Editing Intimate relationship (section)

=== Psychological well-being ===
[[File:Couple_hugging_and_smiling.jpg|thumb|Intimate relationships impact well-being.]]
Intimate relationships impact [[happiness]] and [[Life satisfaction|satisfaction with life]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Proulx |first1=Christine M. |last2=Helms |first2=Heather M. |last3=Buehler |first3=Cheryl |date=2007 |title=Marital Quality and Personal Well-Being: A Meta-Analysis |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2007.00393.x |journal=Journal of Marriage and Family |language=en |volume=69 |issue=3 |pages=576–593 |doi=10.1111/j.1741-3737.2007.00393.x |issn=0022-2445}}</ref> While people with better [[mental health]] are more likely to enter intimate relationships, the relationships themselves also have a positive impact on mental health even after controlling for the [[Selection bias|selection effect]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Braithwaite |first1=Scott |last2=Holt-Lunstad |first2=Julianne |date=2017 |title=Romantic relationships and mental health |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352250X16300252 |journal=Current Opinion in Psychology |series=Relationships and stress |volume=13 |pages=120–125 |doi=10.1016/j.copsyc.2016.04.001 |pmid=28813281 |issn=2352-250X|url-access=subscription }}</ref> In general, marriage and other types of committed intimate relationships are consistently linked to increases in happiness.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Stack |first1=Steven |last2=Eshleman |first2=J. Ross |date=1998 |title=Marital Status and Happiness: A 17-Nation Study |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/353867 |journal=Journal of Marriage and Family |volume=60 |issue=2 |pages=527–536 |doi=10.2307/353867 |jstor=353867 |issn=0022-2445|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Furthermore, due to the interdependent nature of relationships, one partner's life satisfaction influences and predicts change in the other person's life satisfaction even after controlling for relationship quality.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Gustavson |first1=Kristin |last2=Røysamb |first2=Espen |last3=Borren |first3=Ingrid |last4=Torvik |first4=Fartein Ask |last5=Karevold |first5=Evalill |date=2016-06-01 |title=Life Satisfaction in Close Relationships: Findings from a Longitudinal Study |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-015-9643-7 |journal=Journal of Happiness Studies |language=en |volume=17 |issue=3 |pages=1293–1311 |doi=10.1007/s10902-015-9643-7 |s2cid=254703008 |issn=1573-7780|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

==== Social support ====
Social support from an intimate partner is beneficial for coping with [[Stress (biology)|stress]] and significant life events.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Sullivan |first1=Kieran T. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=df9cCAAAQBAJ&dq=intimate+relationships+and+social+support&pg=PA26 |title=Support Processes in Intimate Relationships |last2=Davila |first2=Joanne |date=2010-06-11 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-045229-2 |language=en}}</ref> Having a close relationship with someone who is perceived as responsive and validating helps to alleviate the negative impact of stress,<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Raposa |first1=Elizabeth B. |last2=Laws |first2=Holly B. |last3=Ansell |first3=Emily B. |date=2016 |title=Prosocial Behavior Mitigates the Negative Effects of Stress in Everyday Life |journal=Clinical Psychological Science: A Journal of the Association for Psychological Science |volume=4 |issue=4 |pages=691–698 |doi=10.1177/2167702615611073 |issn=2167-7026 |pmc=4974016 |pmid=27500075}}</ref> and shared activities with an intimate partner aids in regulating emotions associated with stressful experiences.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Lakey |first1=Brian |last2=Orehek |first2=Edward |date=2011 |title=Relational regulation theory: A new approach to explain the link between perceived social support and mental health. |url=http://doi.apa.org/getdoi.cfm?doi=10.1037/a0023477 |journal=Psychological Review |language=en |volume=118 |issue=3 |pages=482–495 |doi=10.1037/a0023477 |pmid=21534704 |s2cid=20717156 |issn=1939-1471}}</ref> Support for positive experiences can also improve relationship quality and increase shared positive emotions between people. When a person responds actively and constructively to their partner sharing good news (a process called "capitalization"), well-being for both individuals increases.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Peters |first1=Brett J. |last2=Reis |first2=Harry T. |last3=Gable |first3=Shelly L. |date=2018 |title=Making the good even better: A review and theoretical model of interpersonal capitalization |url=https://compass.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/spc3.12407 |journal=Social and Personality Psychology Compass |language=en |volume=12 |issue=7 |doi=10.1111/spc3.12407 |s2cid=149686889 |issn=1751-9004|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Donato |first1=Silvia |last2=Pagani |first2=Ariela |last3=Parise |first3=Miriam |last4=Bertoni |first4=Anna |last5=Iafrate |first5=Raffaella |date=2014 |title=The Capitalization Process in Stable Couple Relationships: Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Benefits |journal=Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences |language=en |volume=140 |pages=207–211 |doi=10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.04.411|doi-access=free }}</ref>

==== Sexual intimacy ====
In intimate relationships that are sexual, sexual satisfaction is closely tied to overall relationship satisfaction.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Maxwell |first1=Jessica A. |last2=McNulty |first2=James K. |date=2019 |title=No Longer in a Dry Spell: The Developing Understanding of How Sex Influences Romantic Relationships |journal=Current Directions in Psychological Science |language=en |volume=28 |issue=1 |pages=102–107 |doi=10.1177/0963721418806690 |s2cid=149470236 |issn=0963-7214|doi-access=free }}</ref> Sex promotes intimacy, increases happiness,<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Cheng |first1=Zhiming |last2=Smyth |first2=Russell |date=2015-04-01 |title=Sex and happiness |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167268115000050 |journal=Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization |volume=112 |pages=26–32 |doi=10.1016/j.jebo.2014.12.030 |issn=0167-2681|url-access=subscription }}</ref> provides pleasure, and reduces stress.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Meston |first1=Cindy M. |last2=Buss |first2=David M. |date=2007-07-03 |title=Why Humans Have Sex |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10508-007-9175-2 |journal=Archives of Sexual Behavior |volume=36 |issue=4 |pages=477–507 |doi=10.1007/s10508-007-9175-2 |pmid=17610060 |s2cid=6182053 |issn=0004-0002|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Ein-Dor |first1=Tsachi |last2=Hirschberger |first2=Gilad |date=2012 |title=Sexual healing: Daily diary evidence that sex relieves stress for men and women in satisfying relationships |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0265407511431185 |journal=Journal of Social and Personal Relationships |language=en |volume=29 |issue=1 |pages=126–139 |doi=10.1177/0265407511431185 |s2cid=73681719 |issn=0265-4075|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Studies show that couples who have sex at least once per week report greater well-being than those who have sex less than once per week.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Muise |first1=Amy |last2=Schimmack |first2=Ulrich |last3=Impett |first3=Emily A. |date=2016 |title=Sexual Frequency Predicts Greater Well-Being, But More is Not Always Better |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1948550615616462 |journal=Social Psychological and Personality Science |language=en |volume=7 |issue=4 |pages=295–302 |doi=10.1177/1948550615616462 |s2cid=146679264 |issn=1948-5506|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Research in [[human sexuality]] finds that the ingredients of high quality sex include feeling connected to your partner, good communication, vulnerability, and feeling present in the moment. High quality sex in intimate relationships can both strengthen the relationship and improve well-being for each individual involved.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Kleinplatz |first1=Peggy J. |last2=Menard |first2=A. Dana |last3=Paquet |first3=Marie-Pierre |last4=Paradis |first4=Nicolas |last5=Campbell |first5=Meghan |last6=Zuccarino |first6=Dino |last7=Mehak |first7=Lisa |date=2009 |title=The components of optimal sexuality: A portrait of "great sex" |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232545283 |journal=Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality |volume=18 |issue=1–2}}</ref>