Scottish researcher finds better mental health among those who reject condom use

Aug 5, 2009 / 02:06 am

A leading Scottish psychologist has claimed that condom use is associated with poorer mental health, problems with stress and depression, saying his research shows the natural conjugal act can significantly boost the mental wellbeing of men and women.

Prof. Stuart Brody of the West of Scotland University in Paisley will publish his conclusion in the academic journal Archives of Sexual Behavior. According to The Scotsman, Prof. Brody studied the sexual behavior of 99 women and 111 men in Portugal. Participants in the study filled in questionnaires about the pleasure they derived from their sex lives and contraception use.

The professor, using a measure of psychological health developed in Canada, concluded that condom use was associated with members of the study who exhibited problems dealing with stress.

"The more often people are using condoms independent of age, independent of the nature of their relationship, the greater use of immature defense mechanisms against stress,” Prof. Brody said, according to The Scotsman.

"In contrast, the more often they have sex without condoms, the better their mental health and the more mature their mechanisms.”

Groups dedicated to “family planning” and “safe sex” promotion attacked the researcher’s conclusions.

Tony Kerridge of Marie Stopes International said anyone’s mental health would be affected if he or she discovered they had a sexually transmitted disease or had an “unwanted” pregnancy.

“Particularly in the case of casual relationships where there is no desire to get pregnant, advice should always be that condoms should be used,” he said, claiming that condom use is a “no-brainer” and warning of “rapidly increasing rates of HIV” among heterosexual couples in Europe.

Prof. Brody said he believes that mankind is biologically programmed to enjoy unprotected sex because it bestows an evolutionary advantage and maximizes the chances of a couple reproducing.

“Evolution is not politically correct, so of the very broad range of potential sexual behavior, there is actually only one that is consistently associated with better physical and mental health and that is the one sexual behavior that would be favored by evolution. That is not accidental,” he commented.

Catholic moral theology condemns the use of condoms and other contraceptives, deeming as intrinsic evils those acts which intentionally make procreation impossible.