How Often Should Married Couples Have Sex? Science Says Once a Week The “honeymoon phase” of a marriage often brings intense desire, but as life settles, sexual frequency naturally shifts. A 2016 study in Social Psychological and Personality Science found that weekly intimacy maximizes couple satisfaction (Muise et al., 2016). As a psychology professor with … Read more
How Sexual Frequency Reduces Depression Risk: Insights from Science Can your sex life influence your mental health? A 2025 study in the Journal of Affective Disorders suggests it does, finding that weekly sexual activity reduces depression risk by 24% (Wu et al., 2025). As a psychology professor with decades of expertise, I’ve seen how intimacy … Read more
6 Signs You’re Breaking Free from a Toxic Friendship and Its Mental Health Benefits Ending a toxic friendship can feel daunting, but recognizing the signs of liberation is empowering. As a psychology professor with decades of experience, I’ve seen how distancing from toxic relationships can reduce anxiety by 15%, per a 2021 Journal of Social … Read more
Soft Swinging: Why This Practice Appeals and Its Mental Health Benefits Soft swinging, a form of consensual non-monogamy, has captured attention through media like Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, which explores its role in a Mormon community scandal. As a psychology professor with extensive experience, I’ve seen how consensual exploration, when approached mindfully, … Read more
Axilism: Exploring This Intimate Practice and Its Mental Health Benefits Axilism, or sexual stimulation involving the armpit, has gained attention through films like Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019), where a scene subtly showcases its intimate appeal. As a psychology professor with extensive experience, I’ve seen how consensual exploration of such practices can reduce … Read more
Sweet Words or Gestures: What Science Says Wins a Heart When it comes to winning someone’s heart, do sweet words or thoughtful actions matter more? A 2019 study in Evolutionary Psychological Science suggests actions speak louder, especially for women (Li et al., 2019). As a psychology professor with decades of expertise, I’ve seen how small … Read more
Groundhogging: How This Dating Pattern Affects Your Love Life and Mental Health Ever feel like your love life is stuck on repeat, replaying the same relationship patterns with different partners? This phenomenon, dubbed “groundhogging” or “Marmot Practice,” draws from the 1993 film Groundhog Day, where Bill Murray’s character relives the same day endlessly. As a … Read more
Navel Play: Exploring Intimacy and Its Mental Health Benefits Navel play, an intimate practice involving the stimulation of the navel, has intrigued couples for decades, with figures like Madonna praising its allure in a 1985 Spin interview. As a psychology professor with extensive experience, I’ve seen how consensual intimacy, including practices like navel play, can … Read more
3 Simple Rules to Build Trust and Strengthen Your Relationship Trust is the cornerstone of any thriving relationship, yet it can feel elusive when jealousy or doubt creeps in. As a psychology professor with decades of expertise, I’ve seen trust-building strategies reduce relationship anxiety by 15%, per a 2020 Journal of Social Psychology study (Lee … Read more
8 Signs Your Conversation Partner Isn’t Listening and How to Improve Communication Feeling unheard in a conversation can strain relationships and mental well-being. As a psychology professor with decades of expertise, I’ve seen active listening reduce communication stress by 15%, per a 2020 Journal of Social Psychology study (Lee et al., 2020). Drawing on Heitler … Read more