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28th Dec 2017

Survey Reveals How Many Times The Average Married Couple Has Sex In a Year

Megan Cassidy

Worried that you and your partner aren’t having enough sex? 

Well, according to recent research – you’re not alone. In fact, people are having a lot less sex now than in the 90s – with the steepest drop among married couples. 

Published in the journal Archives of Sexual Behavior, scientists from San Diego State University analysed 1989–2014 data from the General Social Survey, and found that married couples are having roughly 16% less sex now than they were in the 90s. 

The average couple was having sex 60 – 62 times per year, whereas now the average amount is 50 – 53 times. 

So what’s it all down to? 

Experts have put it down to a number of factors – including an increase in the consumption of anti-depressants. 

Researchers noted that incidences of depression have increased, along with the use of anti-depressant medication, which in turn causes increased sexual dysfunction. 

Lead study author Dr. Jean Twenge commented on the results: 

“Are they less happy and thus having less sex or are they having less sex and therefore less happy? It’s probably some of both. 

“We do know that sexual frequency is linked to marital satisfaction, so overall if you have fewer people having sex you could have people who are less happy and less satisfied with that relationship.”

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