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Vaillancourt-Morel MP, Rosen NO, Bőthe B, Bergeron S. Partner Knowledge of Solitary Pornography Use: Daily and Longitudinal Associations with Relationship Quality. JOURNAL OF SEX RESEARCH 2024; 61:1233-1245. [PMID: 37310384 DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2023.2219254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Pornography use is a common sexual activity engaged in mostly alone, including for partnered individuals. Evidence concerning the benefits and costs of solitary pornography use for romantic relationship quality is mixed and may vary depending on the circumstances of pornography use, including partner knowledge of one's solitary use. Adopting a dyadic daily diary and longitudinal design, we examined the associations between knowledge of a partner's solitary pornography use and one's own and the partner's relationship satisfaction and intimacy on the same day, and trajectories over one year. A convenience sample of 217 couples completed daily surveys over 35 days and self-reported measures three times over one year. Each participant reported if they used pornography today and whether their use was known by their partner. Findings showed that when an individual's solitary pornography use was unknown by their partner, they reported lower same-day relationship satisfaction and intimacy as well as a lower initial level of relationship satisfaction. When an individual's solitary pornography use was known, they reported higher intimacy over one year and their partner reported lower intimacy over one year. Findings underscore the complexity of the relational context surrounding solitary pornography use in couples, in particular the partner's knowledge of pornography use.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Natalie O Rosen
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, IWK Health Centre & Dalhousie University
| | - Beáta Bőthe
- Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal
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2
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Chen T, Dai M, Calabrese C, Merrill K. Dyadic and Longitudinal Influences of Sexual Communication on Relationship Satisfaction, Emotional Intimacy, and Daily Affect Among Same-Sex Male Couples. HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2024:1-11. [PMID: 39286898 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2024.2400813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/19/2024]
Abstract
The influences of sexual communication on relational outcomes have garnered attention in the current literature, but such dynamics have seldom been explored among same-sex couples using dyadic, longitudinal data. The current study investigates the actor (i.e. on the individual self) and partner (i.e. on the partner) effects of sexual communication (presence and quality) on relationship satisfaction, emotional intimacy, and daily affect among same-sex male couples using dyadic, longitudinal data. Interracial couple status and age discrepancies between partners are tested as moderating variables. One hundred and three diverse cis-gender male couples participated in a one-time pre-survey and a daily survey for 15 consecutive days. The results showed that the presence and quality of sexual communication had positive actor effects on relationship satisfaction, emotional intimacy, and daily affect. The presence of sexual communication also had a positive partner effect on emotional intimacy. Moreover, our results showed significant interactions between interracial couple status, age discrepancies, and sexual communication on several outcome variables. Theoretical contributions, practical implications, and study limitations were discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianen Chen
- Department of Communication, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University
| | - Minhao Dai
- School of Communication and Media, Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Kennesaw State University
| | | | - Kelly Merrill
- School of Communication, Film, and Media Studies, University of Cincinnati
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3
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Kovacevic K, Tu E, Rosen NO, Raposo S, Muise A. Is Spontaneous Sex Ideal? Beliefs and Perceptions of Spontaneous and Planned Sex and Sexual Satisfaction in Romantic Relationships. JOURNAL OF SEX RESEARCH 2024; 61:246-260. [PMID: 36779790 DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2022.2163611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Sexual satisfaction is critical for relationship quality and people hold lay beliefs (implicit theories) about what makes for satisfying sex. A common belief in Western culture is that spontaneous sex is most satisfying, but this idea has not yet been studied. In pre-registered analyses of two studies - a cross sectional (N = 303 individuals) and a 21-day daily experience study (N = 121 couples) - we found support for two distinct beliefs (spontaneous sex as satisfying; planned sex as satisfying). Across both studies, people held stronger beliefs that spontaneous sex is satisfying compared to planned sex, but stronger spontaneous sex beliefs were only associated with higher sexual satisfaction in Study 1. In Study 1, when people perceived their most recent sexual experience as planned (versus spontaneous), they felt less sexually satisfied, but this was not the case for those who endorsed stronger planned sex beliefs. In Study 2, endorsing stronger planned sex beliefs was associated with a partner's lower sexual satisfaction at baseline. There were no associations between perceptions of the extent to which sex was spontaneous and sexual satisfaction at baseline or in daily life. Future research could test whether beliefs about spontaneity and planning have value in clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eric Tu
- Department of Psychology, York University
| | - Natalie O Rosen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dalhousie University
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University
| | | | - Amy Muise
- Department of Psychology, York University
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Mooney KM, Mulroy M, Poirier É, Pukall CF. Interpersonal Experiences with Persistent Genital Arousal: Connections between Symptom Disclosure, Partner Responses, and Catastrophizing on Relationship Adjustment and Symptom Severity. JOURNAL OF SEX & MARITAL THERAPY 2023; 50:182-196. [PMID: 37878759 DOI: 10.1080/0092623x.2023.2269931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
Increased research attention to interpersonal factors in genitopelvic pain conditions, such as vulvodynia, have led to more comprehensive understanding of couple dynamics in pain, sexual, and relationship outcomes. There has been very little examination of interpersonal factors in Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder/Genitopelvic Dysesthesia (PGAD/GPD), a distressing condition involving persistent sensations of arousal and often pain. The aims of the present study were to examine whether individuals disclose their symptoms to intimate partners and whether interpersonal variables (e.g., partner responses, symptom disclosure, and catastrophizing) are related to relationship adjustment and symptom severity. Seventy-six individuals with symptoms of PGAD/GPD participated in a one-time anonymous online survey. Over three-quarters (85.5%) of the sample disclosed their symptoms to their partners in some way. Greater supportive partner responses and lower symptom catastrophizing were related to better relationship adjustment among participants with PGAD/GPD symptoms. Greater symptom catastrophizing also predicted greater PGAD/GPD symptom severity. Partner responses were not related to PGAD/GPD symptom severity. Although interpersonal factors have been linked to symptom severity in chronic pain and genitopelvic pain conditions, the results of the current study suggest that interpersonal factors may play a slightly different role in PGAD/GPD symptom experiences and in the conceptualization of PGAD/GPD more broadly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayla M Mooney
- Department of Psychology, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada
| | - Maeve Mulroy
- Department of Psychology, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada
| | - Évéline Poirier
- Department of Psychology, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada
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Dogan JN, Thorpe SY, Malone N, Jester J, Stevens-Watkins D, Hargons C. 'My partner will think I'm weak or overthinking my pain': how being superwoman inhibits Black women's sexual pain disclosure to their partners. CULTURE, HEALTH & SEXUALITY 2023; 25:567-581. [PMID: 35533710 PMCID: PMC11214807 DOI: 10.1080/13691058.2022.2072956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Black women experience persistent sexual pain that may often last longer than White women. Despite the value of sexual communication to alleviate sexual pain concerns, many women do not disclose sexual pain to their partners. Limited research explores barriers to disclosing sexual pain to partners among Black women. This study seeks to fill this gap. Relying on an integration of Sexual Script theory and Superwoman Schema, the study explored the barriers that premenopausal, cisgender Black women from the Southern USA perceived when disclosing sexual pain to their primary partners. We identified five common themes from women's open-ended responses to an online survey: (a) distressing emotions associated with disclosure; (b) limited knowledge and communication skills; (c) protecting partner's feelings and ego; (d) invading privacy; and (e) taking sole responsibility for managing sexual pain. Findings suggest a combination of intrapsychic, interpersonal and cultural factors influence Black women's perceived ability to have direct and open dyadic communication about sexual pain with their partners. Implications for Black women's sexual health and relationship outcomes are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jardin N Dogan
- Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Shemeka Y Thorpe
- Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Natalie Malone
- Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Jasmine Jester
- Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | | | - Candice Hargons
- Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
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Galati MCR, Hollist CS, do Egito JHT, Osório AAC, Parra GR, Neu C, de Moraes Horta AL. Sexual dysfunction, depression, and marital dissatisfaction among Brazilian couples. J Sex Med 2023; 20:260-268. [PMID: 36763940 DOI: 10.1093/jsxmed/qdac004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Health professionals treating sexual dysfunction and relational dissatisfaction recognize that they are multifactorial phenomena, and depression can be bidirectionally associated with both. AIM The purpose of this study was to investigate sexual dysfunction in heterosexual couples in relation to the quality of their marital relationship and depression symptoms. METHODS The sample consisted of 100 heterosexual couples recruited in Brazil. Both partners of each couple completed the Golombok-Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction and the Golombok-Rust Inventory of Marital Satisfaction, which were translated and adapted, and the Beck Depression Inventory, which was validated for the Brazilian population. Both partners completed their questionnaires separately, and the couple's surveys were linked to preserve conjugal data for dyadic analysis. The Actor-Partner Interdependence Model was used to understand how sexual dysfunction in couples is related to depression and relationship quality among and between partners. RESULTS Sexual dysfunction was found to be strongly associated with dissatisfaction in the relationship (husbands, β = 0.57, P < 0.001; wives, β = 0.60, P < 0.001), and a positive association was found between depressive symptoms and marital dissatisfaction (husbands, β = .32, P < .001; wives β = .40, P < .001). CLINICAL IMPLICATION The results suggest that it is important for health professionals to be aware of the dyadic impact of struggles with both sex and the relationship and the presence of depression symptoms in patients who seek care for sexual complaints or depression and who are in a marital relationship. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS The different results found for men and women may shed light on the biopsychosocial dimensions of human sexuality. When treated as a purely physical experience, sex is myopic. In this study we demonstrated psychosocial aspects associated with gender and sexuality, and the partner's variables were found to have a greater impact on women than they did on the men. A limitation of this study is that the sample is not generalizable as it is not demographically representative of all socioeconomic groups in Brazil. Furthermore, the participants in this sample did not have clinical levels of depression, so the results cannot be extended to couples in which one or both spouses have depressive disorder. CONCLUSION It was found that sexual dysfunction is strongly associated with the quality of the couple relationship, and that the quality of relationship plays a mediating role between depression and marital quality, especially for the women.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cody S Hollist
- Department of Child, Youth and Family Studies, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Nebraska, United States
| | | | - Ana Alexandra Caldas Osório
- Developmental Disorders Program and Mackenzie Center for Research in Childhood and Adolescence, Mackenzie Presbyterian University, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Gilbert R Parra
- Department of Child, Youth and Family Studies, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Nebraska, United States
| | - Christopher Neu
- Department of Child, Youth and Family Studies, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Nebraska, United States
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Engelmann AJ, Nicklisch S, Nieder TO. Components of Good Sex in Young Urban Trans People Assigned Female at Birth: A Qualitative Interview Study. J Sex Med 2022; 19:1687-1706. [PMID: 36182574 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsxm.2022.08.190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prevalence of sexual dissatisfaction and dysfunction is high in trans people, as reflected in lower sexual pleasure scores compared to cis people. AIM The aim of this study is to explore components of good sex and sexual pleasure in young, urban trans people assigned female at birth (AFAB). METHODS 16 semi-structured interviews were conducted with young urban AFAB trans people. The interviews were analysed using qualitative content analysis. OUTCOMES Main outcomes were providing participants components of good sex and sexual pleasure. RESULTS Regarding components of good sex, the participants of this study described various influences on their ability to relax as well as strategies to increase relaxation during sex. Next to general influences on relaxation, the ability to relax was influenced by the way their partners interacted with them and thus how accepted they felt in their identities and feeling safe. Further, transition and coming-out status, physical and sexual function changes due to hormone therapy and gender affirming surgeries, specific sexual techniques and aids, social constructs and the circumstances in which sex took place were important. Strategies to increase relaxation included using aids such as penis prostheses, preferring certain sexual practices, that is, being more dominant or on eye-level, reducing visual aspects, drinking alcohol, and deconstructing gender and sexual norms. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS When working with trans clients, inhibitors of relaxation should be assessed and addressed, which could include working on clients believes about trans sexuality, gendered sexual scripts or various techniques to reduce body dysphoria, if present, during sexual practices. STRENGTHS & LIMITATIONS Following a non-clinical community sampling with no treatment-related dependency between researchers and participants, the sample provides an open access to the participating trans people's sexuality. However, the sample is small, selective, and it includes only able-bodied trans people from Christian religious backgrounds. CONCLUSION Next to sexual problems and dysfunctions, future research on the relationship between medical transition and sexuality should additionally address positive aspects of sexuality, such as sexual pleasure and sexual satisfaction, and its possible function as a resource pre, during and post transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anika J Engelmann
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu BerlinInstitute of the History of Medicine and Ethics in Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Saskia Nicklisch
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu BerlinInstitute of the History of Medicine and Ethics in Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Timo O Nieder
- Interdisciplinary Transgender Health Care CenterInstitute for Sex ResearchSexual Medicine and Forensic PsychiatryUniversity Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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Marks MJ, Busch TM, Wu A. The Relationship between the Sexual Double Standard and Women's Sexual Health and Comfort. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SEXUAL HEALTH : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE WORLD ASSOCIATION FOR SEXUAL HEALTH 2022; 34:409-423. [PMID: 38596271 PMCID: PMC10903628 DOI: 10.1080/19317611.2022.2069179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
The current research explores the relationship between Sexual Double Standard (SDS) endorsement and women's sexual health and attitudes. Women (n = 705) completed an SDS endorsement scale, and then answered a variety of questions in three main categories of outcome variables: sexual comfort, sexual reputation, and sexual health. Results suggest that women's SDS endorsement was not related to women's sexual comfort. Further, SDS endorsement was slightly positively related to how concerned women were about their sexual reputation. Regarding sexual health, SDS endorsement was related to a shorter timespan since women's last OBGYN screening, and unrelated to women's discomfort discussing birth control with their OBGYN. Results suggest there is much more to explore in targeted studies on the relationship of SDS endorsement to women's perceptions of their sexual reputations and their interactions with OBGYNs with respect to the SDS. Previous and related research is discussed, along with implications of the current research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J. Marks
- Department of Psychology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, USA
| | - Tara M. Busch
- Department of Psychology, The University of North Carolina, Pembroke, NC, USA
| | - Ashley Wu
- Department of Psychology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, USA
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Mallory AB. Dimensions of couples' sexual communication, relationship satisfaction, and sexual satisfaction: A meta-analysis. JOURNAL OF FAMILY PSYCHOLOGY : JFP : JOURNAL OF THE DIVISION OF FAMILY PSYCHOLOGY OF THE AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION (DIVISION 43) 2022; 36:358-371. [PMID: 34968095 PMCID: PMC9153093 DOI: 10.1037/fam0000946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Despite consistent evidence that sexual communication positively correlates with relationship and sexual satisfaction, there has been empirical murkiness regarding which aspects of sexual communication matter more or less for relationship and sexual satisfaction. A systematic meta-analysis was conducted to investigate if the strength of the association between sexual communication and relationship and sexual satisfaction varied by dimensions of sexual communication and individual, interpersonal, and cultural factors. The meta-analysis included 93 studies with 209 unique effect sizes, which represented 38,499 unique individuals in a current relationship. The multilevel meta-analysis evidenced a positive association between sexual communication and both relationship (r = .37) and sexual satisfaction (r = .43). For relationship satisfaction and sexual satisfaction, the effect size for quality of sexual communication (r = .43; .52) was larger compared to the frequency of sexual communication (r = .31; .31) and sexual self-disclosure (r = .28; .39). After controlling for the average age and relationship length of the sample, samples with married participants (r = .49) had larger effect sizes compared to samples with mixed relationship statuses (r = .35). Higher levels of individualism (b = .003) strengthened, and higher levels of gender inequality (b = -.06) weakened, the association between sexual communication and sexual satisfaction. Finally, when sociosexuality was low, sexual communication had a large association with relationship satisfaction for men (r = .69) and a small association for women (r = .16). Measurement, sample characteristics, and cultural factors have an important role in understanding the link between partners' sexual communication and their relationship and sexual satisfaction. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).
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Sexual Communication Among Sexual and Gender/Sex Diverse Folks: An Overview of What We Know and Suggestions for Where to Go. CURRENT SEXUAL HEALTH REPORTS 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s11930-022-00328-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Sabetghadam S, Maasoumi R, Keramat A, Talebi SS, Aghayan SS. Women's Help-Seeking Behaviors for Sexual Health Issues and the Related Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study from Iran. JOURNAL OF SEX & MARITAL THERAPY 2021; 48:65-78. [PMID: 34404334 DOI: 10.1080/0092623x.2021.1965057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Delay in help-seeking for sexual health issues may lead to relationship discord and impact the quality of life. The study aimed to explore the factors related to HSBs (help seeking behaviors) for sexual health issues and to determine the role of negative attitudes relating to sexual concerns in the HSBs of Iranian women. This cross-sectional study was performed in 2020. Participants were 390 randomly selected women from Rasht, Iran. The data were collected using a demographic and a sexual history checklist, the Female Sexual Function Index-6-item (FSFI-6), the Attitudes-related Sexual Concern Scale (ASCS), and a help-seeking behavior questionnaire. Formal help-seeking in women with sexual concern was 16.2% and 48.6% engaged informal HSB. Informal HSB was associated with younger age (OR = 0.93; CI = 0.89-0.97), having a university degree (OR = 3.42; CI = 1.89-6.18), sexual abuse in adulthood (OR = 2.59; CI = 1.07-6.26) and lower negative attitudes-related sexual concerns (OR = 0.53; CI = 0.32-0.87). Formal HSB was related to having a university degree (OR = 3.03; CI = 1.32-6.98) and history of a chronic disease (OR = 3.43; CI = 1.68-6.98). Negative attitudes relating to sexual concerns greatly impact informal HSBs of women, so it should be considered in their health care programming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shadi Sabetghadam
- Student Research Committee, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran
| | - Raziyeh Maasoumi
- Department of Reproductive Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Afsaneh Keramat
- Department of Reproductive Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran
| | - Seyedeh Solmaz Talebi
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran
| | - Seyed Shahrokh Aghayan
- Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Medicine, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran
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Merwin KE, Rosen NO. Perceived Partner Responsiveness Moderates the Associations Between Sexual Talk and Sexual and Relationship Well-Being in Individuals in Long-Term Relationships. JOURNAL OF SEX RESEARCH 2020; 57:351-364. [PMID: 31090449 DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2019.1610151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Sexual communication promotes sexual and relationship well-being. Previous research has frequently neglected couples' communication that occurs exclusively during sexual activity, and that is specific to that sexual interaction (i.e., sexual talk). We examined associations between individualistic and mutualistic (i.e., self- and other-focused) sexual talk and sexual and relationship well-being, and the potential moderating role of perceived partner responsiveness to sexual talk (PPR). An MTurk community sample of 303 individuals (171 female) in committed relationships completed online measures assessing sexual satisfaction, sexual functioning, sexual distress, relationship satisfaction, sexual talk, and PPR. Greater mutualistic talk was associated with higher female sexual functioning, whereas greater individualistic talk was associated with lower relationship satisfaction. At higher levels of PPR, using more mutualistic talk was associated with less sexual distress and more individualistic talk was associated with greater sexual satisfaction. At lower levels of PPR, more mutualistic talk was associated with more sexual distress and more individualistic talk was linked to poorer sexual satisfaction. PPR may help buffer against the negative associations between self-focused (i.e., individualistic) sexual talk and sexual and relationship well-being, whereas other-focused (i.e., mutualistic) sexual talk may be beneficial for sexual and relationship well-being, unless a partner is perceived as very unresponsive.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Natalie O Rosen
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, IWK Health Centre
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Bhat GS, Shastry A. Time to Orgasm in Women in a Monogamous Stable Heterosexual Relationship. J Sex Med 2020; 17:749-760. [PMID: 32044258 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsxm.2020.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Revised: 01/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Orgasm in women is a complex phenomenon, and the sparse data about time to orgasm (TitOr) in women are an impediment to the research on this complex phenomenon. AIM To evaluate the stopwatch measured TitOr in women in a monogamous stable heterosexual relationship. METHODS The study was conducted through web-based and personal interview using a questionnaire, which addressed the issues related to TitOr. Sexually active women older than 18 years and women in a monogamous stable heterosexual relationship were included in the study. Those with comorbidities such as diabetes, hypertension, asthma, psychiatric illness, sexual dysfunction and those with partners with sexual dysfunction were excluded. The participants reported stopwatch measured TitOr after adequate sexual arousal over an 8-week period. The data analysis was performed using GraphPad software (©2018 GraphPad Software, Inc, USA). OUTCOMES The outcomes included stopwatch measured average TitOr in women. RESULTS The study period was from October 2017 to September 2018 with a sample size of 645. The mean age of the participants was 30.56 ± 9.36 years. The sample was drawn from 20 countries, with most participants from India, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and the United States of America. The mean reported TitOr was 13.41 ± 7.67 minutes (95% confidence interval: 12.76 minutes-14.06 minutes). 17% of the participants had never experienced the orgasm. Penovaginal intercourse was insufficient to reach orgasm in the majority, in whom it was facilitated by certain positions and maneuvers. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS The knowledge of stopwatch measured TitOr in women in real-life setting helps to define, treat, and understand female sexual function/dysfunction better and it also helps to plan treatment of male ejaculatory dysfunction, as reported ejaculatory latency in healthy men is much less than the reported TitOr here. STRENGTHS & LIMITATIONS Use of stopwatch to measure TitOr and a large multinational sample are the strength of the study. The absence of a crosscheck mechanism to check the accuracy of the stopwatch measurement is the limitation of the study. CONCLUSION Stopwatch measured average TitOr in the sample of women in our study, who were in a monogamous stable heterosexual relationship, is 13.41 minutes (95% confidence interval: 12.76 minutes-14.06 minutes) and certain maneuvers as well as positions during penovaginal intercourse help achieving orgasm, more often than not. Bhat GS, Shastry A. Time to Orgasm in Women in a Monogamous Stable Heterosexual Relationship. J Sex Med 2020;17:749-760.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gajanan S Bhat
- Department of Urology, Andrology and Sexual Medicine, TSS Shripad Hegde Kadave Institute of Medical Sciences, Sirsi, Uttara Kannada District, Karnataka State, India.
| | - Anuradha Shastry
- Department of Urology and Sexual Medicine, TSS Shripad Hegde Kadave Institute of Medical Sciences, Sirsi, Uttara Kannada District, Karnataka State, India
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14
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Relationship intimacy, sexual distress, and help-seeking for sexual problems among older European couples: a hybrid dyadic approach. Int J Impot Res 2019; 32:525-534. [PMID: 31745260 DOI: 10.1038/s41443-019-0214-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2019] [Revised: 10/29/2019] [Accepted: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
There is evidence that emotional intimacy can buffer the distress associated with sexual difficulties. Considering that older adults are at an increased risk of chronic illness, many of which (including their medical treatment) can impact their sexual well-being, the link between intimacy and sexual distress may be particularly relevant for older couples. To start bridging the gap in our understanding of the links between older couples' emotional intimacy, distress about sexual function, and seeking professional help for sexuality-related issues, the current study used a 4-country sample with 218 Norwegian, 207 Danish, 135 Belgian, and 117 Portuguese couples aged 60-75 years. Two hypotheses were explored with a hybrid dyadic analysis: (1) a couple's emotional intimacy is negatively related to partner's distress about sexual function, but (2) positively associated with their help-seeking for sexual health issues. Less than 10% of participants in the current study reported seeking professional help, with the majority reporting their primary care physician as the contacted person. Couples' emotional intimacy was consistently (and negatively) associated with female partners' sexual distress across countries, but was unrelated to help-seeking for sexual problems. The findings illustrate the role of shared emotional intimacy in older women's distress about sexual function, but also indicate that older couples characterized by high intimacy should not be assumed to seek professional help for sexually related issues more readily than other couples.
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15
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Gauvin S, Smith K, Chamberlain S, Pukall C. Communication patterns in women with provoked vestibulodynia and their partners. PSYCHOLOGY & SEXUALITY 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/19419899.2019.1655661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- S. Gauvin
- Department of Psychology, Queen’s University, Kingston, Canada
| | - K.B. Smith
- Department of Psychology, Queen’s University, Kingston, Canada
| | - S. Chamberlain
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Division of General Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Queen’s University, Kingston, Canada
| | - C. Pukall
- Department of Psychology, Queen’s University, Kingston, Canada
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Mallory AB, Stanton AM, Handy AB. Couples' Sexual Communication and Dimensions of Sexual Function: A Meta-Analysis. JOURNAL OF SEX RESEARCH 2019; 56:882-898. [PMID: 30777780 PMCID: PMC6699928 DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2019.1568375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Research and clinical data have shown that couples with sexual problems report a lack of sexual communication. However, no published meta-analyses have evaluated the relationship between sexual communication and sexual function. This meta-analysis examines the correlation between couples' sexual communication and dimension of sexual function across 48 studies. Sexual communication was positively associated with sexual desire (r = .16), sexual arousal (r = .21), lubrication (r = .17), orgasm (r = .23), erectile function (r = .19), less pain (r = .12), and overall sexual function (r = .35). The effect sizes for sexual desire (r = .21; r = .12) and orgasm (r = .26; r = .16) were higher for women than for men. For overall sexual function, studies with married participants (r = .47) had a larger effect size than studies with participants with multiple relationship types (r = .31) or than studies with dating participants (r = .11). Effect sizes were larger for studies conducted outside of the United States (r = .39) compared to studies conducted in the United States (r = .12). We discuss the importance of addressing the relationship between sexual communication and sexual function, as well as future directions for research in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allen B Mallory
- Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin
- The Population Research Center, The University of Texas at Austin
| | | | - Ariel B Handy
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin
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17
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Gómez-López M, Viejo C, Ortega-Ruiz R. Well-Being and Romantic Relationships: A Systematic Review in Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:E2415. [PMID: 31284670 PMCID: PMC6650954 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16132415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Revised: 06/24/2019] [Accepted: 07/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Adolescence and emerging adulthood are both stages in which romantic relationships play a key role in development and can be a source of both well-being and negative outcomes. However, the limited number of studies prior to adulthood, along with the multiplicity of variables involved in the romantic context and the considerable ambiguity surrounding the construct of well-being, make it difficult to reach conclusions about the relationship between the two phenomena. This systematic review synthesizes the results produced into this topic over the last three decades. A total of 112 studies were included, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) guidelines. On the one hand, these works revealed the terminological heterogeneity in research on well-being and the way the absence of symptoms of illness are commonly used to measure it, while on the other hand, they also showed that romantic relationships can be an important source of well-being for both adolescents and emerging adults. The findings underline the importance of providing a better definition of well-being, as well as to attribute greater value to the significance of romantic relationships. Devoting greater empirical, educational, and community efforts to romantic development in the stages leading up to adulthood are considered necessary actions in promoting the well-being of young people.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Carmen Viejo
- Department of Psychology, Universidad de Córdoba (Spain), 14004 Córdoba, Spain.
| | - Rosario Ortega-Ruiz
- Department of Psychology, Universidad de Córdoba (Spain), 14004 Córdoba, Spain
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18
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Hawkey AJ, Ussher JM, Perz J. Negotiating sexual agency in marriage: The experience of migrant and refugee women. Health Care Women Int 2019; 40:870-897. [PMID: 30985270 DOI: 10.1080/07399332.2019.1566334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
In this study, adult migrant and refugee women's negotiation of sexual agency in the context of marriage is explored. In Sydney, Australia and Vancouver, Canada, 78 semistructured individual interviews, and 15 focus groups, comprised of 82 participants, were conducted with women who had recently migrated from Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Sri Lanka, and South America. Women's negotiation of sexual agency was evident with respect to husband choice, disclosure of sexual desire, pleasure, pain, and sexual consent. While some participants took up subjugated sexual subject positions reflecting dominant cultural or religious discourses, many women also resisted these discourses to enact sexual agency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra J Hawkey
- Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jane M Ussher
- Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia
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19
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Hassanin AM, Ismail NN, El Guindi A, Sowailam HA. The emotional burden of chronic skin disease dominates physical factors among women, adversely affecting quality of life and sexual function. J Psychosom Res 2018; 115:53-57. [PMID: 30470317 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2018.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2018] [Revised: 10/21/2018] [Accepted: 10/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Both physical and emotional effects are linked with the natural history of chronic skin diseases (CSD). Skin lesions can be confined to covered areas or involve emotionally charged regions (genitalia/exposed areas). OBJECTIVE To investigate the contribution of the physical effects of CSD and their emotional burden in adversely affecting the quality of life (QOL) and sexual function. METHODS Two groups were included: A group of women suffering from CSD and a control group. All participants answered the 19-item Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire. Women suffering from CSD answered the 10-item Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) questionnaire; this group was divided into various subgroups according to the type of disease and regional involvement. RESULTS Neither the DLQI score (P = .06) nor the FSFI scores were significantly affected by the type of disease. The DLQI score was significantly higher in the subgroups with involvement of genitalia or exposed areas (P: < 0.001and 0.01, respectively). Moreover, genital involvement was associated with pervasive and significantly lower FSFI scores, and the arousal, satisfaction, and total scores were significantly lower among women with the involvement of exposed areas. The DLQI score was significantly negatively correlated with the FSFI scores. CONCLUSION The emotional burden of CSD should not be overlooked as it dominates the physical effects of disease by adversely affecting QOL and sexual function among women. It is necessary to provide this information to dermatologists and patients, especially in light of effective cognitive-behavior therapy that can be undertaken to ameliorate the emotional stresses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Mohamed Hassanin
- Department of Andrology and Sexology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, 1 Al-Saraya street, EL Manial, Cairo, 11559, Egypt.
| | - Nashaat Nabil Ismail
- Department of Andrology and Sexology, Faculty of Medicine, Beni-Suef University, 1 Latin America Street - Second Floor - Flat No. 10, Garden City, Egypt
| | - Ahmed El Guindi
- Department of Andrology and Sexology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, 1 Al-Saraya street, EL Manial, Cairo, 11559, Egypt
| | - Hanan Amin Sowailam
- El-Houd El-Marsood Dermatology Hospital, Ministry of Health, Egypt; Department Of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Egypt
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20
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Green HD, Weeks MR, Berman M, Mosher HI, Abbott M, Garcia N. Managing the risk of intimacy: accounts of disclosure and responsiveness among people with HIV and intimate partners of people with HIV. CULTURE, HEALTH & SEXUALITY 2018; 20:1117-1129. [PMID: 29944072 PMCID: PMC6399062 DOI: 10.1080/13691058.2018.1479535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
It is well known that concerns about sexual risk tend to decline among people in intimate relationships where there is established commitment and trust. In the context of relationships at increased risk for HIV transmission, interactions involving disclosure and partner responsiveness are key to maintaining intimacy and physical safety. This paper explores concepts of risk and sexual intimacy articulated by a community sample of 30 people living with HIV and their intimate relationship partners. Data revealed the shifts in intimate relationship dynamics upon the disclosure of an HIV diagnosis, the importance of intimacy in the context of managing one or both partners' HIV care and responses to new advances in HIV prophylaxis. Findings suggest that participants' experiences of self-disclosure and partner responsiveness most often resulted in an increased sense of protectiveness from and for partners. This suggests that health-promoting messaging should be adapted to be more relevant to intimate couple communication and mutual support.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Marcie Berman
- The Institute for Community Research, Hartford, CT, USA
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21
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Cormier LA, O'Sullivan LF. Anti-climactic: Investigating how late adolescents perceive and deal with orgasm difficulty in the context of their intimate relationships. THE CANADIAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN SEXUALITY 2018. [DOI: 10.3138/cjhs.2018-001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lauren A. Cormier
- Department of Psychology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB
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