Abstract

Sexual desire is a state of motivation that can induce individuals to participate in sexual activity. Physical activity is related to well-being in both social and sexual relationships. The aim of this study was to analyze sexual desire in relation to physical activity and its impact on sexual excitation and inhibition in a population of young adults. The total sample consisted of 485 participants (327 women and 158 men), aged 18 to 35 years. This study required the completion of a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Sexual Desire Inventory (both dyadic and solitary subscales), the Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and the Sexual Inhibition and Sexual Excitation Scales (SES-SIS). The main results showed that there is a relationship between desire and physical activity with excitement and sexual inhibition, concluding that individuals at moderate and high physical activity levels have greater interest in sexual behavior. Future research could propose exercise as an intervention for issues related to a lack of sexual desire.