Encouraging erotic variety: Identifying correlates of, and strategies for promoting, sexual novelty in romantic relationships

A Content Analysis of Reasons for Disclosing Sexual Fantasies and Partner Responses

This study aimed to identify some of the reasons held by participants for either disclosing or concealing a sexual fantasy. Participants were asked to describe either how their partner responded to a disclosure or (for those reporting on an undisclosed sexual fantasy) how they anticipated that their partner was likely to respond. A mixed-methods approach was employed. Two hundred and eighty-seven participants were surveyed about their reasons for disclosing/concealing fantasies and either their actual or anticipated disclosure experiences. The majority of participants (69.3%) indicated having disclosed a sexual fantasy at some point in their relationship. Five categories of reasons for disclosing/not disclosing a sexual fantasy were generated through descriptive content analysis. These categories were sexual gratification, relationship-motivated, partner traits or characteristics, communication patterns, and specific fantasy content. Participant descriptions of their partner's response to the disclosure of their sexual fantasy were frequently coded as positive. For those describing how they believed their partner would be likely to respond to the disclosure of reported sexual fantasy, these anticipated responses were often coded as negative. The findings of the current study deepen our understanding of sexual fantasy disclosure and highlight some of the reasons held for either disclosing or concealing sexual fantasies. More widely, these findings may have implications for sex education, furthering our understanding of sexual dysfunction and sex/relationship therapy.

Rose Colored Glasses: An Exploration of the Relationship between Sexual Nostalgia and Sexual Satisfaction

Sexual satisfaction contributes significantly to one's quality of life and offers a variety of mental and physical health benefits. Consequently, numerous studies have examined ways to improve sexual satisfaction. However, no research has investigated how sexual nostalgia (i.e., "the sentimental longing for or wistful reflection on past sexual memories," p. 1539) with one's current partner impacts sexual satisfaction. Thus, this program of research was designed to develop the Sexual Nostalgia Inventory, assess the relationship between sexual nostalgia and sexual satisfaction, and to examine the moderating role of romantic attachment. The results of Study One (N = 227) indicated that the content of sexual memories can be conceptualized into one factor. The results from Study Two (N = 619) revealed that sexual nostalgia was positively related to sexual satisfaction and that romantic attachment moderated these relationships. In particular, the positive association between sexual nostalgia and satisfaction was greatest for those insecurely attached (i.e., those high in anxious and avoidant attachment). These findings have important implications for researchers looking to establish the causal link between nostalgia and satisfaction and clinicians working with couples experiencing low sexual desire and/or unmet sexual needs.

(Un)forgotten Sex Lives During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Coping Strategies That Work and the Role of Experience

Available literature points to a worsening trend in sexual functioning, desire, and satisfaction during the pandemic. Nevertheless, virtually no empirical research was conducted on the mechanisms of coping with the pandemic's impacts on sex life. Thus, the purpose of this exploratory study was to examine a variety of coping mechanisms and their perceived usefulness by people who have and have not tried these coping strategies to maintain and enhance their sex lives during the first year of the pandemic. The cross-sectional data were collected using an online survey methodology (N = 420; 66.9% women) and analyzed utilizing exploratory factor analysis, analysis of variance, and multiple regression. The results revealed nine factors/coping mechanisms (based on 59 items/strategies), including goal-setting strategies, risk and experimentation strategies, relational strategies, caution and logistical strategies, creativity and innovation strategies, substances and context-related strategies, online and technology strategies, diversion strategies, and educational strategies. Consistently, across all the specific coping strategies and overall coping mechanisms, people who tried them found them significantly more useful than those who had not tried these coping strategies. Moreover, a higher diversity of tried strategies per coping mechanism consistently and significantly predicted the perceived usefulness of that coping mechanism. These results emphasize the crucial role of experience with coping mechanisms and show that amidst COVID-related adversity and challenges, many people found ways to adapt their sex lives and enjoy silver-lining opportunities. This exploratory study offers promising evidence for potential sexual coping strategies during times of stress that could be informative for clinical practice and education.

A Cluster Analysis on Sexual Boredom Profiles in A Community Sample of Men and Women

Research evidence of the attributes of sexual boredom is extremely limited. Understanding variability in the experience of sexual boredom may offer relevant insights for the field of human sexuality. This study aimed to explore the co-occurrence of sexual boredom and other sexuality-related dimensions. The sample consisted of 1021 participants aged between 18 and 75 years old (M = 32.68, SD = 8.79). A gender-stratified cluster analysis was performed to classify individuals regarding their scores on sexual boredom, general boredom, sexual sensation seeking, sexual desire, sexual excitation, sexual pleasure, and sexual satisfaction. A three-cluster solution was revealed for both men and women. Based on our findings, we put forward a profile for the sexually bored individual, who is more likely to be married or cohabiting with a partner, to have a boredom prone personality, to lack sexual sensation seeking, experience low sexual pleasure and satisfaction, and to present with sexual arousal and/or desire problems. Women dealing with sexual boredom might present low sexual desire for their partner but experience high sex desire for attractive others. Results are critically discussed and implications for sexual therapy explored.

Women's Sexual Health During the Pandemic of COVID-19: Declines in Sexual Function and Sexual Pleasure

Purpose of the Review

The World Health Association declared COVID-19 a pandemic more than 1 year ago. We conducted a systematic review of the literature on the topic of women’s sexual health during the pandemic, with a focus on sexual function and sexual pleasure. Our aim is to describe current findings and to discuss implications for women’s sexual health during this period.

Recent Findings

Thirty-four articles, from 18 countries, were identified. These studies addressed topics ranging from individual aspects, such as cognitive, emotional, and personality factors affecting sexuality during the pandemic, to contextual factors, including relationship, childrearing, and employment status in this period.

Summary

Research identified a deterioration of women’s sexual function across countries, with an emphasis on sexual desire. Most studies found decreases in the frequency of sexual intercourse during the pandemic and increases in solitary sexual behavior. Many women also experienced declines in sexual satisfaction and relationship satisfaction. Findings suggested that gender inequalities contributed to lower indices of sexual function and satisfaction, and might have exacerbated the pleasure gap between men and women.

With or Without You: Associations Between Frequency of Internet Pornography Use and Sexual Relationship Outcomes for (Non)Consensual (Non)Monogamous Individuals

More frequent internet pornography use is often associated with decreased sexual satisfaction. However, individuals who use internet pornography more often can experience better relationship outcomes, depending on how they use it in the context of their relationship. Indeed, internet pornography use with the partner seems to be positively associated with sexual satisfaction. We explored whether the type of agreement partners have about monogamy is related to this association. We conducted a cross-sectional study (N = 866; 66.3% women, Mage = 27.40, SD = 8.58) with individuals in monogamous (n = 552), non-consensual non-monogamous (NCNM; n = 210) and consensually non-monogamous (CNM; n = 104) relationships. Results showed that CNM individuals used internet pornography substantially more than the other two groups, but they were as sexually satisfied with themselves and with their primary partner as monogamous individuals. NCNM individuals were the least sexually satisfied and reported more sexual arousal difficulties than the other groups. Results further showed that CNM individuals included their primary partner in their internet pornography use more frequently than the other groups, and this inclusion was positively associated with sexual satisfaction with the primary partner. The frequency of internet pornography use with the partner was negatively associated with sexual arousal difficulties for monogamous individuals and positively associated with personal and relational sexual satisfaction in both monogamous and NCNM individuals. These results complement past findings by shedding light on the role of internet pornography use for different relationship agreements, and its association with personal and relational experiences.

A Systematic Review on Sexual Boredom

BACKGROUND

Empirical data on sexual boredom are scarce and unsystematized, contrasting with the literature on general boredom.

AIM

The aim of this review of literature is to verify how sexual boredom is defined in previous research and which relationships were found with sexual functioning, relationship dynamics, or gender.

METHODS

A systematic search was conducted in EBSCO, Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed databases for papers published until August 2020. Search terms used were "sexual boredom" or "sexual tedium" or "sexual indifference" or "sexual monotony" or a combination of "boredom" and "sexual activity" or "intercourse". This systematic review followed PRISMA guidelines.

OUTCOMES

Articles were grouped in general boredom and sexuality research and in sexual boredom research.

RESULTS

This review consists of 43 articles, of which 31 are quantitative studies, 8 are qualitative studies, and 4 are mixed-method studies. Studies concerning general boredom and sexuality include research on diverse aspects of sexual behavior, namely solitary sexual behavior, extra-dyadic sex, compulsive sexual behavior, and risky sexual behavior. Sexual boredom research included papers regarding personality, sexual response, and varied aspects of sexual behavior.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Findings suggest sexual boredom is related with sexual response, sexual satisfaction, and hypersexuality, which renders clinical relevance. Sexual boredom impacts well-being, and further research should focus on exploring potential mechanisms underpinning this sexual problem.

STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS

To the authors' knowledge, this is the only existing systematic review of sexual boredom and allowed identifying key features of sexual boredom and related aspects. However, because most studies are correlational, and several do not use comprehensive measures of sexual boredom, no causal relationships were identified.

CONCLUSION

This review indicates the construct of sexual boredom includes individual, relationship, and societal aspects. However, no definition of sexual boredom includes these, and current knowledge does not allow formulating a model or a theory of sexual boredom. de Oliveira L, Carvalho J, Nobre P. A Systematic Review on Sexual Boredom. J Sex Med 2021;18:565-581.