Couples who share housework have more sex, study

Couples looking to up the ante in the bedroom should look at how much housework they are doing.

According to a new research paper, titled A Reversal in Predictors of Sexual Frequency and Satisfaction in Marriage, couples that share the housework load evenly have more sex.

Co-author of the paper, to be published in the Journal of Marriage and Family, Professor Sharon Sassler says sharing chores ‘deepens desire.’

Sassler writes that ‘sexual frequency has generally declined worldwide over the past few decades.’ But, ‘contemporary couples who adhere to a more egalitarian division of labor are the only couples who have experienced an increase in sexual frequency compared to their counterparts of the past.’

The study was based on data from a US marriage satisfaction study, and found those who divided housework equally had sex 6.8 times per month on average, as apposed to 5 times per month for couples with one partner who did most of the housework. 

While sharing housework can increase the amount of sex in a relationship, ignoring gender stereotypes when dividing the chores can have an even greater impact on their sex lives.