CORVALLIS, Ore. — If you’re feeling fulfilled at home, there’s a good chance you’re feeling fulfilled at work, too. A recent study finds that having an active sex life could lead to increased job satisfaction at work.
Researchers concluded that people who prioritize their love lives at home head into the work day with more enjoyment and focus the following day.
The study was conducted by Keith Leavitt, an associate professor in the College of Business at Oregon State University. Leavitt and his team studied 159 married couples over the course of two weeks and asked them to fill out two surveys each day. They found that the positive qualities following sex included a better mood that stretched into the following day, more sound sleep and higher marital satisfaction in general — which in turn tend to make people happier.
Researchers say that sex releases dopamine and oxytocin in the brain, which improves mood and makes people feel better bonded to a sexual partner.
“We make jokes about people having a ‘spring in their step,’ but it turns out this is actually a real thing and we should pay attention to it,” Leavitt says in a university release. “Maintaining a healthy relationship that includes a healthy sex life will help employees stay happy and engaged in their work, which benefits the employees and the organizations they work for.”
The research also found that a stressful day at the office can conversely have negative effects on an employee’s sex life. When people are working so hard that their relationships suffer, they are less likely to perform well at work. The researchers suggest a clear separation of work and home life.
“This is a reminder that sex has social, emotional and physiological benefits, and it’s important to make it a priority,” says Leavitt. “Just make time for it.”
The findings are published this month in the Journal of Management.
This article was originally published March 7, 2018.
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