The sociologist Parker reportedly surveyed 642 adults in Chicago and concluded that the difference after a one-night stand is how both parties feel about the possibility of developing a relationship when they wake up in the morning. He noted that while the “average relationship quality” was better for those who had sex after a serious relationship, the real issue was not how early or late the relationship took place.
Parker found that there was little difference in relationship quality between those who had a relationship first and those who dated first, after eliminating those in the survey who were not interested in developing a serious relationship. In other words, if two people go from being friends or acquaintances to sexual partners, and both are willing to give their hearts, they can be just as happy in the end. He said, “We didn’t find much evidence, enough to prove that relationships that start with sex are of poorer quality.”
The study also showed that many people will date even if they’re not interested in running a long-term relationship. Parker expressed some surprise at the findings, arguing that, after all, dating falls into the category of romantic love, while “sex in bed” and one-night stands do not. “In the dating category, there are people who want to find long-term relationships, but there are also people who just want to get laid. Basically, there are both ‘players’ and ‘non-players’.”