Sex between regular partners leaves a kind of "aftertaste" that lasts for 48 hours or even longer. According to experts representing Florida State University, this phenomenon plays an important role in strengthening the relationship in a couple, and this effect is especially important in the first years of marriage.
Many intuitively could have guessed that sex can help strengthen relationships, but in their new work, scientists have provided a scientific basis for this. As experts remind, during sex in the human body, among other things, oxytocin is produced, which is sometimes called the hormone of trust and tender affection. The researchers guessed that because of this, people who have sex should be warmer towards each other, at least for some time.
To find out how long the beneficial effects of sex last, scientists conducted a study involving about 200 newlywed couples. Volunteers were asked to answer questions about how often they have sex and how much they feel affection for each other, two weeks after the wedding, and then again six months later.
Having collected all the information required, the researchers analyzed the results and made adjustments for factors such as the personality traits of the volunteers, the length of the relationship before marriage, the frequency of sexual intercourse, and so on. As a result, scientists came to the conclusion that, on average, sexual intercourse strengthens the relationship between spouses for two days, or 48 hours. At the same time, the result, according to experts, equally extended to participants of different sex and age.
The new research has been published in the scientific journal Psychological Science.
Earlier, other researchers came to slightly different conclusions - in their opinion, for harmony in the family, spouses should have sex at least once a week, but more frequent intimate relationships do not bring "additional" stability in the relationship.
