It seems, apart from the obvious benefits of rest, relaxation and a tan, holidays can also be great for our sex lives. A survey of 700 people in Ireland suggests that the heat on the beach carries through to the bedroom, with 1 in 4 Irish people experiencing a libido boost during their holidays.
Slightly more men than women reported this – 22 per cent and 18 per cent respectively – with age also being a defining factor. Not surprisingly, younger people claimed their sex life was boosted the most, with 28 per cent experiencing an increase in their libido while on holiday, versus 18 per cent of middle aged people and 16 per cent of older people.
In fact the relationship benefits of a trip away with your other half are not just confined to the bedroom. It seems romance and communication in general can improve considerably with 27 per cent of those surveyed believing they “fall in love all over again” on holiday and 60 per cent admitting to communicating better.
However, for some, holiday trips can have the opposite effect on a relationship. The survey suggests that for many the extended period of time together can spell trouble with 17 per cent reporting negative feelings about their partner after a holiday.
10 per cent said that all the time together makes them realise how much their partner gets on their nerves, with this being more common amongst middle aged and older people; 14 and 13 per cent respectively versus 7 per cent of young couples.
Another 7 per cent said a holiday together puts a strain on their relationship with young people (1 in 10) feeling this way more than older people.
While the majority of survey respondents had not taken any serious action around their relationships after returning from a holiday, 21 per cent did decide to get away within a few weeks of returning.
Of those drawn to escape again, women were slightly more keen than men – 24 per cent compared to 18 per cent.
However, for a small minority, a holiday with their partner had resulted in more serious action on returning- 6 per cent of women and 2 per cent of men had gone as far as leaving their partner.
Psychologist and owner of The Bwell Clinic, Allison Keating said: “For couples, holidays provide much more than just a rest. They can provide a chance to reflect, relax and tune back into each other. However they can also have a negative effect on relationships, creating a psychological deluge of lots of pre-existing issues, sparking fights. A positive application would be to try and really get under the snippy remarks to understand the real emotions that may be surfacing with the intent of acting upon them in a constructive way.”
