Thanks to a deluge of unfortunate rom-coms starring a protagonist whose entire sense of well-being seems to rely solely on his or her ability to get laid, it's easy to see why so many people might think that the key to finding true happiness is having lots and lots of hot, passionate, impulsive sex — constantly. While that might sound like a dream to some, does having more sex make you happier, really? A new infographic by Happify titled "Everything You Need To Know About Sex And Happiness" delves into that very matter by collecting multiple studies focused on finding out just what exactly happy couples are doing in the bedroom — and how often. The answers might actually surprise you.
For one thing, people aren't having nearly as much sex as we all want each other to believe. The typical American adult has sex two to three times a month on average, regardless of relationship status, and according to the National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior, nearly 61 percent of single people report they haven't had sex at all in the last year (for what it's worth, 18 percent of married couples say the same is true for them). Those people who do manage to get it on regularly during the year do so with less frequency than you might expect. Apparently, having more sex does not in fact equate to more happiness — researchers found that married couples who upped their efforts to have twice as much sex as they usually did for a three-month period of time didn't report any gains in happiness. They found that contrary to what many couples might believe, having sex more often leads to decreased enjoyment and desire. Wha?
So what's the sweet spot? Having sex once a week on average, studies show. That way, you're still getting what you need on a regular basis, but at a frequency that keeps you wanting more.
Of course, if you're going to have sex once a week, you better make it count. Happify suggests several little ways to find more satisfaction in your sex life, whether it's switching up your routine or simply telling your partner what it is you enjoy most in bed. Check out the infographic in full below for more interesting stats. After all, your happiness just might hang in the balance.
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Images: Laura Libran / EyeEm/EyeEm/Getty Images; Courtesy of Happify; Giphy
