In marriage, couples face various challenges that threaten to tear them apart and make their relationship unstable. One such challenge is marital alienation, which occurs when partners feel detached from each other and disconnected from the union. This feeling can result from a wide range of factors, including emotional distance, communication breakdown, financial issues, and infidelity.
Research suggests that sexual intimacy can play a crucial role in mitigating this feeling and restoring marital harmony.
Sexual intimacy involves engaging in physical and emotional interactions between spouses, including kissing, touching, hugging, caressing, fondling, petting, oral sex, vaginal intercourse, and anal sex. These activities not only bring couples closer physically but also create a strong bond emotionally. By sharing intimate moments together, they learn more about each other's bodies, needs, likes, dislikes, and desires, creating an intimate connection that strengthens their relationship. When couples have regular sex, they are more likely to develop feelings of closeness and attachment, making it harder for external factors to cause division.
Evidence
Studies have shown that married couples who have frequent sexual encounters experience greater satisfaction with their relationships than those who don't.
One study found that frequent sexual activity was associated with higher levels of relationship quality, lower levels of conflict, and less desire for separation among couples. Another study showed that couples who engaged in daily intimate acts had greater self-esteem, felt more connected to their partner, and experienced increased feelings of affection compared to those who didn't. In contrast, couples who had infrequent or no sexual contact reported more negative experiences and were more prone to divorce.
Sexual intimacy plays a crucial role in mitigating feelings of marital alienation by promoting closeness and creating a stronger connection between partners. It is essential for couples to prioritize physical and emotional intimacy to maintain a healthy and fulfilling marriage. Regular sex can help them feel more united, appreciated, valued, and loved, leading to happier and longer-lasting marriages. Therefore, couples should strive to engage in regular sexual activities to prevent marital alienation and improve the overall quality of their union.
How does sexual intimacy mitigate feelings of marital alienation?
Intimacy is an essential part of any relationship and plays a significant role in helping couples maintain a strong bond between each other. It has been suggested that regular physical contact, such as kissing, cuddling, and sexual intercourse, can help people feel more connected emotionally and physically with their partners (Hill & Hennessy, 2018).