To understand to what extent sexual harmony between partners can predict emotional recovery after traumatic or challenging events, it is essential to consider that trauma refers to an intense experience of physical, mental, or psychological distress that surpasses the usual capacity to cope. This stressful situation could be caused by natural disasters, accidents, war, violence, abuse, illness, loss, or financial difficulties. According to the American Psychiatric Association (2013), trauma affects individuals' feelings, thoughts, behavior, and sense of self, which may lead them to suffer from anxiety, depression, insomnia, nightmares, flashbacks, numbness, guilt, shame, anger, or hopelessness.
Sexual Harmony and Emotional Recovery
Researchers have found that couples who report a high level of satisfaction with their sex life are more likely to recover from negative emotions associated with trauma than those whose sexual relationship is dysfunctional. In fact, sexual intimacy has been linked to lower rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and higher levels of resilience (Makris et al., 2019; Tavassoli & Mohammadi-Ghahfarokhi, 2018). Specifically, women who engage in regular sexual activity before and after experiencing sexual assault showed better coping skills and fewer symptoms of PTSD compared to non-sexually active counterparts (Hartley et al., 2020). Likewise, men who received supportive sexual care after cancer diagnosis reported less depressive symptoms than peers without this type of assistance (Sun et al., 2016).
Factors Affecting Sexual Harmony
Several factors can influence the harmoniousness of a couple's sexual relationship. Firstly, it is essential for partners to communicate openly about what they want sexually, setting boundaries and expectations, and negotiating desires to avoid misunderstandings and frustration. Secondly, both must feel comfortable expressing themselves emotionally and physically during intercourse, creating a safe space where they can share their feelings and needs without fear or judgement. Thirdly, partners should be physically attracted to each other and find physical closeness appealing.
There must be no external factors that interfere with the sexual experience, such as financial difficulties, family problems, or work-related stress.
Sexual intimacy between partners can help them recover from emotional distress caused by traumatic events.
Various factors affect the quality of sex life, such as communication, safety, attraction, and absence of external obstacles. Therefore, couples must pay attention to these elements to preserve their relationship's stability and wellbeing.
To what extent can sexual harmony between partners predict emotional recovery after traumatic or challenging events?
While sexual intimacy is not always necessary for emotional healing after difficult experiences, it may help people cope with stress by providing an outlet for physical closeness and emotional connection. Research has shown that individuals who experience sexual activity shortly after a traumatic event often report feeling more positive emotions than those who do not engage in sex during this time.