Why sexual activity peaks during the Christmas holiday:

We don’t just stuff socks.

A new report into Christmas stress has revealed that lovers ride with each other as Santa and Rudolph ride together – as a way of escaping Christmas drama and trauma.

“The holidays amplify everything that’s already beneath the surface,” lead author Michael Salas, a licensed professional counselor, said of the exciting findings. “For many people, sex becomes a way of coping with anxiety, loneliness or emotional overload, rather than a reflection of true desire.”

It’s all about finding relief through risqué postings.

Psychologists like Salas warn that while the holiday season is talked about and hailed as “the most wonderful time of the year,” the days that follow are often fraught with the stress, problems and pain that come with seasonal festivities.

Data shows revelers in 2025 fare the worst.

The American Psychiatric Association determined that 41% of Americans expect to experience more holiday-related stress this year than in 2024, according to a new survey of 2,203 adults.

A whopping 75% of respondents cited the struggling economy as their top concern, with 46% admitting they were worried about being unable to afford or purchase holiday gifts. Another 32% were concerned about dealing with challenging family dynamics.

So to avoid Christmas tantrums, sex lovers get naughty and feel good.

“When people are overwhelmed, the nervous system seeks relief,” Salas explains. “Sex can temporarily calm the stress response even if the underlying emotional issues remain unresolved.”

Therapists note that exhausted couples often use ploys to avoid difficult conversations or reduce conflict rather than resolve it.

However, sexually active singles tend to intensify sexual intercourse at the end of the year, especially with their exes, in search of comfort.

“This season is like a pressure cooker,” continued Salas of Vantage Point Counseling. “Boundaries are weakened, unresolved issues surface, and people often turn to intimacy to stabilize their emotions.”

He doesn’t just make your bells jingle.

Researchers from Indiana University and the Gulbenkian Institute of Science in Portugal previously determined that “interest in sex peaks significantly during major cultural or religious celebrations – driven by greater use of the word ‘sex’ or other sexual terms in web searches.”

But Salas advises against using XXX-rated activities as your only source of comfort.

“When sex becomes someone’s primary way of regulating stress or self-worth, it can mask deeper emotional needs,” he says. “That’s when people get confused afterwards – closer [to one another] in the moment, but will be even more disjointed later. “

Here are Sarah’s top tips for dealing with holiday stress, sex, and self-regulation.

• Practice emotional boundaries: Recognize when intimacy is used to avoid stress rather than resolve it.
• Create a space for self-regulation: Short breaks, walks, or quiet time can reduce the emotional burden.
• Set realistic expectations: There’s no such thing as a “perfect vacation” because the pressure to perform often backfires.
• Open communication: Honest conversations about needs and pressures can enhance intimacy more than avoidance.
• Normalize complex emotions: It’s common and human to feel stressed, insecure, or disconnected during the holidays.