"Much like skydiving, I would really rather avoid it if I can": asexual and allosexual adults' motives for not having sexual experiences

Engaging in sex is a common practice, however, some adults may choose to not have sexual experiences for normative reasons. Asexual adults, in particular, may hold negative attitudes about sex and are less likely than allosexual adults to engage in sex. Less is known about whether adults' motives to not have any sexual experiences differ based on sexual orientation. We use qualitative to explore asexual and allosexual adults' intrinsic and extrinsic motives for not having sexual experiences. From a larger study, 129 adults with no sexual experiences (52.7% allosexual, Mage = 22.0, 47.3% asexual, Mage = 25.4; 61.2% women, 28.7% men, 10.1% transgender/gender non-conforming) responded to an open-ended question about sexual motives. Using thematic analysis, we developed five themes: (1) Lack of interest, (2) Morals or personal values, (3) Disgust or aversion, (4) Not feeling ready, and (5) No opportunity. Our findings suggest that asexual adults are more likely to report motives related to intrinsic experiences, such as negative feelings, whereas allosexual adults are more likely to report motives related to intrinsic personal beliefs. Overall, these findings expand our understanding of asexual and allosexual adults' motives for not having sexual experiences, and provide insight into diverse experiences of sexuality.