struggles,” Lead researcher Alexandra Marcotte said.

That’s right, if you’re struggling with depression or anxiety, a procrasti-wank may be just what the doctor ordered.