National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles explained

The National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal) are a series of surveys of people in the Great Britain regarding their sexual behaviour and patterns, and are among the largest scientific studies of sexual behaviours in the world.^[1] The rounds of surveys completed to date are Natsal-1 (1990–1991) and Natsal-2 (2000–2001) and Natsal-3 (2010–2012), as well as Natsal-COVID (2020-2021).^[2] Data collection for Natsal-4 is taking place from September 2022 to December 2023.^[3] Natsal-4's Principal Co-investigators are Pam Sonnenberg and Cath Mercer, both professors at University College, London.^[4]

Natsal's findings are widely used in research and policy making, and have influenced public health policy in areas such as:The National Sexual Health & HIV Strategy in England; the Scottish Sexual Health Strategy (2005-) and the Welsh Sexual Health Strategy, The Teenage Pregnancy Strategy (2000-2010), the National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP), the national human papillomavirus (HPV) immunisation programme in 2008/9, the statutory provision of personal, social, health and economic education (PHSE) education in schools in 2009, Sexual health campaigns such as "Sex: worth talking about" in 2010, and the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines on long acting contraception (2006).^[5]

History

The first Natsal survey was carried out in 1990, in response to the urgent need of understanding sexual practices in the context of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.^[6] The Principal Investigator of Natsal-1, Natsal-2 and Natsal-3 was Anne Johnson, a professor at University College, London,^[7] and co-leader Kaye Wellings, a professor at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.^[8]

The Natsal-3 survey revealed, among other things, that British people are having sex less often than they did 20 years ago,^[9] but that same-sex experiences between women were growing more numerous.^[10]

Key publications

• Mercer . Catherine H. . Clifton . Soazig . Riddell . Julie . Tanton . Clare . Freeman . Lily . Copas . Andrew J. . Dema . Emily . Pérez . Raquel Bosó . Gibbs . Jo . Macdowall . Wendy . Menezes . Dee . Ridge . Mary-Clare . Bonell . Chris . Sonnenberg . Pam . Field . Nigel . 2022-11-01 . Impacts of COVID-19 on sexual behaviour in Britain: findings from a large, quasi-representative survey (Natsal-COVID) . Sexually Transmitted Infections . en . 98 . 7 . 469–477 . 10.1136/sextrans-2021-055210 . 1368-4973 . 8687784 . 34916335.
• Sexual behaviour in Britain: partnerships, practices, and HIV risk behaviours . The Lancet . 1835–1842 . 358 . 9296 . 10.1016/s0140-6736(01)06883-0 . 11741621 . Anne M . Johnson . Catherine H . Mercer . Bob . Erens . Andrew J . Copas . Sally . McManus . Kaye . Wellings . Kevin A . Fenton . Christos . Korovessis . Wendy . Macdowall. 2001 . 37954044 .
• Changes in sexual attitudes and lifestyles in Britain through the life course and over time: findings from the National Surveys of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal) . The Lancet . 1781–1794 . 382 . 9907 . 10.1016/s0140-6736(13)62035-8 . Catherine H . Mercer . Clare . Tanton . Philip . Prah . Bob . Erens . Pam . Sonnenberg . Soazig . Clifton . Wendy . Macdowall . Ruth . Lewis . Nigel . Field . 24286784 . 3899021. 2013 .
• Wellings . Kaye . Nanchahal . Kiran . Macdowall . Wendy . McManus . Sally . Erens . Bob . Mercer . Catherine H . Johnson . Anne M . Copas . Andrew J . Korovessis . Christos . Fenton . Kevin A . Field . Julia . Sexual behaviour in Britain: early heterosexual experience . The Lancet . December 2001 . 358 . 9296 . 1843–1850 . 10.1016/S0140-6736(01)06885-4 . 11741623. 35905955 .
• Fenton . Kevin A . Korovessis . Christos . Johnson . Anne M . McCadden . Angela . McManus . Sally . Wellings . Kaye . Mercer . Catherine H . Carder . Caroline . Copas . Andrew J . Nanchahal . Kiran . Macdowall . Wendy . Ridgway . Geoff . Field . Julia . Erens . Bob . Sexual behaviour in Britain: reported sexually transmitted infections and prevalent genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection . The Lancet . December 2001 . 358 . 9296 . 1851–1854 . 10.1016/S0140-6736(01)06886-6 . 11741624. 26108172 .

Notes and References

1. https://www.ucl.ac.uk/global-health/national-surveys-sexual-attitudes-and-lifestyles-natsal National Surveys of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles, UCL.
2. https://www.natsal.ac.uk/natsal-surveys/ Natsal Surveys.
3. https://natcen.ac.uk/our-research/research/natsal/ Natsal: The National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles
4. https://www.natsal.ac.uk/about/natsal-team/meet-team/ Meet the Natsal team
5. https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/research/centres-projects-groups/natsal#about About Natsal
6. Web site: National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal) | LSHTM. July 27, 2018. www.lshtm.ac.uk.
7. Web site: Survey examines changes in sexual behaviour and attitudes in Britain . www.wellcome.ac.uk . 2015-10-14.
8. Lane. Richard. 2013-11-30. Kaye Wellings: pioneering figure in sexual health. The Lancet. English. 382. 9907. 1773. 10.1016/S0140-6736(13)62346-6. 24286783. 8753572. 0140-6736. free.
9. News: Cambridge professor's in-depth analysis of sex survey reveals couples' secrets beneath the sheets . 30 March 2015 . Cambridge News . 29 March 2015.
10. News: How to conduct a sex survey . The Economist . 2023-01-26 . 0013-0613.