Sex at least four times a week, correlates to more money

CAMBRIDGE, England, Aug. 15 (UPI) -- People who have sex at least four times a week make about 5 percent more in salary, at least among Greeks, a researcher says.

Nick Drydakis of the Lord Ashcroft International Business School at Anglia Ruskin University in England and a fellow at the Institute for the Study of Labor in Germany analyzed a one-year survey of 7,500 Greek households.

The data were gathered from January 2008 through December 2008 in the Greek Behavioral Study, conducted by the University of Piraeus, the University of Central Greece and the Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences.

"Using two stage estimations we examined the relationship between adult sexual activity and wages," Drydakis said in a statement.

The study found those who had sex at least four times a week had higher salaries, but Drydakis said the finding is a correlation, not a cause and effect.

Drydakis has a couple of theories for the correlation: one, more sex makes people healthier and happier, and these people tend to make more money; two, higher wages might increase the value and attractiveness of a person who dates.

Those who benefited the most from the link between frequent sex and higher income were those ages 26-50.

"In addition, heterosexuals' sexual activity does not seem to provide higher or lower wage returns than that of homosexuals, but wages are higher for those health-impaired employees who are sexually active," the study said.

Contemporary social analysis suggests health, cognitive and non-cognitive skills and personality are important factors that affect wage level, life and job satisfaction, cognitive functioning and reasoning ability. Sexual activity might also be of interest to social scientists, since sexual activity is considered to be a barometer for health, quality of life, well-being and happiness, Drydakis said.