Married couples who attend religious services on a regular basis are reporting more frequent sexual activity and higher satisfaction, according to a recent report from the Institute for Family Studies (IFS) in Charlottesville, Virginia. The findings come from an analysis of several large data sets, including the 2026 IFS Religion and Family Survey of 3,125 married adults ages 18‑54, the nationally representative General Social Survey, and a separate survey of 1,219 alumni of FOCUS, a Catholic campus ministry.
Key statistics
Among married adults ages 20‑54, 62% of regular churchgoers said they have sex at least once a week, compared with 48% of spouses who identify as non‑religious. Catholics who attend services regularly reported some of the highest levels of sexual frequency. In terms of sexual satisfaction, 55% of regularly attending Catholics and 45% of regularly attending Protestants rated their sex lives as “excellent” or “very good.” Those numbers were lower among nominal Catholics (45%), nominal Protestants (35%) and respondents with no religious affiliation (40%).
Possible explanations
Researchers note that the association persisted even after controlling for demographic differences such as age and length of marriage. The study also found that daily prayer was linked to greater sexual satisfaction among married Catholics and Protestants, though it did not correlate with more frequent sex.
Jessica Steinman, a licensed marriage and family therapist and certified sex‑addiction therapist based in Los Angeles, said the results challenge the stereotype that devout believers are less sexually active. “When we think of people who are really involved in religion … we might think they’re not having a lot of sex or that they have very constricted views on their sex lives,” Steinman said. “This article and research show that’s changing.”
Faith, shared values and marital commitment
Steinman explained that couples who share a spiritual life often feel more connected, which can translate into a healthier sexual relationship. She emphasized the importance of shared rituals and values, noting that couples who look outward to larger moral frameworks tend to experience happier marriages.
“If they’re showing up and looking at things outside themselves — things that are spiritual, things that are religious — they’re looking inward and into larger morals and values within their marriages,” Steinman said. “I think they’re going to possibly have happier marriages and partnerships.”
She also encouraged couples to prioritize face‑to‑face interaction over digital distractions. “Get off the phones, turn the TV off and really connect with your partner,” she advised, adding that emotional openness and honest conversations about sexual intimacy can strengthen the bond.
Limitations
The authors caution that the analysis is observational, meaning it cannot prove that religious practice directly causes better marital or sexual outcomes. All data were self‑reported, and unmeasured differences between religious and non‑religious respondents could also influence the results. Factors such as age, length of marriage, and other demographic variables may affect the ability to generalize the findings to the broader population.
The study was funded by FOCUS, the Fellowship of Catholic University Students, a Catholic campus ministry organization.
Implications for families
For families who value traditional marriage and faith, the report offers encouraging evidence that regular participation in religious life may support both marital stability and a satisfying sexual relationship. While the research does not establish causation, it underscores the potential benefits of shared spiritual practices, mutual commitment, and open communication within marriage.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
