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Does Increased Sexual Frequency Enhance Happiness?

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  • Loewenstein, George
  • Krishnamurti, Tamar
  • Kopsic, Jessica
  • McDonald, Daniel

Abstract

Prior research observing a positive correlation between happiness and sexual frequency has not been able to determine whether increased frequency leads, causally, to an increase in happiness. We present results from the first experimental study to address the question of causality. We recruited couples and randomly assigned half to double their frequency of intercourse. We find that increased frequency does not lead to increased happiness, perhaps because it leads to a decline in wanting for, and enjoyment of, sex.

Suggested Citation

  • Loewenstein, George & Krishnamurti, Tamar & Kopsic, Jessica & McDonald, Daniel, 2015. "Does Increased Sexual Frequency Enhance Happiness?," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 206-218.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:116:y:2015:i:c:p:206-218
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2015.04.021
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jens Ludwig & Greg J. Duncan & Lisa A. Gennetian & Lawrence F. Katz & Ronald C. Kessler & Jeffrey R. Kling & Lisa Sanbonmatsu, 2013. "Long-Term Neighborhood Effects on Low-Income Families: Evidence from Moving to Opportunity," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 103(3), pages 226-231, May.
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    4. Cheng, Zhiming & Smyth, Russell, 2015. "Sex and happiness," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 26-32.
    5. Loewenstein, George, 1996. "Out of Control: Visceral Influences on Behavior," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 65(3), pages 272-292, March.
    6. Daniel Kahneman & Alan B. Krueger & David Schkade & Norbert Schwarz & Arthur Stone, 2004. "Toward National Well-Being Accounts," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 94(2), pages 429-434, May.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Uwe Jirjahn & Martha Ottenbacher, 2023. "Big Five personality traits and sex," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 36(2), pages 549-580, April.
    3. Bahadır Dursun & Resul Cesur, 2016. "Transforming lives: the impact of compulsory schooling on hope and happiness," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 29(3), pages 911-956, July.

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    Keywords

    Sex; Happiness; Hedonics;
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