Married couples who attend church regularly report more frequent sex and higher sexual satisfaction than those who attend less often or not at all. This finding comes from a new report by the Institute for Family Studies (IFS) in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Researchers used multiple datasets in their analysis, including the 2026 IFS Religion and Family Survey, which involved 3,125 married adults aged 18–54. They also considered the longstanding General Social Survey and a survey of 1,219 alumni of FOCUS, a Catholic campus ministry.
Regular churchgoers reported greater sexual frequency than less religious or non-religious married couples. Catholics attending church frequently showed particularly high levels of sexual frequency. This trend held true even after accounting for demographic differences.
Frequency and Satisfaction
Among married adults aged 20 to 54, 62% of regular churchgoers reported having sex at least once a week, compared to 48% of nonreligious couples. Additionally, sexual satisfaction was higher among those who attended church frequently. Catholics and Protestants with regular attendance rated their sex lives more positively than infrequent attendees or those without religious ties.
Daily prayer correlated with higher sexual satisfaction among married Catholics and Protestants, though it did not correlate with increased frequency.
Among religious groups, 55% of Catholics and 45% of Protestants described their sex lives as “excellent” or “very good.” This contrasts with 45% of nominal Catholics, 35% of nominal Protestants, and 40% of those with no religious affiliation.
Beliefs and Connection
Individuals who view marriage as a permanent commitment reported frequent and satisfying sex. This belief, combined with shared values, was linked closely to overall marital quality.
Limitations
The analysis was observational, so direct causation between religious practices and marital or sexual outcomes cannot be determined. The findings were based on self-reported information, leaving room for other unmeasured factors to affect the results. Differences in age and marriage duration also complicate broader population comparisons.
The study received funding from FOCUS, the Fellowship of Catholic University Students.
Therapist Insight
Jessica Steinman, a licensed marriage and family therapist, discussed the possible connections between a couple’s religious activities and their sexual life. According to her, active participation in religious life may foster a sense of connection between partners. Rituals and shared practices typical of religious life might strengthen this bond.
Steinman notes that such practices require individuals to look at spiritual and moral values, which could result in happier marriages. She suggests that religious couples may be more vulnerable and open with each other, potentially leading to a more active sex life.
“Religious settings emphasize rituals and traditions,” Steinman explained. “Engaging in sexual intimacy can itself become a ritual within a marriage.”
Steinman also commented on a reported “sex recession,” where people engage in less sexual intimacy than before. Regardless of religious ties, she encourages couples to find ways to connect.
Her advice includes spending less time on phones and the internet and actively engaging with partners to build deeper connections.
Individuals are encouraged to discuss their emotional and sexual relationship desires openly.
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