Relationship between sex drive and sexual frustration and purpose in life.

ABSTRACT

Forty-eight college students (18 males, M age = 24.3, 30 females, M age = 23.5) participated in a study that investigated the relationship between one's sense of purpose in life and sexual attitudes and behavior. The test instruments included the Purpose in Life Test (PIL), a Sex Drive and Interest Scale, and a Sexual Frustration and Maladjustment Scale. Correlations were computed between the students' PIL scores and scores on each of the sex scales. The results indicated no relationship between PIL scores and the scores on the sex drive scale, whereas significant negative correlations were found between PIL scores and the sexual frustration scores for males and for the combined group of males and females. The scores on the PIL and the sexual frustration scale were not related to the students' sex. These results support Frankl's theory that sexual frustration may be a manifestation of a more general existential frustration.