From the athletic, godlike bodies of ancient Greek goddesses to the Libertine figures of the 18th century, artists have depicted the female body in thousands of ways. But what does it do to the viewer?
1. Increased Self-Esteem
Regardless of whether you’re at the beach or just hanging out at home, being naked with other people can help you feel more confident in your own skin. A recent study out of the University of London found that participants who took part in nude activities with others (not just sunbathing, but also walking or hiking in the company of others), reported higher self-esteem and life satisfaction than those who stayed covered up.
This was especially true for women, who are often the targets of insidious body-shaming messages, both on social media and from their close friends and family. The researchers of this study theorized that the reason for this was because seeing other people in their birthday suits helps us to see ourselves differently, and to appreciate different bodies in general.
In the study, participants were asked to rate their levels of life satisfaction, self-esteem and body image, as well as to indicate whether they took part in naturist activity. They were then asked to spend 90 minutes in a clothing-optional setting (the exact details of which were kept secret). When they returned to dressing, they were asked the same questions again.
The results showed that life satisfaction predicted both higher self-esteem and more positive body image, while naturist activity predicted both better self-esteem and higher life satisfaction. The relationships between the variables were fully mediated by body image and self-esteem, which suggests that, for many of us, feeling good about our bodies is a key factor in enjoying the pleasures of being naked with other people.
Whether you’re spending time with your significant other or just with your best pals, try taking the occasional selfie that isn’t meant for anyone else’s eyes. You don’t even have to send them. Just take a few pictures of yourself and your body to remind you how wonderful it is.
It may take a while to reach the point of comfort with your nakedness. But it’s worth it. After all, your body is the vessel through which you experience the world, and it deserves to be loved for all of the things it can do for you.
2. Better Sleep
Sleeping naked is a good way to improve your body temperature and help regulate the circadian rhythm that dictates when you’re ready for bed. This is especially important for people who suffer from insomnia or chronic sleep disorders.
Naked sleepers also have better quality sleep. In a survey conducted by Cotton USA, nude sleepers reported feeling more rested when they snoozed without their clothes on than those who wore pajamas or nothing at all. People who sleep in the buff tend to report being happier with their relationships, too. This is probably a result of being more comfortable in their own skin, which can make for an overall happier existence.
One reason for the improved slumber among nude sleepers is that their sweat and other bodily fluids are less likely to sully the sheets than if they were wearing pajamas or a nightie. Sleeping naked means you don’t have to worry about your clothes getting bunched up in your sleep or that your teddy bear will shed its fur all over your sleeping attire. Pajamas and nighties can snag on limbs and inhibit movement, which can lead to discomfort.
For the ladies, sleeping naked also helps reduce the risk of yeast infections. Tight-fitting undergarments can trap moisture and heat between the legs, which can promote the growth of yeast in the vaginal area. Sleeping in the buff can reduce this problem by allowing air to flow more easily and eliminating the warm and moist environment that promotes yeast overgrowth.
Another benefit of snoozing naked is that it allows your skin to breathe and regulate its natural temperature. Wearing a light blanket or even just a sheet can make your bed feel stuffy and hot, which is a turn-off for many sleepers. Keeping the bedroom at a cool, comfortable temperature is the key to a great night’s rest.
It’s up to you to decide whether or not to snooze in the buff, as every person has his or her own comfort levels. If you live with someone who could be spooked by the sight of your bare body, or if you have issues with self-image or sexual anxiety, then sleeping naked might not be the best idea for you.
3. Enhanced Sexual Arousal
Researchers are constantly attempting to understand what it is that turns men on when they see naked women. They’ve found that the answer is not exactly what you might expect. While male sexuality seems fairly predictable — straight men are turned on by male bodies, and lesbians by female bodies — women’s turn-ons seem to be much more varied. They’re turned on by nude bodies, but also by images of people engaging in a variety of sexual activities, including hooking up, foreplay, and even sex between bonobos.
To investigate this, psychologist Meredith Chivers and her colleagues showed participants a series of videos depicting different body parts. Participants rated their level of sexual arousal on a scale of 1 to 11, with 1 representing not at all arousing and 11 being extremely arousing. They were also asked to rate the sensual and non-sensual areas of their own body, and then of their partner’s. They then compared the correlations of these ratings to the locations that loaded onto their erogenous zone maps. This revealed that there was a clear correspondence between the areas that a person felt arousing on their own body and those that they thought were arousing on their partner’s. There was also a similar correspondence between the sensory modalities (touch and visual) and between the own-body-touch and partner-body-touch conditions.
The scientists also used an fMRI experiment to explore the neural basis of this finding. During the short erotic videos, the scientists observed increased activation in the right cerebellum, specifically in lobules V and VI, which are specialized for sensorimotor functions. This increase in activation was accompanied by an enhanced connectivity between these brain regions, and was observed in both the arousal and non-arousal ratings. The scientists suggest that this increased activity may reflect the anticipatory and amplification of arousal associated with arousing stimuli. The results also indicate that the erogenous zone maps of individuals may serve to predict arousal in interactions with their partners. This finding is particularly intriguing for those who engage in exhibitionism, a pattern of behavior whereby individuals seek to be watched while performing sexual acts.
4. Increased Body Awareness
Preschool children are curious about the world and explore it through listening, looking, touching, and imitating. They are also quite interested in their bodies, particularly their sexual body parts. In addition, they tend to touch other people’s bodies and may not respect physical boundaries. Children of this age may even touch their own breasts. These behaviors can continue into adulthood, with women often viewing their bodies as sexual objects and engaging in behaviors such as masturbation or self-pleasing.
Given the high prevalence of dissatisfaction with one’s body in both men and women (Al Sabbah et al. 2009), it is important to understand what factors can influence dissatisfaction with one’s appearance and how they can be reduced. Communal nudity is one such factor that can reduce body image disturbance, which has been shown to be associated with higher levels of body satisfaction and life satisfaction (Hayes et al. 2010).
The present study examined the effects of two counterbalanced experimental conditions on the participants’ sensitivity to sexual stimuli. In the Body Awareness condition, a full-length mirror was placed in front of the participants for the duration of the experiment, while the No Body Awareness condition was conducted without a mirror. Self-reported mental and physical sexual arousal, perceptions of physiological sexual arousal, and autonomic arousal increased in response to erotic stimuli in the Body Awareness condition. However, cognitive distraction was not affected, indicating that body awareness did not result in distracting experiences.
Using PROCCESS macros to run a series of mediation analyses, it was found that the interaction between D body image and D self-esteem mediated the relationship between D body image and D life satisfaction. Specifically, D body image predicted D self-esteem, which in turn predicted D life satisfaction. It is possible that the communal nudity facilitated this effect by reducing the women’s dissatisfaction with their bodies and by improving their attitudes toward and acceptance of their bodies. Further research is needed to determine whether this mediation is generalizable to other settings and types of participants. This research is also important for understanding the potential benefits of community-based sexually explicit activities for increasing women’s satisfaction with their bodies and lives.