New data from the General Social Survey, conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago, has examined how often married Americans engage in sexual activity, with researchers indicating their findings contradict common assumptions about what relationship health requires. The survey provides empirical insight into intimate patterns within long-term marriages.

The research suggests that reduced sexual frequency represents a natural progression in aging and established relationships, challenging the notion that declining intimacy signals relationship distress. Rather than applying a single standard to all couples, the findings indicate there exists an optimal frequency range associated with marital satisfaction, suggesting couples may find reassurance in understanding these patterns as normal aspects of partnership longevity.