151
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González-Rivera JA, Aquino-Serrano F, Pérez-Torres EM. Relationship Satisfaction and Infidelity-Related Behaviors on Social Networks: A Preliminary Online Study of Hispanic Women. Eur J Investig Health Psychol Educ 2019; 10:297-309. [PMID: 34542486 PMCID: PMC8314247 DOI: 10.3390/ejihpe10010023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2019] [Revised: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 12/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this online study was to develop an explicative model regarding the origin of infidelity-related behaviors on social networks for Hispanic women. We propose that sexual satisfaction and emotional intimacy have a direct impact on the satisfaction of couple relationships, and an indirect impact in the development of infidelity-related behaviors on social networks. To investigate this proposal, we used a non-probabilistic sample of 341 Hispanic women living in Puerto Rico. Statistical analyses confirmed that satisfaction and ambivalence in couple relationship completely mediate the association between sexual satisfaction and infidelity-related behaviors on social networks, as well as the relationship between emotional intimacy and infidelity-related behaviors on social networks. Overall, women who practice infidelity-related behaviors on social networks showed less sexual satisfaction, less emotional intimacy, less relationship satisfaction, and greater ambivalence. Our results provide theoretical and empirical evidence on how infidelity-related behaviors on social networks develop in couple relationships, and these results could help to inform possible forms of prevention and intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Aníbal González-Rivera
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University, 388 Zona Industrial Reparada 2, Ponce, PR 00716, USA;
| | | | - Emily M. Pérez-Torres
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University, 388 Zona Industrial Reparada 2, Ponce, PR 00716, USA;
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152
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McNulty JK, Maxwell JA, Meltzer AL, Baumeister RF. Sex-Differentiated Changes in Sexual Desire Predict Marital Dissatisfaction. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2019; 48:2473-2489. [PMID: 31471791 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-019-01471-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2019] [Revised: 05/10/2019] [Accepted: 05/17/2019] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Sex is critical to marriage. Yet, there are several reasons to expect spouses to experience declines in the desire for sex over time, and the rates of any declines in sexual desire may differ for men and women. We used two multi-wave, longitudinal studies to test whether male and female members of newlywed couples experienced different rates of change in sexual desire, whether any such changes were accentuated by childbirth, and whether any such changes had implications for marital satisfaction. In both studies, spouses provided multiple reports of sexual desire, marital satisfaction, and childbirth. Results demonstrated that women's sexual desire declined more steeply over time than did men's sexual desire, which did not decline on average. Further, childbirth accentuated this sex difference by partially, though not completely, accounting for declines in women's sexual desire but not men's. Finally, declines in women's but not men's sexual desire predicted declines in both partners' marital satisfaction. These effects held controlling depressive symptoms and stress, including stress from parenthood. The current findings offer novel longitudinal evidence for sex-differentiated changes in sexual desire and therefore suggest an important source of marital discord.
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Affiliation(s)
- James K McNulty
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call St., Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA.
| | - Jessica A Maxwell
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call St., Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
| | - Andrea L Meltzer
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call St., Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
| | - Roy F Baumeister
- School of Psychology, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
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153
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Palha-Fernandes E, Alves P, Lourenço M. Sexual satisfaction determinants and its relation with perfectionism: A cross-sectional study in an academic community. SEXUAL AND RELATIONSHIP THERAPY 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/14681994.2019.1677884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Patrick Alves
- Psychiatry Department, Alto Minho Local Health Unit, Viana Do Castelo, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, Oporto University, Porto, Portugal
| | - Mário Lourenço
- Psychiatry Department, Senhora da Oliveira Hospital, Guimarães, Portugal
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154
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Leavitt CE, Leonhardt ND, Busby DM. Different Ways to Get There: Evidence of a Variable Female Sexual Response Cycle. JOURNAL OF SEX RESEARCH 2019; 56:899-912. [PMID: 31124720 DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2019.1616278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Research has suggested women's sexual response cycle may vary more than previously thought. We asked 769 sexually active women between the ages of 18-70 to report on their sexual desire and arousal patterns during their last sexual experience. Using a latent class mixture model from retrospective sexual response data, we found six classes of desire and arousal patterns (Low, Middle Steady, High Fluctuation, Low Fluctuation, Upper Steady, High). We examined how these patterns were related to demographics, outcomes during the sexual experience, and outcomes for the global relationship. The Low sexual response class (8% of women) was significantly different from other classes in duration of the sexual experience, orgasms, and overall satisfaction with the sexual experience. Most sexual response patterns were associated with healthy relational and sexual outcomes. All classes except for the Low arousal and desire class showed associations with a neutral or positive sexual satisfaction evaluation. The non-problematic variation of women's sexual experience is an important concept to consider as it impacts determinations of dysfunction and women's self-evaluations. Not all women need to experience high levels of arousal throughout the sexual experience or to have desire at the outset in order to have positive sexual experiences and sexual outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chelom E Leavitt
- School of Family Life, Brigham Young University
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto
| | - Nathan D Leonhardt
- School of Family Life, Brigham Young University
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto
| | - Dean M Busby
- School of Family Life, Brigham Young University
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto
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155
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Sexual well-being and perceived stress in couples transitioning to parenthood: A dyadic analysis. Int J Clin Health Psychol 2019; 19:198-208. [PMID: 31516498 PMCID: PMC6732775 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijchp.2019.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Background/Objective The transition to parenthood encompasses several psychological and relational changes that might contribute to couples’ high levels of stress postpartum. Although common across the postpartum, couples’ sexual changes are frequently overlooked. Method We surveyed 255 mixed-sex new parent couples to examine the associations between sexual well-being—sexual satisfaction, desire, and postpartum sexual concerns—and perceived stress postpartum. Couples completed self-report questionnaires assessing perceived stress and sexual well-being. Results For both mothers and fathers, greater sexual satisfaction was associated with their partners’ lower perceived stress and, for fathers, this was also associated with their own lower perceived stress. For mothers, greater partner-focused sexual desire was associated with their own lower perceived stress whereas, for fathers, greater partner-focused sexual desire was associated with their partners’ higher perceived stress. In addition, greater solitary sexual desire and postpartum sexual concerns were associated with both parents’ own higher perceived stress. Conclusions This study highlights the association between sexual well-being and couples’ postpartum stress, suggesting that more positive sexual experiences are linked to lower perceptions of stress across this vulnerable period. Couples’ sexual well-being may be an important target for interventions aimed at helping postpartum couples cope with stress.
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156
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Tóth-Király I, Vallerand RJ, Bőthe B, Rigó A, Orosz G. Examining sexual motivation profiles and their correlates using latent profile analysis. PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2019.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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157
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Lee BH, O'Sullivan LF. Walk the Line: How Successful Are Efforts to Maintain Monogamy in Intimate Relationships? ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2019; 48:1735-1748. [PMID: 31214908 PMCID: PMC6669241 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-018-1376-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2017] [Revised: 10/03/2018] [Accepted: 11/28/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Monogamy, typically defined as sexual and romantic exclusivity to one partner, is a near-universal expectation in committed intimate relationships in Western societies. Attractive alternative partners are a common threat to monogamous relationships. However, little is known about how individuals strive to protect their relationships from tempting alternatives, particularly those embedded in one's social network. The current exploratory study was guided by the Investment Model, which states that satisfaction, investments, and perceived alternatives to a relationship predict commitment, which in turn predicts relationship longevity. The study aimed to identify relationship and extradyadic attraction characteristics associated with monogamy maintenance efforts, specifically relationship commitment, as predicted by the Investment Model. The efficacy of monogamy maintenance efforts was assessed via sexual and emotional infidelity measures at a 2-month follow-up. U.S. adults in heterosexual intimate relationships (N = 287; 50.2% male; M age = 34.5 years; M relationship length = 87 months) were recruited online to complete the survey study. Through structural equation modelling, the Investment Model structure was replicated, and relationship commitment predicted use of relationship-enhancing efforts as well as self-monitoring/derogation efforts. Individuals who experienced reciprocated attraction used significantly more avoidance and self-monitoring/derogation efforts than did those who experienced unreciprocated attraction. Ultimately, monogamy maintenance efforts did not significantly predict success in maintaining monogamy at follow-up. These findings have important research, educational, and clinical implications relating to relationship longevity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenda H Lee
- Department of Psychology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, E3B5A3, Canada.
| | - Lucia F O'Sullivan
- Department of Psychology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, E3B5A3, Canada
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158
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Rodrigues DL, Lopes D, Pereira M, De Visser R, Cabaceira I. Sociosexual Attitudes and Quality of Life in (Non)Monogamous Relationships: The Role of Attraction and Constraining Forces Among Users of the Second Love Web Site. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2019; 48:1795-1809. [PMID: 30607714 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-018-1272-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2017] [Revised: 03/14/2018] [Accepted: 07/04/2018] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Research has typically shown that unrestricted sociosexuality is negatively associated with relationship quality and that relationship quality is positively associated with quality of life (QoL). However, these findings may be restricted to individuals in monogamous relationships, especially those with prior extradyadic interactions (i.e., non-consensual non-monogamous; NCNM). Indeed, individuals in consensual non-monogamous (CNM) relationships have more unrestricted sociosexuality and are also more satisfied with and committed to their relationships. Still, little research has examined whether both relationship agreements are associated differently with attraction forces (wanting to be) and constraining forces (having to be) in the relationship and how they are related to QoL. We conducted a cross-sectional study with 373 heterosexuals (73.2% men, Mage = 41.15, SD = 10.18) registered on Second Love, a dating Web site for romantically involved individuals. Results showed differences in the hypothesized model, according to relationship agreement. For individuals in CNM relationships, unrestricted sociosexuality was associated with stronger attraction forces, which were then associated with greater QoL. The opposite pattern was found for those in NCNM relationships. Furthermore, and regardless of relationship agreement, unrestricted sociosexuality was associated with weaker constraining forces, which were associated with greater QoL. These results make a novel contribution to the literature on relationship agreements and how they relate to QoL.
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Affiliation(s)
- David L Rodrigues
- Department of Social and Organizational Psychology, Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, CIS-IUL, Av. das Forças Armadas, 1649-026, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Diniz Lopes
- Department of Social and Organizational Psychology, Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, CIS-IUL, Av. das Forças Armadas, 1649-026, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Marco Pereira
- Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | | | - Inês Cabaceira
- Department of Social and Organizational Psychology, Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, CIS-IUL, Av. das Forças Armadas, 1649-026, Lisbon, Portugal
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159
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Rosa MN, Matthews SA, Giuliano TA, Thomas KH, Swift BA, Mills MM. Encouraging erotic variety: Identifying correlates of, and strategies for promoting, sexual novelty in romantic relationships. PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2019.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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160
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Kvalem IL, Træen B, Markovic A, von Soest T. Body Image Development and Sexual Satisfaction: A Prospective Study From Adolescence to Adulthood. JOURNAL OF SEX RESEARCH 2019; 56:791-801. [PMID: 30260677 DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2018.1518400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The aim of the current study was to explore whether developmental trajectories of body satisfaction from adolescence to young adulthood predicted measures of sexual satisfaction in young adulthood, even when controlling for important covariates such as gender, weight development, relationship status, mental health, and frequency of sexual intercourse and masturbation. Data were collected from a population-based prospective cohort of Norwegian adolescents (n = 2,587) over a period of 13 years in four waves (1992, 1994, 1999, and 2005; mean age = 14.9 in 1992, 57.3% women). Latent growth curves were estimated for body satisfaction and body mass index (BMI). Men reported higher sexual satisfaction, sexual activity, baseline body satisfaction, and BMI than women. The developmental trajectories revealed a slight increase in body satisfaction and BMI from adolescence to young adulthood in both genders. Moreover, structural equation models showed that baseline body satisfaction in both genders predicted sexual satisfaction as a young adult, independent of relationship status and frequency of sexual activity. Neither the development of BMI nor of body satisfaction predicted sexual satisfaction. The results elucidate the vital role of body satisfaction in sexual satisfaction in adults and the importance of addressing body dissatisfaction in childhood.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bente Træen
- a Department of Psychology , University of Oslo
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161
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Salimi H, Javdan M, Zarei E, Najarpourian S. The Health of Marital Relationship in the Light of Factors Affecting the Stability and Satisfaction of the Relationship: A Review Study. JOURNAL OF EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY HEALTH 2019. [DOI: 10.29252/jech.6.3.183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
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162
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Alimoradi Z, Lin CY, Imani V, Griffiths MD, Pakpour AH. Social media addiction and sexual dysfunction among Iranian women: The mediating role of intimacy and social support. J Behav Addict 2019; 8:318-325. [PMID: 31120317 PMCID: PMC7044549 DOI: 10.1556/2006.8.2019.24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2019] [Revised: 03/14/2019] [Accepted: 04/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Social media use has become increasingly popular among Internet users. Given the widespread use of social media on smartphones, there is an increasing need for research examining the impact of the use of such technologies on sexual relationships and their constructs such as intimacy, satisfaction, and sexual function. However, little is known about the underlying mechanism why social media addiction impacts on sexual distress. This study investigated whether two constructs (intimacy and perceived social support) were mediators in the association of social media addiction and sexual distress among married women. METHODS A prospective study was conducted where all participants (N = 938; mean age = 36.5 years) completed the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale to assess social media addiction, the Female Sexual Distress Scale - Revised to assess sexual distress, the Unidimensional Relationship Closeness Scale to assess intimacy, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support to assess perceived social support. RESULTS The results showed that social media addiction had direct and indirect (via intimacy and perceived social support) effects on sexual function and sexual distress. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS The findings of this study facilitate a better understanding of how problematic engaging to social media can affect couples' intimacy, perceived social support, and constructs of sexual function. Consequently, sexual counseling should be considered an essential element for assessing individual behaviors in the context of social media use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zainab Alimoradi
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
| | - Chung-Ying Lin
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong
| | - Vida Imani
- Pediatric Health Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mark D. Griffiths
- International Gaming Research Unit, Psychology Department, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK
| | - Amir H. Pakpour
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
- Department of Nursing, School of Health and Welfare, Jönköping University, Jönköping, Sweden
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163
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Acevedo BP, Poulin MJ, Geher G, Grafton S, Brown LL. The neural and genetic correlates of satisfying sexual activity in heterosexual pair-bonds. Brain Behav 2019; 9:e01289. [PMID: 31090198 PMCID: PMC6576152 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.1289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2018] [Revised: 03/04/2019] [Accepted: 03/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In humans, satisfying sexual activity within a pair-bond plays a significant role in relationship quality and maintenance, beyond reproduction. However, the neural and genetic correlates for this basic species-supporting function, in response to a pair-bonded partner, are unknown. METHODS We examined the neural correlates of oxytocin- (Oxtr rs53576) and vasopressin- (Avpr1a rs3) receptor genotypes with sexual satisfaction and frequency, among a group of individuals in pair-bonds (M relationship length = 4.1 years). Participants were scanned twice (with functional MRI), about 1-year apart, while viewing face images of their spouse and a familiar, neutral acquaintance. RESULTS Sex satisfaction scores showed significant interactions with Oxtr and Avpr variants associated with social behaviors in a broad network of regions involved in reward and motivation (ventral tegmental area, substantia nigra [SN], and caudate), social bonding (ventral pallidum), emotion and memory (amygdala/hippocampus), hormone control (hypothalamus); and somatosensory and self-other processing (SII, frontal, and temporal lobe). Sexual frequency interactions also showed activations in the SN and paraventricular hypothalamus for Avpr, and the prefrontal cortex for Oxtr. CONCLUSIONS Satisfying sexual activity in pair-bonds is associated with activation of subcortical structures that support basic motivational and physiological processes; as well as cortical regions that mediate complex thinking, empathy, and self-other processes highlighting the multifaceted role of sex in pair-bonds. Oxtr and Avpr gene variants may further amplify both basic and complex neural processes for pair-bond conservation and well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca P Acevedo
- University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California
| | | | - Glenn Geher
- State University of New York at New Paltz, New Paltz, New York
| | - Scott Grafton
- University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California
| | - Lucy L Brown
- Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
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164
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Mahmut MK, Croy I. The role of body odors and olfactory ability in the initiation, maintenance and breakdown of romantic relationships - A review. Physiol Behav 2019; 207:179-184. [PMID: 31077678 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2019.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2018] [Revised: 05/01/2019] [Accepted: 05/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this review is to present direct and indirect lines of converging evidence that highlight the many ways our body odors and sense of smell may influence the three broad stages of romantic relationships; initiation, maintenance and breakdown. This emerging area of study requires a multidisciplinary empirical approach. Here we survey research findings that taken together, suggest that body odor perception moderates mate choice, provides a source of comfort in existing relationships and may signal the breakdown of a relationship through disgust processes. In terms of olfactory ability, having a good sense of smell may facilitate identifying a healthy mate, enhance sexual experiences, relationship security and ensure empathic responsivity, predictors of relationship longevity. We therefore conclude that olfaction plays an important - yet understudied - role in romantic relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehmet K Mahmut
- Food, Flavour and Fragrance Lab, Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Ilona Croy
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
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165
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Rosen NO, Bergeron S. Genito-Pelvic Pain Through a Dyadic Lens: Moving Toward an Interpersonal Emotion Regulation Model of Women's Sexual Dysfunction. JOURNAL OF SEX RESEARCH 2019; 56:440-461. [PMID: 30252510 DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2018.1513987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Researchers and clinicians alike widely acknowledge the inherently interpersonal nature of women's sexual dysfunctions given that both partners impact and are impacted by these difficulties. Yet theoretical models for understanding the role of interpersonal factors in women's sexual dysfunctions are severely lacking and have the potential to guide future research and inform more effective interventions. The most widely studied sexual dysfunction in women that has espoused a dyadic approach by including both members of affected couples is genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorder (GPPPD). In this article we use the example of GPPPD to introduce a novel interpersonal emotion regulation model of women's sexual dysfunction. We first review current knowledge regarding distal and proximal interpersonal factors in GPPPD. Then, we describe our theoretical model and consider relevant pain and sex-related research on emotion regulation processes-emotional awareness, expression, and experience-in the context of GPPPD, including sexual function, satisfaction, and distress. Next, we review how existing theories from the fields of chronic pain and sex and relationships research have informed our model and how our model further builds on them. Finally, we discuss the implications of our model and its applications, including to other sexual dysfunctions in women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie O Rosen
- a Department of Psychology and Neuroscience , Dalhousie University
- b Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , IWK Health Centre
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166
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Jodouin JF, Bergeron S, Desjardins F, Janssen E. Sexual Behavior Mediates the Relationship Between Sexual Approach Motives and Sexual Outcomes: A Dyadic Daily Diary Study. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2019; 48:831-842. [PMID: 30291598 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-018-1259-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2017] [Revised: 06/02/2018] [Accepted: 06/11/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies show that sexual approach (SA) motives, i.e., having sex to achieve a positive state such as sexual pleasure, are associated with higher sexual and relationship satisfaction. However, mechanisms linking SA motives to these outcomes are poorly understood, and the important distinction between SA motives that are self-directed (e.g., self-gratification) and other-directed (e.g., pleasing one's partner) has received little empirical attention, particularly in the everyday context of couples' sexuality. The present study focused, at an event level, on the associations between self-directed and other-directed SA motives, and sexual satisfaction and perceived partner responsiveness (PPR, an aspect of relationship intimacy). We also examined the mediating role of the couple's sexual behavior in these associations. Data were collected over a month-long daily diary study involving 35 newlywed heterosexual couples and analyzed using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model. Results showed that men and women's self-directed SA motives were associated with their own higher sexual satisfaction and, in men, with their female partners' sexual satisfaction as well. For both men and women, these associations were mediated by sexual behavior: Self-directed SA motives were associated with more genitally focused sexual behavior (e.g., vaginal intercourse, oral sex), in turn associated with higher sexual satisfaction. For men, other-directed SA motives were associated with their own greater PPR and with that of their female partners. For women, self-directed SA motives were associated with their own greater PPR and with that of their male partners. Sexual behavior did not mediate associations with PPR. Theoretically, these findings support dyadic models of sexual satisfaction and intimacy and indicate that self-directed SA motives may be more important to sexual satisfaction than other-directed motives. Clinically, they support sex therapy approaches that integrate both partners and suggest that sexual motives and behavior may be relevant targets for intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-François Jodouin
- Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Succursale Centre-Ville, C.P. 6128, Montreal, QC, H3C 3J7, Canada.
| | - Sophie Bergeron
- Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Succursale Centre-Ville, C.P. 6128, Montreal, QC, H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Frédérique Desjardins
- Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Succursale Centre-Ville, C.P. 6128, Montreal, QC, H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Erick Janssen
- Institute for Family and Sexuality, KU Leuven, Louvain, Belgium
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167
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Leavitt CE, Lefkowitz ES, Waterman EA. The role of sexual mindfulness in sexual wellbeing, Relational wellbeing, and self-esteem. JOURNAL OF SEX & MARITAL THERAPY 2019; 45:497-509. [PMID: 30714489 PMCID: PMC6640099 DOI: 10.1080/0092623x.2019.1572680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
In this study we examine the role of sexual mindfulness in individuals' sexual satisfaction, relational satisfaction, and self-esteem. Midlife U.S. men and women (N = 194 married, heterosexual individuals; 50.7% female; 94% Caucasian, age range 35-60 years) completed an online survey. More sexually mindful individuals tended to have better self-esteem, be more satisfied with their relationships and, particularly for women, be more satisfied with their sex lives. Some of these associations occurred even after controlling for trait mindfulness. These findings may also allow researchers and therapists to better address an individual's sexual wellbeing, relational wellbeing, and self-esteem by teaching sexual mindfulness skills.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eva S. Lefkowitz
- Human Development and Family Studies, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
| | - Emily A. Waterman
- Department of Psychology, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, USA
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168
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Pascoal PM, Rosa PJ, Coelho S. Does Pregnancy Play a Role? Association of Body Dissatisfaction, Body Appearance Cognitive Distraction, and Sexual Distress. J Sex Med 2019; 16:551-558. [PMID: 30852110 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsxm.2019.01.317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2018] [Revised: 01/28/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Pregnancy is characterized by physical, hormonal, and psychological changes that can affect women's sexuality, and, for those who are in a dyadic relationship, it also affects the couple's sexual relationship. On the other hand, the pregnancy state can function as a protective factor for body dissatisfaction as women embrace a new phase of the life cycle when body changes, namely more body volume, are expected. AIM To examine whether the effect of body dissatisfaction on sexual distress is mediated by cognitive distraction with the appearance of the body and to test a moderated mediation model of the impact of body dissatisfaction on sexual distress, with pregnancy used as the moderating factor. METHODS In this cross-sectional study, 87 cisgender heterosexual women (50.6% pregnant; n = 44), aged between 25 and 40 years old (mean = 31.93; SD = 3.46) involved in an exclusive and committed dyadic relationship completed a web-based questionnaire. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Validated measures consisted of a validated general measure of body dissatisfaction (global body dissatisfaction scale), sexual distress (adapted from the National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles), and cognitive distraction based on body appearance during sexual activity (body appearance cognitive distraction scale). RESULTS Results indicated that body dissatisfaction and sexual distress are related, but they are fully mediated by cognitive distraction. The mediation effect of cognitive distraction did not differ significantly by pregnancy status, after controlling for the trimester of pregnancy. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS This study advances our understanding of sexuality during pregnancy by evaluating sexual distress and establishing that it is a clinically relevant variable related to body dissatisfaction that deserves attention from healthcare providers. STRENGTH & LIMITATIONS This preliminary study uses a robust method of data analysis to test a theory-based cognitive model of sexual distress in pregnant women; however, no causality can be established. CONCLUSION The data highlights that pregnancy may not be a protective factor for the impact of body dissatisfaction on sexual distress. Pascoal PM, Rosa PJ, Coelho S. Does Pregnancy Play a Role? Association of Body Dissatisfaction, Body Appearance Cognitive Distraction, and Sexual Distress. J Sex Med 2019;16:551-558.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrícia M Pascoal
- CICPSI, Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Psicologia, Alameda da Universidade, Lisboa, Portugal; Escola de Psicologia e Ciências da Vida, Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Lisboa, Portugal; CPUP, Faculdade de Psicologia e Ciências da Educação, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
| | - Pedro J Rosa
- HEI-Labs: Digital Human-Environment and Interactions Labs, Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Lisboa, Portugal; Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (ISCTE-IUL), CIS-IUL, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Soraia Coelho
- Escola de Psicologia e Ciências da Vida, Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Lisboa, Portugal
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169
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Cao H, Zhou N, Fine MA, Li X, Fang X. Sexual Satisfaction and Marital Satisfaction During the Early Years of Chinese Marriage: A Three-Wave, Cross-Lagged, Actor-Partner Interdependence Model. JOURNAL OF SEX RESEARCH 2019; 56:391-407. [PMID: 29746180 DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2018.1463503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Sexuality is an integral component of many intimate relationships, and research has consistently demonstrated a positive association between sexual and marital satisfaction. However, the temporal dynamics of this association remain controversial and understudied with rigorous longitudinal dyadic approaches, and empirical efforts examining this association in non-Western samples remain sparse. Based on three annual waves of data from 268 Chinese couples during the early years of marriage, this study tested a cross-lagged, actor-partner interdependence model examining the association between sexual and marital satisfaction. Results indicated that (a) across three waves, husbands' earlier sexual satisfaction predicted their later marital satisfaction, rather than the reverse; (b) from Wave 1 to Wave 2, wives' earlier marital satisfaction predicted their later sexual satisfaction, rather than the reverse, but no association between wives' sexual and marital satisfaction was found from Wave 2 to Wave 3; and (c) four longitudinal indirect associations linking sexual and marital satisfaction were identified, including three actor associations and one partner association. Such findings shed light on the complexity inherent within the dynamic association between sexual and marital satisfaction over the early years of marriage in the Chinese cultural context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongjian Cao
- a Institute of Developmental Psychology , Beijing Normal University
- b School of Education , Guangzhou University
| | - Nan Zhou
- a Institute of Developmental Psychology , Beijing Normal University
| | - Mark A Fine
- c Human Development and Family Studies , The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
| | - Xiaomin Li
- d Family Studies and Human Development , The University of Arizona
| | - Xiaoyi Fang
- a Institute of Developmental Psychology , Beijing Normal University
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170
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Mizrahi M, Reis HT, Maniaci MR, Birnbaum GE. When insecurity dampens desire: Attachment anxiety in men amplifies the decline in sexual desire during the early years of romantic relationships. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ejsp.2567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Moran Mizrahi
- University of Rochester Rochester New‐York USA
- Department of Behavioral Sciences Ariel University Center of Samaria Ariel Israel
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171
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South SC, Lim E, Jarnecke AM, Foli KJ. Relationship quality from pre- to postplacement in adoptive couples. JOURNAL OF FAMILY PSYCHOLOGY : JFP : JOURNAL OF THE DIVISION OF FAMILY PSYCHOLOGY OF THE AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION (DIVISION 43) 2019; 33:64-76. [PMID: 30570280 PMCID: PMC6485926 DOI: 10.1037/fam0000456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Although there is an extensive research literature examining the change in relationship quality of birth parents during the transition to parenthood, there is comparatively less work on how the relationship of adoptive parents fares from pre- to postplacement of the adopted child. In the current study, we examine the relationship quality (global satisfaction, feelings of love, feelings of ambivalence) of 127 adoptive parents across the transition from preplacement to approximately 6 months postplacement of the adopted child. Following the vulnerability-stress-adaptation (VSA) model of marital quality and stability, we examined various intrapersonal vulnerability factors, couple adaptive processes, and stressful factors primarily related to the adoption process as predictors of relationship quality across 3 waves (4 to 6 weeks prior to placement of the adopted child, 4 to 6 weeks postplacement of the adopted child in the home, and 5 to 6 months post-postplacement). Results indicated that, in general, relationship satisfaction and feelings of love decreased, and relationship ambivalence increased, from pre- to postplacement across the sample. Significant predictors of greater relationship satisfaction, regardless of time, included higher self-esteem, greater relationship maintenance, a better sexual relationship, and more partner support; love was significantly predicted by greater maintenance and sexual relationship, lower conflict, and a history of infertility; and higher conflict significantly predicted higher ambivalence. Our findings suggest that, in general, adaptive processes between couples are the most consistent predictors of marital quality over the transition to parenthood in adoptive parents. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eunjung Lim
- Department of Complementary and Integrative Medicine
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172
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Péloquin K, Byers ES, Callaci M, Tremblay N. Sexual Portrait of Couples Seeking Relationship Therapy. JOURNAL OF MARITAL AND FAMILY THERAPY 2019; 45:120-133. [PMID: 29577354 DOI: 10.1111/jmft.12328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
This study sought to provide information about the sexual well-being of 298 mixed-sex couples seeking relationship therapy and determined the extent to which problems with sexual functioning and dyadic adjustment of both partners are associated with sexual satisfaction. Partners completed measures of dyadic adjustment, sexual satisfaction, and sexual functioning. Thirty percent of couples reported a clinically significant sexual problem. Compared to their male partners, the women were more likely to report a sexual problem as well as lower dyadic adjustment, sexual satisfaction, and overall sexual functioning. Path analysis indicated that relationship adjustment uniquely predicted individuals' own sexual satisfaction; problems in sexual functioning uniquely predicted own and partner sexual satisfaction. Findings underscore the need to address sexual problems in relationship therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Nadine Tremblay
- Clinique de consultation conjugale et familiale Poitras-Wright, Côté
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173
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Wiebe SA, Elliott C, Johnson SM, Burgess Moser M, Dalgleish TL, Lafontaine MF, Tasca GA. Attachment Change in Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy and Sexual Satisfaction Outcomes in a Two-year Follow-up Study. JOURNAL OF COUPLE & RELATIONSHIP THERAPY-INNOVATIONS IN CLINICAL AND EDUCATIONAL INTERVENTIONS 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/15332691.2018.1481799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie A. Wiebe
- International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Susan M. Johnson
- International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Melissa Burgess Moser
- Emmrys, Dawe, Parlee & Associates, Mount Alison University, Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - Tracy L. Dalgleish
- Greenbelt Family Health Team, Centre for Interpersonal Relationships, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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174
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Maxwell JA, McNulty JK. No Longer in a Dry Spell: The Developing Understanding of How Sex Influences Romantic Relationships. CURRENT DIRECTIONS IN PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE 2018. [DOI: 10.1177/0963721418806690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Sex is a defining feature of romantic relationships, yet only recently has research into the implications of sexual processes for such relationships proliferated. We review this work to illustrate how considering the way in which sexual processes influence relationships can help bridge theoretical and empirical work outside and within relationship science. We begin by providing a novel organizational framework for considering how sexual processes influence relationships, illustrating how they can be (a) a direct predictor of relationship outcomes, (b) a mechanism that explains important associations, and (c) a moderator that alters relationship dynamics. We then situate these findings within a dual-process framework for understanding how sex influences relationships and conclude by highlighting several open questions and methodological challenges that remain for future research. Our goal is to demonstrate how considering sexual functioning in light of a variety of theoretical perspectives adds to, and sometimes alters, what we know about relationship dynamics.
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175
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The Influence of Endogenous Opioids on the Relationship between Testosterone and Romantic Bonding. HUMAN NATURE-AN INTERDISCIPLINARY BIOSOCIAL PERSPECTIVE 2018; 30:98-116. [PMID: 30519832 DOI: 10.1007/s12110-018-9332-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The endogenous opioid system has received attention and extensive research for its effects on reward, pleasure, and pain. However, relative to other neurochemicals, such as oxytocin, vasopressin and dopamine, the function of opioids in regulating human attachment, sociosexuality, and other aspects of human sociality has not received much consideration. For example, nonapeptides (oxytocin and vasopressin) have been extensively studied in animals and humans for their possible roles in mother-offspring attachment, romantic attachment, fatherhood, and social cognition. Likewise, others have proposed models wherein oxytocin and vasopressin are moderators of the relationship between steroid hormones and human social behaviors. Recently, opioids have generated renewed interest in relation to social pain, and importantly, the brain opioid hypothesis of social attachment (BOTSA), which suggests that endogenous opioids are a key implementer in primate and human bonding, has received some support. Here we focus on romantic bonds by proposing that endogenous opioids are an important mechanism mediating reproductive trade-offs through their inhibitory effects on testosterone production.
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176
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Vowels MJ, Mark KP, Vowels LM, Wood ND. Using spectral and cross-spectral analysis to identify patterns and synchrony in couples' sexual desire. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0205330. [PMID: 30332440 PMCID: PMC6192626 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0205330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2018] [Accepted: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Sexual desire discrepancy is one of the most frequently reported sexual concerns for individuals and couples and has been shown to be negatively associated with sexual and relationship satisfaction. Sexual desire has increasingly been examined as a state-like construct that ebbs and flows, but little is known about whether there are patterns in the fluctuation of sexual desire. Utilizing spectral and cross-spectral analysis, we transformed 30 days of dyadic daily diary data for perceived levels of sexual desire for a non-clinical sample of 133 couples (266 individuals) into the frequency domain to identify shared periodic state fluctuations in sexual desire. Spectral analysis is a technique commonly used in physics and engineering that allows time series data to be analyzed for the presence of regular cycles of fluctuation. Cross-spectral analysis allows for dyadic data to be analyzed for shared rates of fluctuation between partners as well as the degree of (a)synchrony (or phase shift) between these fluctuations. Men and women were found to exhibit fluctuations in sexual desire at various frequencies including rates of once and twice per month, and to have sexual desire that was unlikely to fluctuate over periods of three days or less and therefore exhibited persistence. Similar patterns of fluctuation were exhibited within couples and these patterns were found to be largely synchronous. While instances of desire discrepancy may arise due to differences in rates of sexual desire fluctuation and random fluctuations, such instances may be normal for romantic relationships. The results have important implications for researchers, clinicians, and educators in that they corroborate the supposition that sexual desire ebbs and flows and suggest that it does so with predictable regularity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J. Vowels
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
- Department of Music and Media, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
| | - Kristen P. Mark
- Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, United States of America
| | - Laura M. Vowels
- Department of Psychology, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Nathan D. Wood
- Department of Family Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, United States of America
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177
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Girme YU, Maniaci MR, Reis HT, McNulty JK, Carmichael CL, Gable SL, Baker LR, Overall NC. Does support need to be seen? Daily invisible support promotes next day relationship well-being. JOURNAL OF FAMILY PSYCHOLOGY : JFP : JOURNAL OF THE DIVISION OF FAMILY PSYCHOLOGY OF THE AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION (DIVISION 43) 2018; 32:882-893. [PMID: 30211571 PMCID: PMC6205907 DOI: 10.1037/fam0000453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Direct and overt visible support promotes recipients' relationship satisfaction but can also exacerbate negative mood. In contrast, subtle and indirect invisible support can bypass costs to mood, but it is unclear whether it undermines or boosts relationship satisfaction. Because invisible support is not perceived by recipients, its relational impact may be delayed across time. Thus, the current research used three dyadic daily diary studies (total N = 322 married couples) to explore, for the first time, both the immediate (same day) and lagged (next day) effects of visible and invisible support on recipients' mood and relationship satisfaction. Consistent with prior research, visible support was associated with recipients reporting greater relationship satisfaction and greater anxiety the same day. In contrast, but also consistent with prior research, invisible support had no significant same-day effects, and thus avoided mood costs. Nevertheless, invisible support was associated with recipients reporting greater relationship satisfaction the next day. Study 3 provided evidence that such effects emerged because invisible support was also associated with greater satisfaction with partners' helpful behaviors (e.g., household chores) and relationship interactions (e.g., time spent together) on the next day. These studies demonstrate the importance of assessing different temporal effects associated with support acts (which may otherwise go undetected) and provide the first evidence that invisible support enhances relationship satisfaction but does so across days. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).
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178
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Morgan PC, Durtschi JA, Kimmes JG. Sexual and Relationship Satisfaction associated with Shifts in Dyadic Trajectories of Depressive Symptoms in German Couples across Four Years. JOURNAL OF MARITAL AND FAMILY THERAPY 2018; 44:655-670. [PMID: 29267995 DOI: 10.1111/jmft.12302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Depression is a pervasive mental health concern; thus, it is important to identify modifiable factors associated with reducing depressive symptoms across time. Using 1,876 heterosexual couples assessed annually across 4 years from the Panel Analysis of Intimate Relationships and Family Dynamics (Pairfam) study, time-varying covariate growth models tested if sexual and relationship satisfaction were linked with shifts in trajectories of depressive symptoms across time. For both men and women, higher sexual and relationship satisfaction scores were significantly associated with decreasing their own depressive symptom trajectories, but only relationship satisfaction was linked with their partners' depressive symptom trajectories. Potential clinical implications include the treatment of depressive symptoms by making changes across time in their own relationship satisfaction and sexual satisfaction.
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179
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The Effects of Exercise on Sexual Function in Women. Sex Med Rev 2018; 6:548-557. [DOI: 10.1016/j.sxmr.2018.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2017] [Revised: 02/04/2018] [Accepted: 02/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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180
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Gray JS, Ozer DJ. Comparing Two Models of Dyadic Change: Correlated Growth Versus Common Fate. SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PERSONALITY SCIENCE 2018. [DOI: 10.1177/1948550618799066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The analysis of longitudinal dyadic data often requires complex structural models. Two models of dyadic change, the correlated growth model and the common fate growth model, differ in their description of change. The correlated growth model estimates separate but correlated growth trajectories for each member of a dyad. The common fate growth model treats the dyad as the unit of analysis and estimates growth parameters for the dyad. Relationship and life satisfaction are important outcomes that feature prominently in the relationship literature and must be modeled adequately to be understood. In a sample of 325 romantic couples, the relative efficacy of these two models for describing change in relationship and life satisfaction is compared. The common fate growth model better described relationship satisfaction, while the correlated growth model provided superior fit to life satisfaction. Implications for the modeling of dyadic data are discussed.
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181
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Birnbaum GE, Kanat-Maymon Y, Mizrahi M, Recanati M, Orr R. What Fantasies Can Do to Your Relationship: The Effects of Sexual Fantasies on Couple Interactions. PERSONALITY AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY BULLETIN 2018; 45:461-476. [PMID: 30122104 DOI: 10.1177/0146167218789611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Research addressing the underlying functions of sexual fantasies has mainly focused on variables associated with frequency and content of fantasies. Relatively less is known about how sexual fantasizing affects the relationship. Four studies examined the contribution of fantasizing about one's partner ("dyadic fantasies") to relationship outcomes. In Studies 1 and 2, participants fantasized either about their partner or about someone else and rated their desire to engage in sex and other nonsexual relationship-promoting activities with their partner. In Studies 3 and 4, romantic partners recorded their fantasies and relationship interactions each evening for a period of 21 and 42 days, respectively. In Study 4, partners also provided daily reports on relationship perceptions. Overall, dyadic fantasizing was associated with heightened desire and increased engagement in relationship-promoting behaviors. Relationship perceptions explained the link between dyadic fantasies and relationship-promoting behaviors, suggesting that such fantasies benefit the relationship by enhancing partner and relationship appeal.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Romy Orr
- Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya, Israel
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182
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Dewitte M, Mayer A. Exploring the Link Between Daily Relationship Quality, Sexual Desire, and Sexual Activity in Couples. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2018; 47:1675-1686. [PMID: 29497914 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-018-1175-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2016] [Revised: 08/04/2017] [Accepted: 02/16/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Current models of sexual responding emphasize the role of contextual and relational factors in shaping sexual behavior. The present study used a prospective diary design to examine the temporal sequence and variability of the link between sexual and relationship variables in a sample of couples. Studying sexual responding in the everyday context of the relationship is necessary to get research more aligned with the complex reality of having sex in a relationship, thereby increasing ecological validity and taking into account the dyadic interplay between partners. Over the course of 21 days, 66 couples reported every day on their sexual desire, sexual activity (every morning), and relationship quality (every evening). In addition, we examined whether the link between these daily variables was moderated by relationship duration, having children, general relationship satisfaction, and sexual functioning. Results showed that the sexual responses of women depended on the relationship context, mainly when having children and being in a longer relationship. Male sexual responding depended less on contextual factors but did vary by level of sexual functioning. Several cross-partner effects were found as well. These results verify that relational and sexual variables feed forward into each other, indicating the need to incorporate interpersonal dynamics into current models of sexual responding and to take into account variability and dyadic influences between partners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marieke Dewitte
- Department of Clinical Psychological Science, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel, 40, 6229 ER, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
| | - Axel Mayer
- Institute of Psychology: Psychological Methods, Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
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183
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Pepping CA, Cronin TJ, Lyons A, Caldwell JG. The Effects of Mindfulness on Sexual Outcomes: The Role of Emotion Regulation. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2018; 47:1601-1612. [PMID: 29453643 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-017-1127-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2017] [Revised: 11/19/2017] [Accepted: 11/29/2017] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Individuals higher in dispositional mindfulness, a quality of non-judgmental attention to the present moment, fare better than their less mindful counterparts on a wide range of psychological and interpersonal outcomes. However, remarkably little is known about the potential influence of dispositional mindfulness on sexual outcomes. Here we investigated whether dispositional mindfulness was associated with a range of sexual outcomes, including sexual satisfaction, sexual hyperactivation (heightened sexual desire and worry), sexual deactivation (suppression of sexual desire and behavior), and problematic pornography use. We also tested whether capacity for emotion regulation was the mechanism underlying the mindfulness-sexual outcome association. These hypotheses were tested in two samples: a sample of adults in a committed romantic relationship (N = 407) and a group of adults who were long-term single (N = 400). Across both samples, dispositional mindfulness predicted more adaptive sexual outcomes, and emotion regulation generally mediated these associations. Of particular importance, the positive effects of dispositional mindfulness on sexual outcomes appear to generalize across relationship statuses, with both partnered and long-term single individuals displaying a similar pattern of results. These findings highlight that high dispositional mindfulness may predict a range of positive sexual outcomes in both partnered and single individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher A Pepping
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, 3086, Australia.
| | - Timothy J Cronin
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, 3086, Australia
| | - Anthony Lyons
- Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health, and Society, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, 3086, Australia
| | - Jon G Caldwell
- Department of Psychiatry, The Meadows, Wickenburg, AZ, 85390, USA
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184
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Beveridge JK, Vannier SA, Rosen NO. Fear-based reasons for not engaging in sexual activity during pregnancy: associations with sexual and relationship well-being. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol 2018; 39:138-145. [PMID: 28401772 DOI: 10.1080/0167482x.2017.1312334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Pregnant women consistently report fears that sexual activity could harm their pregnancy. Little is known, however, about the degree to which women report these fears as reasons for not having sex during pregnancy and whether these fears relate to women's well-being. The aims of this study were to assess the importance of women's fears of sexual activity harming the pregnancy in their decision not to engage in sex during pregnancy, and the associations between these fears and sexual and relationship well-being. METHODS Pregnant women (N = 261) were recruited online to complete a survey that included a novel scale of fear-based reasons for not engaging in sexual activity during pregnancy and validated measures of sexual functioning, sexual satisfaction, sexual distress and relationship satisfaction. RESULTS Over half of the women (58.6%) reported at least one fear as a reason for not engaging in sexual activity while pregnant, though total fear scores were low. Greater fear-based reasons for not having sex were associated with greater sexual distress but were unrelated to sexual functioning, sexual satisfaction and relationship satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS Women who reported higher rates of refraining from sex due to fear that it could harm their pregnancy reported greater sexual distress, but not lower sexual functioning or sexual and relationship satisfaction. Results suggest that interventions focused on minimizing fears of sexual activity during pregnancy may not be essential for promoting women's broader sexual and relationship well-being in pregnancy, but may help to reduce women's global feelings of worry and anxiety about their sexual relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaimie K Beveridge
- a Department of Psychology and Neuroscience , Dalhousie University , Halifax , Nova Scotia , Canada
| | - Sarah A Vannier
- a Department of Psychology and Neuroscience , Dalhousie University , Halifax , Nova Scotia , Canada
| | - Natalie O Rosen
- a Department of Psychology and Neuroscience , Dalhousie University , Halifax , Nova Scotia , Canada.,b Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , IWK Health Centre , Halifax , Nova Scotia , Canada
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185
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Walker LM, Santos-Iglesias P, Robinson J. Mood, sexuality, and relational intimacy after starting androgen deprivation therapy: implications for couples. Support Care Cancer 2018; 26:3835-3842. [PMID: 29777382 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-018-4251-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Accepted: 05/06/2018] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients on androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), a common treatment for prostate cancer, report significant declines in quality of life and detrimental impact on their intimate relationships. ADT depresses a man's testosterone to castrate levels, leading to declines in sexual function, and changes in mood. These changes can have profound impact on couples' intimate relationships. METHOD Patients undergoing ADT, and their consenting partners, were followed on a variety of outcomes relating to mood, sexual changes, and relational intimacy. Participants were assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. Changes in these three domains are documented. A dyadic analysis was conducted on the primary outcome of relational intimacy in order to assess the role of changes in mood and various aspects of sexuality on couples' intimate relationships. RESULTS Declines were observed in the first 6 months on ADT for sexual function, sexual frequency, and relational intimacy. Sexual bother increased within the first 3 months on ADT. No changes in mood were observed. Dyadic analysis revealed important effects on couples' reports of relational intimacy. (A) Patient and partner ratings of emotional intimacy were higher when partners better understood the patients' mood state. (B) Patient and partner ratings of sexual intimacy were higher when couples were more sexually active. CONCLUSIONS The current study confirms that patients experience reduced sexuality and relational intimacy during the first 6 months on ADT. Specific facets of relational intimacy are improved with increased sexual activity and also when partners recognize the emotional changes that patients are experiencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren M Walker
- Department of Oncology, Division of Psychosocial Oncology, University of Calgary, 2202 2 St SW, Calgary, AB, T2S 3C1, Canada.
| | - Pablo Santos-Iglesias
- Department of Oncology, Division of Psychosocial Oncology, University of Calgary, 2202 2 St SW, Calgary, AB, T2S 3C1, Canada
| | - John Robinson
- Department of Oncology, Division of Psychosocial Oncology, University of Calgary, 2202 2 St SW, Calgary, AB, T2S 3C1, Canada.,Department of Psychosocial Resources, Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Alberta Health Services, Calgary, Canada
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186
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Muise A, Maxwell JA, Impett EA. What Theories and Methods From Relationship Research Can Contribute to Sex Research. JOURNAL OF SEX RESEARCH 2018; 55:540-562. [PMID: 29419322 DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2017.1421608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Sexual and relationship satisfaction tend to be closely linked in the context of romantic relationships. Understanding how sexual processes influence relationships and how aspects of the relationship influence a couple's sex life can provide insight into the maintenance of sexual desire and satisfaction over time. In this article, we review how theories and methods that form the foundation for relationship research have made-and will continue to make-sexuality research a stronger, more theoretical, and methodologically sophisticated science. We discuss the key theories that have been used to advance our understanding of who is more likely to be sexually satisfied in relationships, when sex is most satisfying, and how couples can have more satisfying sex lives and relationships. We then provide an overview of dyadic and repeated-measures designs and demonstrate how the use of these types of research methods allows relationship and sexuality researchers to answer novel and nuanced questions about how romantic partners influence each other, as well as how sexual processes unfold in couples' daily lives and over time. Throughout the review, we highlight what we see as fruitful directions for future research at the intersection of sexuality and relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Muise
- a Department of Psychology , York University
| | | | - Emily A Impett
- c Department of Psychology , University of Toronto Mississauga
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187
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Vowels LM, Mark KP. Relationship and sexual satisfaction: a longitudinal actor–partner interdependence model approach. SEXUAL AND RELATIONSHIP THERAPY 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/14681994.2018.1441991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Laura M. Vowels
- Department of Family Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Kristen P. Mark
- Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
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188
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Shahvari Z, Raisi F, Parsa Yekta Z, Ebadi A, Firoozikhojastefar R. Why don't you share your satisfaction with me? Perspect Psychiatr Care 2018; 54:162-167. [PMID: 28229463 DOI: 10.1111/ppc.12216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2016] [Revised: 12/27/2016] [Accepted: 02/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Healthy spousal communication of marital and sexual expectations is one of the most important factors to improve the quality of sexual relations in marriage. OBJECTIVES This paper has attempted to explore women's expectations of men for having pleasurable sex in a monogamous and steady sexual relationship within the context of Iran. METHODS In this qualitative study, 20 interviews were conducted in Tehran from December 2013 to May 2014. Participants were recruited using purposive sampling, face-to-face, in-depth, and semistructured interviews. The collected data were analyzed using qualitative conventional content analysis. The research was designed with regard to Lincoln and Guba's four major rigor criteria in qualitative investigation. RESULTS Women's expectations for having enjoyable sex were classified in two areas: (1) marital components and (2) sexual components. Marital components included romantic relationships, attention, respect and admiration, appreciation, man's loyalty, and having compatibility. Sexual components included enough sexual skills, good sexual function, and commitment to equity in sex. CONCLUSIONS This research helps to identify women's expectations for having a gratifying sexual relationship and thus contributes to enhanced sexual satisfaction, as well as marital stability and continuity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Shahvari
- Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran
| | - Firoozeh Raisi
- Psychiatric and Clinical Psychology Research Center, Roozbeh Psychiatric Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran
| | - Zohre Parsa Yekta
- Medical-Surgical Department, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran
| | - Abbas Ebadi
- Behavioral Sciences Research Center (BSRC), Nursing Faculty, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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189
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Handy AB, Stanton AM, Meston CM. Understanding Women's Subjective Sexual Arousal Within the Laboratory: Definition, Measurement, and Manipulation. Sex Med Rev 2018; 6:201-216. [DOI: 10.1016/j.sxmr.2017.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2017] [Revised: 11/09/2017] [Accepted: 11/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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190
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Rosen NO, Bailey K, Muise A. Degree and Direction of Sexual Desire Discrepancy are Linked to Sexual and Relationship Satisfaction in Couples Transitioning to Parenthood. JOURNAL OF SEX RESEARCH 2018; 55:214-225. [PMID: 28524698 DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2017.1321732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Many new parents are concerned that they have different levels of interest in sex than their partner. Understanding the role of desire discrepancies in their sexual and relationship satisfaction could help promote adjustment. In community couples, larger desire discrepancies have been inconsistently linked to lower sexual and relationship satisfaction. However, these studies rarely accounted for both the degree and direction (e.g., which partner has higher desire) of the discrepancy. We surveyed 255 mixed-sex new parent couples to assess their sexual desire, sexual satisfaction, and relationship satisfaction. Using polynomial regression with response surface analysis (RSA), we found that desire discrepancies between partners (i.e., when partners were more mismatched as opposed to matched on their levels of sexual desire) were associated with lower sexual (but not relationship) satisfaction for both partners. However, the direction of desire discrepancy mattered: Parents felt less satisfied when mothers were the higher-desire partner compared to when fathers were the higher-desire partner. In addition, when partners' level of sexual desire was in agreement, they were more sexually and relationally satisfied if both partners reported higher compared to lower desire. Results demonstrate the important role of both the magnitude and direction of desire discrepancies in new parent couples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie O Rosen
- a Department of Psychology and Neuroscience , Dalhousie University
- b Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , IWK Health Centre , Halifax , Nova Scotia , Canada
| | - Kristen Bailey
- a Department of Psychology and Neuroscience , Dalhousie University
| | - Amy Muise
- c Department of Psychology , York University
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191
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Lavner JA, Karney BR, Williamson HC, Bradbury TN. Bidirectional Associations Between Newlyweds' Marital Satisfaction and Marital Problems over Time. FAMILY PROCESS 2017; 56:869-882. [PMID: 27859099 PMCID: PMC5422134 DOI: 10.1111/famp.12264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Prevailing views of marital functioning generally adopt the view that marital problems predict decreases in marital satisfaction, but alternative theoretical perspectives raise the possibility that lowered satisfaction can also predict increases in problems. The current study sought to integrate and compare these perspectives by examining the bidirectional cross-lagged associations between newlyweds' reports of their marital satisfaction and marital problems over the first 4 years of marriage. Using annual assessments from 483 heterosexual newlywed couples, we find evidence for problem-to-satisfaction linkages as well as satisfaction-to-problem linkages. Satisfaction was a stronger predictor of marital problems early in marriage but not as time passed; by Year 4 only problem-to-satisfaction linkages remained significant. These findings are consistent with the idea that couples with more problems go on to report lower levels of satisfaction and couples with lower levels of satisfaction go on to report more marital problems. This dynamic interplay between global judgments about relationship satisfaction and ongoing specific relationship difficulties highlights the value of examining bidirectional effects to better understand marital functioning over time.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Benjamin R Karney
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Hannah C Williamson
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Thomas N Bradbury
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
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192
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Bell S, Reissing ED. Sexual Well-Being in Older Women: The Relevance of Sexual Excitation and Sexual Inhibition. JOURNAL OF SEX RESEARCH 2017; 54:1153-1165. [PMID: 27911092 DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2016.1250147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to use the dual control model of sexual response (DCM) to investigate variation in sexual well-being among women 50 years of age and older. Data from 185 women 50 years of age and older (M = 59.46, SD = 6.96) were used to examine the relationships between sexual excitation (SE) and sexual inhibition (SI) and their lower-order factors to indicators of sexual well-being (i.e., sexual functioning, satisfaction, distress, frequency of sexual activity, and breadth of sexual behavior). Possible moderating factors were also explored. Independently, SE and SI were associated with the majority of the indicators of sexual well-being, and the directions of associations were consistent with the tenets of the DCM. SE and SI lower-order factors were significant predictors of sexual function, satisfaction, and frequency of sexual activity. Sexual distress was predicted more strongly by SI factors and breadth of sexual behavior by one SE lower-order factor (arousability). Partner physical and mental health and participant's own mental health were identified as moderating variables of these associations. Findings of this study are discussed considering the contribution of the DCM to understanding the role of diversity in older women's sexual well-being.
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193
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Rosen NO, Mooney K, Muise A. Dyadic Empathy Predicts Sexual and Relationship Well-Being in Couples Transitioning to Parenthood. JOURNAL OF SEX & MARITAL THERAPY 2017; 43:543-559. [PMID: 27400021 DOI: 10.1080/0092623x.2016.1208698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Becoming a new parent is typically a time of great joy, yet it is also marked by significant declines in sexual and relationship functioning. Dyadic empathy, a combination of perspective taking and empathic concern for one's romantic partner, may facilitate sexual and relationship quality for new parents. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between dyadic empathy and sexual satisfaction, relationship adjustment, and sexual desire in a sample of first-time parents. Couples (N = 255) with an infant aged three to 12 months completed an online survey assessing dyadic empathy, sexual satisfaction, relationship adjustment, and sexual desire. Data were analyzed using multilevel analyses guided by the actor-partner interdependence model. When new mothers and fathers reported greater dyadic empathy, both they and their partners reported higher sexual satisfaction and relationship adjustment. New mothers who reported higher dyadic empathy also had higher sexual desire, although when they had more empathic partners new mothers reported lower sexual desire. Results remained significant after controlling for potential challenges unique to the postpartum period (e.g., fatigue, breastfeeding), as well as relationship duration. Targeting dyadic empathy in interventions aimed at helping couples transition to parenthood may promote the maintenance of sexual and relationship well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie O Rosen
- a Psychology & Neuroscience , Dalhousie University , Halifax , Nova Scotia , Canada
- b Obstetrics & Gynaecology , IWK Health Centre , Halifax , Canada
| | - Kayla Mooney
- a Psychology & Neuroscience , Dalhousie University , Halifax , Nova Scotia , Canada
| | - Amy Muise
- a Psychology & Neuroscience , Dalhousie University , Halifax , Nova Scotia , Canada
- b Obstetrics & Gynaecology , IWK Health Centre , Halifax , Canada
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194
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Determinantes psicossociais do funcionamento sexual e bem‐estar sexual subjetivo em homens adultos portugueses. Rev Int Androl 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.androl.2016.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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195
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Workload and Marital Satisfaction over Time: Testing Lagged Spillover and Crossover Effects during the Newlywed Years. JOURNAL OF VOCATIONAL BEHAVIOR 2017; 101:67-76. [PMID: 29081533 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvb.2017.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Although many studies have found that higher workloads covary with lower levels of marital satisfaction, the question of whether workloads may also predict changes in marital satisfaction over time has been overlooked. To address this question, we investigated the lagged association between own and partner workload and marital satisfaction using eight waves of data collected every 6 months over the first four years of marriage from 172 heterosexual couples. Significant crossover, but not spillover, effects were found, indicating that partners of individuals with higher workloads at one time point experience greater declines in marital satisfaction by the following time point compared to the partners of individuals with lower workloads. These effects were not moderated by gender or parental status. These findings suggest that higher partner workloads can prove deleterious for relationship functioning over time and call for increased attention to the long-term effects of spillover and crossover from work to marital functioning.
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196
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Meltzer AL, Makhanova A, Hicks LL, French JE, McNulty JK, Bradbury TN. Quantifying the Sexual Afterglow: The Lingering Benefits of Sex and Their Implications for Pair-Bonded Relationships. Psychol Sci 2017; 28:587-598. [PMID: 28485699 DOI: 10.1177/0956797617691361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex presumably facilitates pair bonding, but how do partners remain pair-bonded between sexual acts? Evolutionary perspectives suggest that sexual afterglow serves this purpose. We explored how long sexual satisfaction would remain elevated following sex and predicted that stronger sexual afterglow would characterize more satisfying partnerships. We pooled the data from two independent, longitudinal studies of newlywed couples to examine these issues. Spouses reported their daily sexual activity and sexual satisfaction for 14 days and their marital satisfaction at baseline and 4 or 6 months later. Results demonstrated that sexual satisfaction remained elevated approximately 48 hr after sex, and spouses experiencing a stronger afterglow reported higher levels of marital satisfaction both at baseline and over time. We interpret these findings as evidence that sexual afterglow is a proximal cognitive mechanism through which sex promotes pair bonding.
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197
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Schmiedeberg C, Huyer-May B, Castiglioni L, Johnson MD. The More or the Better? How Sex Contributes to Life Satisfaction. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2017; 46:465-473. [PMID: 27757732 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-016-0843-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2015] [Revised: 07/25/2016] [Accepted: 08/17/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Much cross-sectional research documented associations between sexuality and life satisfaction, but very little longitudinal research on the topic has considered whether changes in sexuality and life satisfaction unfold together over time. Using data from 5582 individuals in partnerships surveyed across 5786 intimate relationships (providing 18,712 observations for analysis) during five waves of the German Family Panel (pairfam), this study examined whether intraindividual changes in sexual frequency and satisfaction were associated with corresponding intraindividual changes in life satisfaction. Fixed effects regression modeling results showed that individuals reported a greater increase (decrease) in life satisfaction when they also experienced a more substantial increase (decrease) in sexual frequency and satisfaction. This finding was consistent for men and women. This study contributes to the literature by documenting that naturally occurring increases in sexual frequency and satisfaction over time predicted corresponding increases in life satisfaction.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Laura Castiglioni
- Institute of Sociology, LMU Munich, Konradstraße 6, 80801, Munich, Germany
| | - Matthew D Johnson
- Department of Human Ecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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198
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Schoenfeld EA, Loving TJ, Pope MT, Huston TL, Štulhofer A. Does Sex Really Matter? Examining the Connections Between Spouses' Nonsexual Behaviors, Sexual Frequency, Sexual Satisfaction, and Marital Satisfaction. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2017; 46:489-501. [PMID: 26732606 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-015-0672-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2014] [Revised: 11/11/2015] [Accepted: 11/20/2015] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
We examined the interplay between husbands' and wives' positive and negative nonsexual interpersonal behaviors, frequency of sexual intercourse, sexual satisfaction, and feelings of marital satisfaction. To do this, we conducted an in-depth face-to-face interview and completed a series of telephone diaries with 105 couples during their second, third, and fourteenth years of marriage. Consistent with the argument that women's sexual response is tied to intimacy (Basson, 2000), multilevel analyses revealed that husbands' positive interpersonal behaviors directed toward their wives-but not wives' positivity nor spouses' negative behaviors (regardless of gender)-predicted the frequency with which couples engaged in intercourse. The frequency of sexual intercourse and interpersonal negativity predicted both husbands' and wives' sexual satisfaction; wives' positive behaviors were also tied to husbands' sexual satisfaction. When spouses' interpersonal behaviors, frequency of sexual intercourse, and sexual satisfaction were considered in tandem, all but the frequency of sexual intercourse were associated with marital satisfaction. When it comes to feelings of marital satisfaction, therefore, a satisfying sex life and a warm interpersonal climate appear to matter more than does a greater frequency of sexual intercourse. Collectively, these findings shed much-needed light on the interplay between the nonsexual interpersonal climate of marriage and spouses' sexual relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Schoenfeld
- Youth & Family Alliance dba LifeWorks, 835 N. Pleasant Valley Rd., Austin, TX, 78702, USA.
- Department of Human Development & Family Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
| | - Timothy J Loving
- Department of Human Development & Family Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Mark T Pope
- Department of Human Development & Family Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Ted L Huston
- Department of Human Development & Family Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
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199
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Meltzer AL, McNulty JK, Maner JK. Women Like Being Valued for Sex, as Long as it is by a Committed Partner. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2017; 46:475-488. [PMID: 26626185 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-015-0622-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2014] [Revised: 09/05/2015] [Accepted: 09/07/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
How do women respond to being valued for sex by their partners? Although research supporting objectification theory suggests that women's reactions to sexual valuation are primarily negative, a separate body of research indicates that women expend significant effort to enhance their sexual appeal. Evolutionary perspectives suggest that whether women are more or less satisfied with partners who value them for sex may depend on how committed those partners are. Being sexually valued by a relatively uncommitted partner may violate women's desire to avoid short-term sexual relationships and thus may be negatively associated with relationship satisfaction. In contrast, being sexually valued by a highly committed partner may positively influence women's relationship satisfaction because it signals to them that they have successfully attracted a long-term relationship partner. Two studies of newly married couples supported these predictions. In Study 1 (N = 109), husbands' sexual valuation was positively associated with marital satisfaction among wives who perceived that those husbands were highly committed, but negatively associated with marital satisfaction among wives who perceived that those husbands were relatively less committed. Study 2 (N = 99) revealed the same pattern for wives (but not husbands) using a likely manifestation of sexual valuation-engaging in frequent sex. These findings join others to demonstrate that interpersonal processes do not have universally positive or negative implications for relationships; rather, their implications depend on the context in which they occur, including contexts that were reproductively beneficial or costly throughout evolutionary history.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea L Meltzer
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA.
| | - James K McNulty
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
| | - Jon K Maner
- Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
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200
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Vannier SA, Rosen NO. Sexual Distress and Sexual Problems During Pregnancy: Associations With Sexual and Relationship Satisfaction. J Sex Med 2017; 14:387-395. [PMID: 28143716 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsxm.2016.12.239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2016] [Revised: 12/06/2016] [Accepted: 12/29/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Sexual problems are common during pregnancy, but the proportion of pregnant women who experience sexual distress is unknown. In non-pregnant samples, sexual distress is associated with lower sexual and relationship satisfaction. AIM To identify the proportion of women experiencing sexual distress during pregnancy and to compare the sexual and relationship satisfaction of women who report sexual distress during pregnancy with that of women without distress. METHODS Two-hundred sixty-one pregnant women completed a cross-sectional online survey. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Women completed validated measurements of sexual functioning (Female Sexual Function Index; score < 26.55 indicates a sexual problem), sexual distress (Female Sexual Distress Scale; score ≥ 15 indicates clinically significant distress), sexual satisfaction (Global Measure of Sexual Satisfaction), and relationship satisfaction (Couples Satisfaction Index). RESULTS Overall, 42% of women met the clinical cutoff for sexual distress. Of sexually active women (n = 230), 26% reported concurrent sexual problems and distress and 14% reported sexual distress in the absence of sexual problems. Sexual distress and/or problems in sexual functioning were linked to lower sexual and relationship satisfaction compared with pregnant women with lower sexual distress and fewer sexual problems. CONCLUSION Sexual distress is common during pregnancy and associated with lower sexual and relationship satisfaction. Health care providers should ask pregnant women about feelings of sexual distress. Identifying pregnant women who experience sexual distress and referring them to appropriate resources could help minimize sexual and relationship problems during pregnancy. Vannier SA, Rosen NO. Sexual Distress and Sexual Problems During Pregnancy: Associations With Sexual and Relationship Satisfaction. J Sex Med 2017;14:387-395.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A Vannier
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
| | - Natalie O Rosen
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, IWK Health Centre, Halifax, NS, Canada
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