Sex Once A Week Makes Most Couples Content

First Posted: Nov 18, 2015 04:51 PM EST
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Sex once a week is enough to keep most people happy, according to a recent study.

Researchers at the University of Toronto-Mississauga conducted three surveys on the sex lives of over 30,000 adults in the United States throughout the span of 40 years.

"Our research suggests that couples do not need to aim to engage in sex as frequently as possible but instead aim to maintain a connection with their partner," said lead study author Amy Muise, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Toronto Mississauga, via Health Day.

Researchers analyzed responses from 11,000 men and 14,000 women who were involved in the General Social Survey between 1989 and 2012. Then, they surveyed 335 people online, most of whom were heterosexual. Finally, they analyzed information based on a 14-year survey of U.S. married heterosexual couples.

The findings showed that happiness increased among those who were having sex at least once a week. However, among couples who had more sex, they were happier to a point, researchers say. The boosts in well-being "leveled off once couples reached a frequency of about once a week," Muise said. "It wasn't bad to engage in sex more frequently than once a week. It just wasn't associated with greater well-being on average."

Researchers added that there were no differences seen in age, gender or length of relationship. They also noted that there is no "one-size-fits-all" number for sexual activity in terms of relationship happiness.  

The study is published in Social Psychological and Personality Science.

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