#RelationshipHealth

A recent global headline has caught the attention of couples everywhere: experts warn that having sex less than once a week could spell trouble for relationship satisfaction. The warning comes off the back of a study by a University of Manchester researcher, published in the International Journal of Sexual Health in September 2024, which surveyed nearly 500 heterosexual women. The findings: 85% of women who had sex on a weekly basis reported being “sexually satisfied,” compared to only 66% for those having sex once a month, and a stark drop to 17% satisfaction for couples with less than monthly intimacy. This result has stirred debate, especially in Thailand, where cultural, religious, and generational dynamics around intimacy remain complex.

A groundbreaking approach to sexual wellbeing is shifting the way individuals and communities, including those in Thailand, understand and support this vital aspect of health. According to emerging research highlighted in a recent Psychology Today article, sexual wellbeing extends far beyond physical satisfaction or sexual health. Instead, it encompasses a complex interplay of emotional, psychological, and relational factors that are now being recognised as central to a fulfilling intimate life.

For Thai readers, the importance of sexual wellbeing is often overshadowed by societal taboos and cultural expectations. In classrooms, the topic is frequently reduced to clinical or biological aspects of sex, leaving critical dimensions such as communication, respect, and emotional safety unexplored. Yet, as relationships, mental health concerns, and identity issues rise in visibility across Thailand, the nuances of sexual wellbeing have never been more relevant.

A leading psychologist has issued a stark warning to couples, highlighting a seemingly common but deeply destructive phrase that can deeply corrode romantic relationships: “Why can’t you be more like [insert other person’s name]?” This message, often delivered in moments of frustration or conflict, is flagged as one of the most toxic forms of communication, known in the psychological community as the “death-by-comparison” effect. Experts say this phrase, and the mindset behind it, can undermine trust, erode self-esteem, and ultimately destroy the intimate bond between partners, according to recent reports and expert commentary published by the Daily Mail (dailymail.co.uk).