Depressed women seek more sex than those who are happy because it makes them feel more secure, a study has found.

Those with mild to moderate depression indulge in up to a third more sexual activity than others, whether they are in a relationship or not.

The researchers suggest an increased sex life could be a help, if not a cure, for depression for some women.

The findings were presented at an international mental health conference in Melbourne by clinical researcher Dr Sabura Allen.

She and her team were able to confirm suspicions from earlier research that women who were in relationships but were depressed were likely to look for sexualintimacy more often to help them feel more secure.

"When people are depressed they feel more insecure about their relationships and concerned that their partner may not care about them or find them valuable," said Dr Allen, who is based at Melbourne's Monash University.

"Having sex helps them feel that closeness and security."

Turning to depressed single women, she said she had found a trend towards more casual sex than with happier singles.

After delivering her findings to the conference, Dr Allen was asked whether having sex could be an effective aid for lessening or beating depression.

"We really don't know but we presume it helps as it gives these women opportunities to be close to their partner and loved," she said.

一项研究发现，抑郁的女性比快乐的女性更渴望性，因为这会让她们觉得更有安全感。

无论她们是否有恋人，轻度至中度抑郁的女性性行为的频率比其他女性多三分之一。

研究人员称，性生活增多即便不能治疗抑郁，但至少有助于缓解一些女性的抑郁症状。

临床研究学者萨布拉•阿伦博士在墨尔本召开的一个心理健康国际研讨会上公布了该研究结果。

她与她的研究小组证实了之前的研究猜测，之前的研究认为，有恋人但精神抑郁的女性可能更经常地"求助于"性亲密行为，以寻求更多的安全感。

墨尔本莫纳什大学的艾伦博士说："心情抑郁的人对自己与伴侣的关系会产生一种不安全感，他们会担心对方不在乎自己或觉得自己不重要。"

"而性活动则能给他们亲近感和安全感。"

艾伦博士发现，与快乐的单身女性相比，抑郁的单身女性在性方面往往更随意。

艾伦博士发表完研究结果后，被问到了性活动是否有助于缓解或克服抑郁症的问题。

她说："这我们真不知道。但我们认为它是有帮助的，因为性活动能让这些女性有机会与伴侣亲密接触，并感受到爱意。"
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