Sex and Happiness

Can sex make you happy? According to an empirical study into sex, money and happiness carried out by David Blanchflower and Andrew Oswald, both professors of Economics, people who have regular sex with their partner, rate themselves as being happier than those who don’t. This was true for both men and women of all ages. Apparently, if we increase the amount of times we have sex from say once a month to once a week; it would be much the same happiness-wise as getting an extra $50,000 in income. All that just for being intimate! Incidentally, they also found that those who paid for sex or who had affairs were less happy.
Having sex regularly also increases the strength of the relationship in a couple. A study by Cost & Brody (2007) published in the Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, found that women’s’ perception of the quality of a relationship is directly associated with the number of times they have penile-vaginal sex and orgasm. They also found that women who masturbated more than having sex were more likely to see other men as “unfriendly” and women who indulged in a variety of sexual practices with their partner perceived other men as less attractive which of course suggests they are less likely to stray.
Why does sex make us happy?
Many studies have found that people who are depressed are less likely to be interested in sex. Does this mean that only happy people have sex or does sex itself actually make you happy? Unfortunately, there isn’t a straightforward answer to this question but the evidence suggests that you’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain by getting active in the bedroom department, not only is it good for your relationship but for your mental and physical health too.
Having sex regularly…
• Boosts confidence
• Reduces risk of heart disease
• Helps weight loss and improves fitness levels
• Reduces depression and lifts mood
• Improves sense of smell
• Is a natural painkiller
• Boosts the immune system
• Exercises the pelvic floor muscles
• Improves prostate health
So why aren’t we doing it more often?
Studies show that we are having sex less often than in previous decades. A number of reasons have been put forward for this including:
• Information overload – we are just too busy
• Medication – apart from the side effects of contraceptive pills, anti-depressants and many other prescription and over the counter medications, the rise in the use of Viagra by men, especially younger men, is leading to less intimacy and more de-sensitised sex
• Weight gain – if you have put on a few pounds then self esteem can be lower and you might feel less inclined to get intimate between the sheets.
• Health – poor health, lack of energy and aches and pains can make it more difficult to get in the mood for sex
• Anxiety and Stress – seems a normal part of life these days but it takes it’s toll in the bedroom
• Pornography – the rise in the availability and use of internet porn means many individuals are spending more time masturbating in front of their computer screens than having sex with their partner
Sex is a basic human need for us all but the way we satisfy this need is very much down to individual choice. We’ve long since moved away from the outdated Victorian view of sex, sex is everywhere these days, so much so that we barely even notice it as it flashes across our screens or arrives unannounced in our inbox, but is this necessarily a good thing? Who knows! But the evidence does seem to suggest that those who choose to take the time to enjoy regular sex and intimacy with their partner, are happier and healthier than everyone else as a result.