Seniors are often associated with taking it easy - slowing down. More often than not, people also think that with age, married seniors also slow down when it comes to love making. But a new survey might just change that, as it found that sex is a significant indicator of happiness among married seniors.

Married senior couples find sexual activity as important according to the General Social Surveys, a public opinion poll conducted on a nationally representative sample of non-institutionalized English and Spanish-speaking persons aged 18 years up living in the United States, done in 2004.

Adrienne Jackson, PT, PhD, MPA, an assistant professor at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, analyzed the data of the survey responses of 238 individuals aged 65 and older. Jackson found that the frequency of sexual activity among the aged was an important predictor of a senior couple's general and marital happiness.

In fact, the link it made to couples' happiness was so pronounced that even when factors such as age, gender, health status, and satisfaction with financial situation were considered, the association remained.

Under the survey, the respondents were asked how many times they had intercourse during the last 12 months, which was then followed by questions of how happy they are generally and martially so as to be assessed. Findings show that there is a bigger percentage of "very happy couples" who had sex within a time period than those who do not have sex at all.

The survey showed that while only 40% of individuals who had no sexual activity were very happy with their lives, around 60% who were sexual active for more than once a month said that they were very happy. Following the same trend, 59% of those who had no sexual activity said that they were very happy with their marriage, but a larger percentage of those who do have sex, 80%, said the same.

Jackson said that the results of the survey could help in opening the lines of communication, and aid in developing "outside the box" approaches to dealing with resolvable issues.

But sex doesn't only bring happiness to the couples, it also brings with it numerous benefits. According to MarriedRomance.com, sex, for women, releases oxytocin which promotes feelings of affection as well as triggering the nurturing instinct, while for men, testosterone glow is encouraged thus strengthening bones and muscles, in addition to helping transport DHEA, a hormone that may be important for the body's immune system.

Some of the other benefits of having sex with your partner, Sheri and Bob Stritof of About.com reported, include:

- Boosting self-esteem

- Promoting a feeling of youth

- Keeps spouses connected emotionally

- Provides a positive outlook in life

- Reduces depressions, less irritable

- Makes a person calmer