A Cuban couple watch a ferry, that was hijacked
IN PHOTO: A Cuban couple watch a ferry, that was hijacked with 50 people aboard by armed men in a thwarted bid to reach the United States, being towed back into Havana Bay by a tugboat, April 4, 2003. The hostage crisis ended April 3 in the port of Mariel, west of Havana, when two women threw themselves overboard and a young man tackled the only hijacker with a gun and pushed him into the water. Other hijackers threw down their knives and security forces took control of the ferry in an operation overseen by Cuban President Fidel Castro. REUTERS/Rafael

A new study found that having more sex does not necessarily equate to increased happiness in couples. Whilst various researches and books claim that sex can be attributed to the level of happiness that couples have, a new study suggested that there may be other reasons why the relationship between these two factors are being regarded with a positive implication.

The study conducted by researchers from the Carnegie Mellon University involved 128 healthy married individuals aged 35-65, who were randomly divided into two groups. The first group was not instructed by the study authors regarding particular sex frequencies that they have to follow. On the other hand, the second group was directed to increase their sexual intercourse twice than their usual weekly frequency. Prior to the experiment, published in the Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, the study subjects were asked to complete a survey to establish baseline data.

Whilst the study was running, they were also asked to complete an online questionnaire that includes queries about the frequency, type and pleasurability of sex, as well as their happiness degree and overall health behaviours. An exit survey was also conducted wherein the researchers were able to review and compare baseline data to the information collated after the study.

The couples who were asked to double their weekly sexual intercourse really did as instructed; however, this did not boost their happiness levels and instead decreased it in minimal amounts. In fact, these couples reported that being instructed to have more sex reduced their desire and gratification for sex. This is probably due to the pre-instructions given to them that they felt obliged rather than initiate the act on their own.

"Perhaps couples changed the story they told themselves about why they were having sex, from an activity voluntarily engaged in to one that was part of a research study,” noted George Loewenstein, the study's lead investigator and the Herbert A. Simon University professor of economics and psychology in the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences. “If we ran the study again, and could afford to do it, we would try to encourage subjects into initiating more sex in ways that put them in a sexy frame of mind, perhaps with baby-sitting, or Egyptian sheets, rather than directing them to do so." Nonetheless, Loewenstein believes that couples may benefit from frequent sexual intercourse, provided that the correct manner of increase is performed.

Tamar Krishnamurti, one of the study designers and research scientist in CMU's Department of Engineering and Public Policy, said that the results of the study may help improve sex lives and overall happiness of couples. "The desire to have sex decreases much more quickly than the enjoyment of sex once it's been initiated,” Krishnamurti explained. “Instead of focusing on increasing sexual frequency to the levels they experienced at the beginning of a relationship, couples may want to work on creating an environment that sparks their desire and makes the sex that they do have even more fun."

To contact the writer, email rinadoctor00@gmail.com

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