Journal of Marriage and the Family · 2000 · 118 citations · 22 references
Social SciencesDemographySociologyFamily DemographyReproductive DemographySocial DemographyFamily EconomicsMarital Status AnalysisMarriageSexual HealthMarital DurationMarriage DeclineMarriage Length
Marital sexual frequency tends to decline over time, while the likelihood of extramarital sex may change, prompting investigation into these patterns. The study develops a theoretical framework to explain the decline in marital sex frequency and the changing likelihood of extramarital sex over marital duration. Using diminishing marginal utility and human capital theory, the authors model the decline in marital sex and test two hypotheses about extramarital sex with National Health and Social Life Survey data.
Why does the frequency of marital sex decrease with marital duration? Does the probability of involvement in extramarital sex increase or decrease with marital duration, and why? I develop a theory to answer these questions. I apply the law of diminishing marginal utility and human capital theory to explain the basic observed decline in the frequency of marital sex with marital duration. Based on the above explanation, I develop a discussion on the relationship between marital duration and extramarital sex, and I derive two hypotheses, which are supported by statistical analyses of the National Health and Social Life Survey data.
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