Sexual Health and Intimacy Connection
Recent psychology research has shown that daily experiences of intimacy can improve sexual well-being. According to a study published recently in the Archives of Sexual Behavior, intimacy is linked to higher levels of sexual desire, satisfaction, and reduced sexual distress both over short periods and within a year after. This highlights how long-lasting the effects of intimacy are on your sex life.
Investigating Intimacy and Sexual Outcomes
A study led by Sophie Bergeron from the University of Montreal was done involving 211 diverse couples from two large Canadian cities. The people making up these couples had differing gender identities and were involved sexually with each other regardless whether they were heterosexual or same-sex couples. Participants needed to have resided together for at least one year and also been sexually active once per month.
Findings and Methodology
First, participants answered a detailed baseline survey about their relationship as well as their sexual well-being. Thereafter, they kept daily diaries for 35 days without any contact with others where they reported their experiences of intimacy as well as various positive feelings happening during sex. Empathic responses itemized items measuring partner disclosure, and self-disclosure too as a measure of intimacy.
Another survey was conducted after 12 months, whose primary objective was to determine the long term effects due to daily intimacies towards sexual wellbeing. It was found out for example that on days when higher levels of closeness were reported, more attention would be paid towards positive cues concerning sexuality thus leading to higher rate of desire for sex.
Two Way Street: Advantages of Intimacy
However, this benefit does not accrue only to an individual alone; there are also advantages associated with it on one’s partner’s own sexual wellbeing. When somebody feels closer than normal, this increases the attention that one of them pays to sexual cues which are positive, making him or her more satisfied and having fewer frustrations. In other words, such effects to be observed about each partner make it clear that intimacy is a two way street.
“There were just simple reasons why you would experience higher levels of desire and less distress than usual on an individual day,” said Bergeron. “This works in part by enabling both of you to focus more on the good aspects of your sex life.”
Long Term Benefits and Further Research
The results of the follow up survey showed that individuals with higher daily intimate encounters experienced increased sexual desire as well as satisfaction even after twelve months. Moreover, this long-term benefit was mediated through their own attention being paid to sexual signposts during their everyday sexual activities.
However, there was some limitations. The sample’s requirement for regular sex may have excluded couples in significant distress or conflict over their relationships or sexuality thus limiting generalization potential for the findings. Besides, the data did not contain enough ethnic variety from which differences in cultures could be drawn thereby reducing its external validity in so far application among non-western populations.
Looking Ahead
Specifically, it would be best to duplicate these findings with people from non-WEIRD countries,” suggested Bergeron. “Is there any similarity in the working of intimacy across various cultures? It is not clear yet to us. We are exploring similar questions around youth transitioning into adulthood and couples dealing with hypoactive sexual desire.”
The research titled ‘Intimacy Promotes Couples’ Sexual Well‑Being on a Daily Basis and Over One Year: The Role of Positive Sexual Cues’ written by Sophie Bergeron, Marie‑Pier Vaillancourt‑Morel, Katherine Péloquin, and Natalie O. Rosen gives insight into how intimacy can increase sexual well-being thereby creating ways of improving relationships and sexual health.
See the original article for more information in the Archives of Sexual Behavior.