A 2008 article in the "Journal of Marriage and the Family" suggests that what couples do in their spare time can have a dramatic effect on their feelings about their marriages. Researchers noted that couples who shared leisure activities during their first year of parenthood reported more love and less conflict than those who did not. By spending time together engaged in mutually enjoyable activities, couples feel more connected to one another, thus improving feelings of intimacy.

The journal "Psychosomatic Medicine" reports that in one study of 38 cohabiting couples, those with higher perceptions of partner support from warm contact -- which included hugging -- showed higher blood plasma levels of oxytocin, the hormone responsible for bonding and attachment. Frequent affectionate support that raises hormone levels and provides a sense of connection may improve intimacy and overall marital satisfaction.

Although lack of sexual desire in relationships is often cited as the cause of intimacy issues, sex may improve positive feelings toward one another. WebMD notes that sexual activity increases the hormone oxytocin, which strengthens bonds and may lead to deeper intimacy responses. Orgasm and the related endorphin release may provide stress relief as well as improvements in feelings of connection. Increasing the frequency of sexual activity may decrease marital dissatisfaction by bolstering feelings of attachment.

Research published in the "Journal of Nervous & Mental Disease" found that increases in stress increased the frequency of sexual issues. After controlling for factors such as overall relationship quality and psychological symptoms, a 2006 study found that internal stress levels -- as opposed to external stressors such as work-related issues -- influenced sexual desire in women and men. The more able individuals were to cope with stress effectively, the lower their levels of sexual dysfunction were. These findings suggest that individual stress management should be addressed when trying to improve sexual intimacy between partners.