Happiness is often discussed in terms of mindset, productivity, finances, or achievement. Yet one dimension of well-being is frequently overlooked: intimate connection. While popular culture tends to frame intimacy as a luxury or optional aspect of life, psychological research suggests it may play a more meaningful role in happiness than we often acknowledge.

Studies consistently point to a link between sexual intimacy and greater life satisfaction. Importantly, these findings do not suggest that more is always better. Instead, they reveal a more nuanced picture of how intimacy supports emotional well-being.

To learn more about this, I interviewed Courtney Fae Long, a social worker with more than 25 years of experience and a sexuality educator, to gain her insights on the connection between sexual intimacy and happiness.

Human well-being is deeply relational. Decades of research have highlighted that close relationships are among the strongest predictors of happiness, often outweighing material success. Sexual intimacy, as one expression of connection, appears to contribute to well-being through both emotional and physiological pathways.

For instance, in a widely cited study, experts found that individuals who engaged in sexual activity about once per week reported higher levels of........

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