Latest news with #sexualsatisfaction
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Study reveals exact number of times women should have sex per week 'to be happiest'
Women who have sex at least once a week are the 'happiest' in their relationship, according to a new study. Scientists found 85 per cent of women who had a weekly romp were 'sexually satisfied', according to a study of nearly 500 heterosexual women. In contrast, only 66 per cent of wives and girlfriends who had sex once a month reported the same level of relationship bliss. And the figure fell to 17 per cent among those women who had intercourse less than this. Author of the new study Alexandra Janssen, a researcher at the University of Manchester, said the findings show the importance of regular intimate relations. 'Women having sex less than once a week were far less likely to be satisfied in their sexual relationships,' she told The Sun. 'Therapists working with women to improve their sexual relationship satisfaction might focus on increasing the frequency of sex.' Ms Janssen's study also found that women who rated sex as 'very important' had happier love lives than those who did not. She said: 'It seems unlikely that low self-rated importance of sex causes low sexual satisfaction. That may cause women to rate the importance of sex as low as a coping strategy.' Other findings from the study, published in the International Journal of Sexual Health, found that of the women surveyed those aged 18-24 were most likely to report being sexually satisfied. In contrast, women over the age of 45 were the least likely to report being happy with their intimate relationship. Satisfaction was also higher for women who reported more regular orgasms and rated sex as an important part of their life. The study was based on a survey of 483 women from New Zealand who had been in a committed relationship within the past year. The authors noted their study did have some limitations. One was that being a survey, there was no way to verify if what the women reported was true. Another was that the group of women surveyed was not very diverse, which could limit the scope findings to other groups. YouGov figures reveal that six in 10 Britons have sex less often than once a week. One in 10 claim to have sex weekly, and 15 per cent claim to be sexually intimate more often. Regular sex doesn't just boost your mood, multiple studies have concluded that it is great for our overall health, and can even potentially help us live longer. A study by Michigan State University found women aged between 57 and 85 who still enjoyed sex were less likely to have high blood pressure, reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Similarly, a study by Indiana University found women with healthy sex lives produce higher levels of antibodies, which can help fight off infections. Another 2013 study, by UK-based neuropsychologist Dr David Weeks, found that regular intercourse can make you look younger. He questioned more than 3,500 people about their sex lives over 10 years. Results revealed those who have regular, healthy sex lives look up to seven years younger than people who do not get intimate two-to-three times a week. Dr Weeks concluded that this was due to the release of feel good chemicals that released during intimate moments that boost circulation and reduce stress, as well as the production of human growth hormones, which promote skin elasticity.
The Sun
4 days ago
- Health
- The Sun
How often women should have sex to be their happiest revealed in major study
A WEEKLY romp is the key to a woman's happiness, according to a study. Women rated their relationship satisfaction highest if they had sex at least once a week, with 85 per cent pleased with their lot. That compared to 66 per cent for wives and girlfriends who got it on once a month, and 17 per cent who did it less than that. Study author Alexandra Janssen, from the University of Manchester, said: 'Women having sex less than once a week were far less likely to be satisfied in their sexual relationships. "Therapists working with women to improve their sexual relationship satisfaction might focus on increasing the frequency of sex.' The study questioned 483 women in New Zealand who had been in a relationship within the past year. Just over half — 56 per cent — said they were sexually satisfied. Results showed that satisfaction was higher if they had sex more often, had more orgasms, rated sex as an important aspect of their life and were younger. About six in ten Brits have sex less often than once a week, polling by YouGov shows. Ten per cent say they get lucky weekly and about another 15 per cent claim to do it more often. Writing in the International Journal of Sexual Health, Ms Janssen said: 'Sexual intimacy plays an important role in romantic relationships. 'In our study, less frequent sex was associated with a lower likelihood of sexual relationship satisfaction. Women who reported having sex one to two times a month were approximately three times less likely to be satisfied than those having sex two or more times a week. The benefits of having sex 'This effect was even more pronounced for women who reported having sex less than once a month, who were 25 times less likely to be satisfied.' Women aged 18 to 24 were most likely to be sexually satisfied and over-45s least likely. Those who rated sex as very important also had happier love lives than those who did not. Ms Janssen said: 'It seems unlikely that low self-rated importance of sex causes low sexual satisfaction. That may cause women to rate the importance of sex as low as a coping strategy.' 1
Forbes
17-05-2025
- Health
- Forbes
1 Surprising Personality Trait That Might Hold You Back In The Bedroom
New research reveals four fascinating ways that emotional intelligence can make or break your sex ... More life. Here's how, according to the study. Many people are inclined to believe that sexual satisfaction is determined by 'performance' in the bedroom — either their own or their partner's. In reality, however, there are more factors at play than you'd be able to count. One of these factors, according to February 2025 research from Personality and Individual Differences, is emotional intelligence. In other words, your ability to recognize, understand and manage emotions could be playing an integral role in how fulfilling your sex life is. Here's four ways that emotional attunement might matter just as much (if not more) than physical prowess in the bedroom, according to the study. How you present yourself emotionally in your relationship can affect how you present yourself sexually, even if you don't always realize it. Specifically, tendencies towards emotional distancing — such as trying to keep people at arm's length, or feeling uneasy when someone gets too close — are often patterns that extend to the bedroom. The same applies to overthinking. If you're someone who worries a lot about whether your partner really cares about you, or what they're thinking about you, you'll likely notice these tendencies during sex, too. These patterns are known as attachment avoidance and attachment anxiety, and they can make it especially difficult to relax during sex. However, the 2025 study found that people with higher emotional intelligence tend to have lower levels of these attachment issues. Emotional intelligence, in this sense, can help you unlearn the habit of constantly bracing for rejection, or worrying about saying or doing the 'wrong' thing in bed. Moreover, it reminds you to take note of the internal mechanisms that may be subliminally directing your thoughts and behaviors during sex — like why you might feel the urge pull away, or why you feel insecure or fearful of coming across as clingy. Once you're able to make these self-reflections, you'll find it easier to let these habits go and, in turn, start enjoying yourself. We often think of sex as a standalone act, but most of what makes it feel good — or not — starts long before anything overtly sexual actually happens. Gentle affectionate gestures usually are the prelude to intimacy, like a hand on your back, a caress on the cheek or even just cuddling in bed. If these forms of physical touch make you feel tense or shy outside of the bedroom, that discomfort will almost always carry over inside, too. However, according to the Personality and Individual Differences study, people with higher emotional intelligence were generally more at ease with this kind of touch — which was associated with more satisfying sexual experiences overall. In other words, people with higher emotional intelligence will find themselves more tuned in to what touch means to them, as well as what it means to their partner. And if something does really feel off, they'll be much more comfortable speaking up about it or adjusting course, as opposed to freezing up or just grinning and bearing it. Bodily insecurities can make it incredibly hard to enjoy sex. For many people, they're genuinely distracting: it leads them to place greater concern on what their partner is seeing, rather than on their own physical and emotional needs. However, the 2025 study found that people with higher emotional intelligence struggled significantly less with these thoughts than others. They tended to have more appreciation for their bodies, which, in turn, was associated with better sexual satisfaction. When you feel at ease in your own skin — or at least not at war with it — you're more likely to let yourself fully experience pleasure without overanalyzing your every movement. Nothing can rip the joy out of sex more quickly than constantly reminding yourself to suck in your stomach or worrying about how revealing the lighting in the room is. In this sense, emotional intelligence is incredibly helpful in experiencing and enjoying sex to the fullest. It's nearly impossible to be present, let alone to feel pleasure, when you're preoccupied with your own inner critic. Instead of spiraling over your perceived 'flaws,' emotional intelligence helps you pinpoint the moments you're being harsh with yourself. More importantly, emotional intelligence also realigns your thoughts with reality. That is, that your partner is genuinely attracted to you — and that you wouldn't be in bed with them if they weren't. In turn, you can stop micromanaging your appearance and actually enjoy the moment for what it should be: two people showing appreciation for each other's bodies. Some individuals get caught in patterns of sexual behavior that feel more compulsive than enjoyable — in most cases, unknowingly. They're constantly searching for the next opportunity for a sexual encounter, even at the cost of their relationship, their self-esteem or even their work. A common misconception surrounding these problematic sexual behaviors is that they relate to how often a person is having sex, or how preoccupied they are with it. In reality, this isn't the case; everyone has sexual thoughts from time to time, or even daily. Instead, the issue lies in the inability to quieten or resist these thoughts, rather than the thoughts themselves. However, the study also found that people with higher emotional intelligence reported fewer of these kinds of thoughts and behaviors — and, again, more sexual satisfaction overall. In all likelihood, this is because they're better at understanding what's actually driving their desire, instead of just reacting to it without introspection. For those who struggle to keep up with their libido, emotional intelligence can prevent sex from turning into a coping mechanism. With it, you're more likely to notice the difference between wanting sex and needing it. You might realize when you're chasing validation, distraction or stress relief — and start exploring other ways to meet those needs. In turn, when sex happens naturally, you can start to enjoy it in ways you might've previously been missing out. Interested in improving your emotional intelligence? Taking this science-backed test is the best place to start: Emotional Quotient Inventory
Daily Mail
15-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
People with higher emotional intelligence are better in bed, study suggests
When it comes to sexual satisfaction, a certain personality trait can make you more likely to enjoy yourself, according to a new study. Researchers have discovered that people with higher levels of emotional intelligence tend to have a better time between the sheets. This is due to those with high emotional intelligence being more comfortable with intimacy and getting close to someone, the study authors said. And in good news, there are steps anyone can take to improve it. The team, from the University Of Bologna in Italy, collected data from 864 adults who were in a relationship or dating at the time of the study. Participants were asked to complete a series of psychological assessments including those which measured emotional intelligence, attachment anxiety and avoidance, and comfort with interpersonal touch. Analysis revealed that higher levels of emotional intelligence was linked with better sexual satisfaction. The team found that this was mainly due to the fact that these people have a higher tolerance for emotional and physical intimacy, and had less anxiety. They also discovered that higher levels of emotional intelligence was linked to higher body appreciation and fewer problematic sexual behaviors. The trait has also been associated with emotional self-awareness, empathy, the ability to regulate emotions and social skills. Luckily, for those who may struggle in this area, there are steps you can take to improve your emotional intelligence. Experts say reconnecting with core emotions – through practicing mindfulness – can help. 'It's important that you learn how to manage stress first, so you'll feel more comfortable reconnecting to strong or unpleasant emotions and changing how you experience and respond to your feelings,' experts told Help Guide. 'In order to build emotional intelligence - and become emotionally healthy - you must reconnect to your core emotions, accept them, and become comfortable with them. You can achieve this through the practice of mindfulness.' They added: 'Become aware of how effectively you use nonverbal communication. 'The emotional part of your brain is always on - and even if you ignore its messages -others won't. 'Recognizing the nonverbal messages that you send to others can play a huge part in improving your relationships.' They also recommended using humor and play to relieve stress, and learning to see conflict as an opportunity to grow closer to others. The new study was published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences. The authors wrote: 'The findings highlight the importance of trait emotional intelligence in mitigating negative emotions linked to insecure attachments, reducing the risk of problematic sexual behaviors, and improving overall sexual satisfaction.'
Daily Mail
14-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
People with THIS personality trait are more likely to enjoy themselves in the bedroom - so, are you one of them?
When it comes to sexual satisfaction, a certain personality trait can make you more likely to enjoy yourself, according to a new study. Researchers have discovered that people with higher levels of emotional intelligence tend to have a better time in-between the sheets. This could be because it means people are more comfortable with intimacy and getting close to someone, they said. And in good news, there are steps anyone can take to improve it. The team, from the University of Bologna in Italy, collected data from 864 adults who were currently in a relationship or dating. Participants were asked to complete a series of psychological assessments including those which measured emotional intelligence, attachment anxiety and avoidance, and comfort with interpersonal touch. Analysis revealed that higher levels of emotional intelligence was linked with better sexual satisfaction. The team found that this was mainly due to the fact that these people have a higher tolerance for emotional and physical intimacy, and had less anxiety. Researchers have discovered that people with higher levels of emotional intelligence tend to have a better time in-between the sheets They also discovered that higher levels of emotional intelligence was linked to higher body appreciation and fewer problematic sexual behaviours. The trait has also been associated with emotional self-awareness, empathy, the ability to regulate emotions and social skills. Luckily, for those who may struggle in this area, there are steps you can take to improve your emotional intelligence. Experts say reconnecting with core emotions – through practicing mindfulness – can help. 'It's important that you learn how to manage stress first, so you'll feel more comfortable reconnecting to strong or unpleasant emotions and changing how you experience and respond to your feelings,' experts told Help Guide. 'In order to build emotional intelligence —and become emotionally healthy—you must reconnect to your core emotions, accept them, and become comfortable with them. You can achieve this through the practice of mindfulness.' They added: 'Become aware of how effectively you use nonverbal communication. 'The emotional part of your brain is always on—and even if you ignore its messages—others won't. 'Recognizing the nonverbal messages that you send to others can play a huge part in improving your relationships.' They also recommended using humour and play to relieve stress, and learning to see conflict as an opportunity to grow closer to others. The new study was published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences. The authors wrote: 'The findings highlight the importance of trait emotional intelligence in mitigating negative emotions linked to insecure attachments, reducing the risk of problematic sexual behaviours, and improving overall sexual satisfaction.' WHAT TACTICS DO PEOPLE USE TO STOP THEMSELVES CHEATING? Researchers at the University of New Brunswick asked 362 heterosexual adults how they had staved off temptations to cheat while in a relationship. 1. 'Relationship enhancement' Seventy-five per cent of the study's respondents, who were aged between 19 and 63, selected 'relationship enhancement' as their primary tactic. This ploy included things like taking their partner on a date, making an extra effort with their appearance around them, or having more sex with them. 2. 'Proactive avoidance' The second most-popular was 'proactive avoidance', which involved maintaining distance from the temptation. As well as physically avoiding the temptation, people also avoided getting close in conversation with that person. 3. 'Derogation of the temptation' The third and final tactic used by people was 'derogation of the temptation', which involved feelings of guilt, and thinking about the tempting person in a negative light. Participants reported flirting less when they applied the final, 'derogation of the temptation' strategy. But none of the strategies had an effect on the levels of romantic infidelity, sexual infidelity, and whether the relationship survived. Psychologist Dr Alex Fradera, who was not involved in the research, said the findings show little can be done once feelings of temptation have crept in.
