London, Jan 16 (IANS): In a first-of-its-kind study, a higher socio-economic status has been linked with a more satisfying sex life.

An analysis based on the first Spanish National Sexual Health Survey confirms that socio-economic factors affect sexual satisfaction.

“People with a lower economic status claim to be less sexually satisfied, particularly women, who seem to be more influenced by these factors,” said main author Dolores Ruiz from the Barcelona Public Health Agency (ASPB).

Investigators analysed the influence of various socio-economic factors on the results of the Spanish National Sexual Health Survey by the Centre for Sociological Research.

The survey showed that nearly 90 percent of men and women claimed to be very satisfied or quite satisfied with their sex life in general, and that 95 percent were satisfied with the sexual relations they had during the previous year.

With the new study, the experts confirmed that socio-economic factors affect sexual satisfaction.

In terms of safe sexual relations, 77 percent of women and 73 percent of men claimed to have used contraception habitually with a stable partner.

In this case, socio-economic factors influence men as much as women, even at the different times analysed and with the different types of partner.

"Those people with a lower socio-economic status are always those who use less contraception,” added Ruiz.

“It's particularly women of a lower socio-economic status who suffer more experiences of sexual abuse,” the researchers added.

People that have a more disadvantaged socio-economic status tend to have less satisfying and less safe sexual relations, as well as suffering more experiences of sexual abuse.

“Furthermore, women usually suffer more experiences of sexual abuse than men and they claim to have less sexual gratification during their first sexual intercourse,” Ruiz stated.

However, people with a higher socio-economic status seem to have a better awareness of their own needs and a greater capacity for developing their sexuality in a way which is satisfying for them, as well as having greater control over the use of contraception, the study said.