Women who have less premarital sex are happier in marriage

The latest survey research from the National Marriage Project in the United States shows that the number of women's premarital sexual partners affects their happiness after marriage. Among women who only have sexual relations with their husbands, 53% are satisfied with their marriages; this figure drops to 42% among women who have had two or more sexual partners before marriage; and only 22% of women who have had ten or more sexual partners before marriage are satisfied with their marriages. But for men, there does not seem to be a clear relationship between the number of premarital sexual partners and marital satisfaction.

The research results were published in the University of Virginia paper "Before 'I Do': What is the impact of contemporary young people's premarital experiences on marital quality?" The study lasted five years and tracked 1,294 unmarried men and women in the representative American age range of 18 to 34. During this period, a total of 418 people got married, but the number of people who had sexual relations only with their married spouse accounted for only 23% of the total.

Researchers say that if you want a high-quality marriage, having sex with multiple people before marriage may be risky. Previous experiences, especially those involving romantic relationships, are associated with future marital quality. Those who have more sexual partners may have a harder time being faithful to their spouse because they are aware of the existence of "substitutes." The researchers also said that having multiple sexual relationships before marriage also means multiple breakups. More breakup experiences can make people biased towards love, which may also affect future relationships.

The study also found that weddings with more than 150 guests were associated with higher marriage quality. The researchers attribute this finding to public commitment and community support. A couple will be better able to weather the occasional storms in their marriage if they have more support.