Institute for Family Studies report links religious attendance to marital satisfaction

A report from the Institute for Family Studies (IFS) indicates that married Americans who regularly attend religious services report higher levels of sexual frequency and satisfaction compared to those who are less religious or non-religious.

Analyzing data from the 2026 IFS Religion and Family Survey, the General Social Survey, and a FOCUS alumni survey, researchers found that among married adults aged 20 to 54, 62 percent of regular churchgoers reported having sex at least once a week, while 48 percent of non-religious spouses reported the same. Among churchgoers, 55 percent of Catholics and 45 percent of Protestants rated their sex lives as ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’, compared to lower percentages among religiously unaffiliated respondents.

The study notes that regular attendance and viewing marriage as a permanent commitment are linked to these outcomes. Additionally, daily prayer was associated with higher sexual satisfaction among married Catholics and Protestants, though it was not linked to increased frequency.