TY  - JOUR
A1  - Hajdu, Tamás
A1  - Hajdu, Gábor
T1  - Ambient temperature and sexual activity: Evidence from time use surveys
Y1  - 2019/02/20
JF  - Demographic Research
JO  - Demographic Research
SN  - 1435-9871
SP  - 307
EP  - 318
DO  - 10.4054/DemRes.2019.40.12
VL  - 40
IS  - 12
UR  - https://www.demographic-research.org/volumes/vol40/12/
L1  - https://www.demographic-research.org/volumes/vol40/12/40-12.pdf
L2  - https://www.demographic-research.org/volumes/vol40/12/40-12.pdf
N2  - Background: Previous research has found that unusually hot temperatures reduce birth rates eight to ten months later. 

Objective: We examine one of the potential mechanisms behind this relationship: the connection between ambient temperature and sexual activity. 

Methods: We use individual-level data provided by three waves of the Hungarian Time Use Survey between 1986 and 2010 and daily weather data from the European Climate Assessment & Dataset project. 

Results: Hot temperatures do not have a significant effect on sexual activity on a given day. Studying the dynamics of the relationship, we found that temperature does not influence sexual activity on subsequent days either. 

Conclusions: Since high temperatures seem to have no negative effect on sexual activity, the relationship between temperature and sexual activity might be a mechanism of minor importance in the relationship between temperature and birth rates. 

Contribution: Our paper is the first study of the relationship between ambient temperature and sexual activity that uses time use data. 

ER  -