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Belu CF, Bergeron S, Huberman JS, Schwenck GC, Rosen NO. Attraction Toward One's Partner is Associated with Sexual Desire, Satisfaction, and Distress Among Couples Coping with Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder. JOURNAL OF SEX RESEARCH 2024:1-11. [PMID: 39194154 DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2024.2391110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/29/2024]
Abstract
The sexual incentive motivation model suggests that attractive stimuli activate the sexual response system. Attraction toward one's partner has been linked to greater sexual satisfaction, but no quantitative studies have examined its links to sexual desire or distress among those with sexual dysfunction. We examined associations between daily attraction toward one's partner and sexual satisfaction, desire, and distress for individuals with Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder (SIAD) and their partners. Participants (N = 227 couples) completed daily online surveys measuring attraction for one's partner, sexual desire, satisfaction, and distress. Multilevel models showed that on days when women and gender diverse individuals with SIAD reported higher attraction for their partner, they and their partners reported higher sexual satisfaction and desire, and their partners reported lower sexual distress. On days when partners reported higher attraction, both they and participants with SIAD reported higher sexual desire and partners reported lower sexual distress; however, women and gender diverse individuals with SIAD reported higher sexual distress. Daily fluctuations in attraction may be important for daily fluctuations in sexual wellbeing among couples coping with SIAD. Findings may inform novel treatment targets for SIAD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Natalie O Rosen
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Dalhousie University
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2
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Leonhardt ND, Busby DM, Disalvo K, Hanna-Walker VR, Kim JJ, Willoughby BJ, Impett EA. Orgasm Consistency in Mixed-Gender Couples: Actor, Partner, and Discrepancy Effects from Dyadic Response Surface Analysis. JOURNAL OF SEX RESEARCH 2024; 61:216-227. [PMID: 36652377 DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2023.2164883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The potential link between orgasm consistency (i.e., the percentage of time an individual experiences orgasm during sexual interactions with a partner) and sexual satisfaction in mixed-gender sexual relationships remains underexamined in the literature. We combined two dyadic samples (N = 725 couples) and utilized Dyadic Response Surface Analysis (DRSA) to examine how both partners' orgasm consistency and their discrepancy of orgasm consistency predict both partners' sexual satisfaction. We found that partners' discrepancy in orgasm consistency was not uniquely connected to higher sexual satisfaction for either women or men; rather, the overall consistency of orgasm was connected to better sexual satisfaction for both partners. In addition, there was some evidence tentatively suggesting that men were more likely than women to report lower sexual satisfaction if his partner was orgasming more consistently than he was, as opposed to her reporting lower sexual satisfaction from him orgasming more consistently than she was; though this appears to be a rare scenario as only 5.9% of couples had women who orgasmed more consistently than men. This study may assist educators and clinicians as they help couples consider the sexual scripts surrounding orgasm consistency, and how they can attend to each others' desires in a way that maximizes sexual satisfaction for both partners.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - James J Kim
- Department of Psychology, Western University
| | | | - Emily A Impett
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga
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3
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Harris EA, Hornsey MJ, Hofmann W, Jern P, Murphy SC, Hedenborg F, Barlow FK. Does Sexual Desire Fluctuate More Among Women than Men? ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2023; 52:1461-1478. [PMID: 36695962 PMCID: PMC10125944 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-022-02525-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Revised: 12/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
There is a lay assumption that women's sexual desire varies substantially over time, whereas men's is stable. This assumption is mirrored in prominent theories of desire, which posit that women are more variable than men in the extent to which they desire sex, and that women's sexual desire is more contextually sensitive than men's. We tested this assumption across three longitudinal studies. Study 1 assessed desire at 3 time points spanning 13 years (Nobservations = 5562), and Studies 2 and 3 (Nobservations = 11,282) assessed desire moment-to-moment over 7 days. When desire was measured over years, women were more variable in their sexual desire than men (Study 1). However, we found a different pattern of results when desire was measured over the short term. In Studies 2 and 3, we found no significant differences in women's and men's desire variability. The extent to which desire varied as a function of affective states (e.g., happiness) and relationship-oriented states (e.g., partner closeness) was similar for women and men, with some exceptions; women's desire was more negatively associated with tiredness and anger in Study 2. These data qualify existing assumptions about sex differences in sexual desire variability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily A Harris
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia.
| | | | - Wilhelm Hofmann
- Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Patrick Jern
- Department of Psychology, Åbo Akademi University, Åbo, Finland
| | - Sean C Murphy
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | - Fanny Hedenborg
- Department of Psychology, Åbo Akademi University, Åbo, Finland
| | - Fiona K Barlow
- School of Psychology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
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4
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Bogen KW, Jones HR, Lorenz TK. Relational and Trait Factors Mediate the Associations between Women's Intoxication-Related Unwanted Sexual Experiences, Pleasure, and Desire. JOURNAL OF SEX RESEARCH 2022; 59:1175-1191. [PMID: 35262426 PMCID: PMC9458769 DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2022.2030661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Despite documented negative sexual health sequelae of unwanted sexual contact (USC), it is unclear why individuals who have experienced USC within the context of intoxication (intoxication-related USC) are at particular risk for poor sexual functioning. Intoxication-related USC may impact relational factors like relationship satisfaction, as trauma symptoms interfere with emotional closeness during sex. Additionally, although individual traits - such as sexual excitation and sensation seeking - affect the relationship between trauma and sexual functioning, it is unknown whether these factors differentially impact those who have experienced intoxication-related USC. Finally, because presence of a partner may evoke trauma-related symptoms during partnered (dyadic) sexual activity, mediators may differ across solitary versus dyadic sexual pleasure and desire. We tested relational and individual trait mediators of the association between intoxication-related USC and solitary and dyadic sexual pleasure and desire in a sample of heterosexual and sexual minority women. Trait factors consistently mediated the association between intoxication-related USC and both dyadic and solitary desire and pleasure, while relational factors such as emotional closeness were inconsistently related to sexual wellbeing. If replicated, these findings would suggest that trait factors may be useful targets for clinical sexual wellness interventions among sexuality-diverse women who have experienced intoxication-related USC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine W. Bogen
- University of Nebraska – Lincoln, Department of Psychology; 238 Burnett Hall, Lincoln, NE 68588
- University of Nebraska – Lincoln, Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior; C89 East Stadium, Lincoln, NE 68588
| | - Harper R. Jones
- University of Nebraska – Lincoln, Department of Psychology; 238 Burnett Hall, Lincoln, NE 68588
- University of Nebraska – Lincoln, Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior; C89 East Stadium, Lincoln, NE 68588
| | - Tierney K. Lorenz
- University of Nebraska – Lincoln, Department of Psychology; 238 Burnett Hall, Lincoln, NE 68588
- University of Nebraska – Lincoln, Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior; C89 East Stadium, Lincoln, NE 68588
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5
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Rodrigues DL, Lehmiller JJ. COVID-19 and Sexual Desire: Perceived Fear Is Associated with Enhanced Relationship Functioning. JOURNAL OF SEX RESEARCH 2022; 59:403-412. [PMID: 34431724 DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2021.1966359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Lifestyle changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic had mostly negative consequences for individual, relationship, and sexual functioning. However, some individuals have reported increases in sexual desire and made new additions to their sex lives. Given that stress-provoking situations can sometimes make mortality more salient and heighten sexual desire, it is possible that lifestyle changes and fear of COVID-19 infection may have benefited some relationships. We conducted a cross-sectional study with 303 romantically involved adults (58.1% men) and found that lifestyle changes were associated with negative changes in one's sex life, unrelated to wanting to spend time with one's partner, and positively associated with relationship quality. Lifestyle changes were also positively associated with sexual desire, but only for participants with high (vs. low) fear of COVID-19 infection. For these participants, sexual desire was associated with positive changes in one's sex life and wanting to spend time with one's partner, but not with overall relationship quality. Results were consistent after controlling for pandemic-related anxiety and demographic variables. This study advances literature focused on the importance of romantic relationships in stress-provoking situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic by shedding light on the association between sexual desire and personal and relational well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- David L Rodrigues
- Department of Social and Organizational Psychology, Iscte-Instituto Universitário De Lisboa, CIS-Iscte
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6
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van Anders SM, Herbenick D, Brotto LA, Harris EA, Chadwick SB. The Heteronormativity Theory of Low Sexual Desire in Women Partnered with Men. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2022; 51:391-415. [PMID: 34426898 PMCID: PMC8382213 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-021-02100-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Low sexual desire in women partnered with men is typically presumed to be a problem-one that exists in women and encourages a research agenda on causation and treatment targeting women. In this paper, we present a distinct way forward for research on low sexual desire in women partnered with men that attends to a more structural explanation: heteronormativity. A heteronormative worldview assumes that relationships and structures are heterosexual, gender (usually conflated with sex) is binary and complementary, and gender roles fit within narrow bounds including nurturant labor for women. We propose the heteronormativity theory of low sexual desire in women partnered with men, arguing that heteronormative gender inequities are contributing factors. We outline four hypotheses and their predictions related to: inequitable divisions of household labor, blurring of partner and mother roles, objectification of women, and gender norms surrounding sexual initiation. We discuss some mechanisms-social, physiological, and otherwise-for the heteronormativity theory, especially related to stress, objectification, and nurturance. We close by noting some limitations of our paper and the ways that the heteronormativity theory of low sexual desire in women partnered with men provides a rigorous, generative, and empirical way forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sari M van Anders
- Department of Psychology, Queen's University, 62 Arch Street, Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada.
- Department of Gender Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada.
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada.
| | - Debby Herbenick
- School of Public Health, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Lori A Brotto
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Emily A Harris
- Department of Psychology, Queen's University, 62 Arch Street, Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Sara B Chadwick
- Departments of Psychology and Women's and Gender Studies, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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7
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Machette AT. Sexual Communication Discrepancies in Married Individuals. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SEXUAL HEALTH : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE WORLD ASSOCIATION FOR SEXUAL HEALTH 2021; 34:233-241. [PMID: 38596521 PMCID: PMC10903563 DOI: 10.1080/19317611.2021.2015037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 10/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Sexual communication brings numerous relational and sexual benefits. However, individuals often do not communicate sexually with their partners, resulting in the potential for sexual communication discrepancies (SCD). Guided by uncertainty reduction theory, the purpose of this exploratory study was to examine SCD in married relationships. Results of a cross-sectional survey conducted with 398 married individuals revealed a significant relationship between relational uncertainty and SCD, as well as significant associations between SCD and relational and sexual outcomes. The implications of this study are discussed in the context of sexual communication research and clinical settings.
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8
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Machette AT, Morrissey BS, Cionea IA. The Sexual Communication Discrepancy Index: A Multidimensional Self-Report Instrument for the Assessment of Sexual Communication Discrepancies. JOURNAL OF SEX & MARITAL THERAPY 2021; 48:376-391. [PMID: 34730062 DOI: 10.1080/0092623x.2021.1998272] [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
Sexual communication offers relational and sexual benefits. However, the sexual communication occurring in an individual's relationship may be incongruent with their expectations for such communication. Such discrepancies can affect partners' relationships and are important to examine. This study presents a new instrument for assessing discrepancies in sexual communication, the Sexual Communication Discrepancy Index (SCDI). Results of two studies examining SCDI's dimensionality, factor structure, and reliability revealed a promising 24-item, 4-factor scale instrument. The index offers a brief, easily scored, and reliable measure of sexual communication discrepancies. It may prove useful for researchers and clinicians who focus on sexual communication.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ioana A Cionea
- Department of Communication, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
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9
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Jodouin JF, Rosen NO, Merwin K, Bergeron S. Discrepancy in Dyadic Sexual Desire Predicts Sexual Distress over Time in a Community Sample of Committed Couples: A Daily Diary and Longitudinal Study. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2021; 50:3637-3649. [PMID: 34426897 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-021-01967-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2020] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
In long-term relationships, sexual desire discrepancy (SDD) occurs frequently between partners. For many, this discrepancy is persistent and significant, and a source of distress. However, the dynamics of SDD in couples and, specifically, its implications for sexual distress have received scant empirical attention. This study examined the associations between SDD and sexual distress from one day to the next and over a 12-month span, in a community sample of 229 same-sex/gender and mixed-sex/gender couples. Two datasets were collected: A 35-day daily diary and a 12-month longitudinal survey. In both, dyadic sexual desire and sexual distress were measured, and SDD was calculated as the absolute value of the difference in sexual desire between partners. Directional associations between SDD at one time point and sexual distress at the next time point were assessed using multilevel, 2-pane autoregressive cross-lagged models, controlling for within-variable changes, dependencies between partners, and partner age. Results were consistent with the study's hypotheses: Couples' SDD on one day predicted sexual distress on the next day. Similarly, SDD at baseline predicted sexual distress 12 months later. Participant gender, partner gender, and couple type did not significantly moderate these associations, nor did differentiating partners based on higher and lower average sexual desire. The reverse associations (i.e., sexual distress predicting SDD) were non-significant. The associations' directionality and the fact that they remained significant over days and months were consistent with the proposal that SDD is a precursor of sexual distress. The present study provides support for dyadic conceptualizations of sexual desire. Clinically, findings suggest that therapeutic approaches should address issues with sexual desire and sexual distress by focusing not on the individual, but on the couple.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Francois Jodouin
- Département de Psychologie, Université de Montréal, Succursale Centre-Ville, C.P. 6128, Montréal, QC, H3C 3J7, 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
| | - Kathleen Merwin
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Sophie Bergeron
- Département de Psychologie, Université de Montréal, Succursale Centre-Ville, C.P. 6128, Montréal, QC, H3C 3J7, Canada
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10
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Attaky A, Kok G, Dewitte M. Attachment Orientation Moderates the Sexual and Relational Implications of Sexual Desire Discrepancies. JOURNAL OF SEX & MARITAL THERAPY 2021; 48:343-362. [PMID: 34665076 DOI: 10.1080/0092623x.2021.1991537] [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
We examined the degree and direction of sexual desire discrepancies (SDD) between partners and how this relates to sexual function, sexual satisfaction, relationship satisfaction in 100 Saudi Arabian couples, taking into account both partners' attachment orientation. Men and women reported better outcomes when they matched on higher levels of sexual desire. In case of a mismatch, women reported higher sexual satisfaction when their partner's level of sexual desire was higher than their own. Attachment anxiety and avoidance moderated the associations between SDD and the outcome variables. This study offers unique information on SDD in couples with strong gender role expectations and cultural restrictions regarding sexuality. Therapeutic interventions should be directed at understanding the attachment meaning of sexual desire.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atia Attaky
- Department of Clinical Psychological Science, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Neuropsychiatry Al-Mattaria Teaching Hospital, Cairo, Egypt
- Department of Psychiatry, Mutmaena Medical Center Riyadh, KSA
| | - Gerjo Kok
- Department of Work and Social Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Marieke Dewitte
- Department of Clinical Psychological Science, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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11
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Zebroff P. Questionnaire for Turn-on Initiation Preference: Development and Initial Reliability and Validation. JOURNAL OF SEX RESEARCH 2021; 58:1019-1034. [PMID: 35727127 DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2021.1898525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
This article presents four studies conducted to develop and validate a self-report measure of sexual turn-on initiation preference - the Questionnaire for Turn-On Initiation Preference (QTIP). Sexual initiation is a vital stage of sexual activity and yet there are few prior measures of initiation. Moreover, previous measures have focused exclusively on the person initiating and none have addressed the turn-on preferences of the recipient of the initiation. The objective of this questionnaire is to understand how individuals prefer their partner to initiate sex that enhances erotic turn-on. This questionnaire was developed in four stages. Study 1 focused on item generation using qualitative data from 219 men and women. Study 2 tested the original items on 2,027 respondents assessing potential factor structure, followed by item revisions and additions. Study 3 (N = 5,812) assessed the revised 61 items on a larger sample and evaluated factor structure, and Study 4 (N = 1,848) tested the factor structure of the 66-item version, with an exploratory factor analysis, capturing a four-factor structure of turn-on preference: Emotional, Seductive-Exotic, Surrender, and Sensation. A confirmatory factor analysis indicated adequate fit for the final short version of QTIP with 26 items, good test-retest reliability and convergent validity. Theoretical frameworks are discussed along with gender differences and clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Zebroff
- Independent Researcher, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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12
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Jamea EN, McCaskill LA, Needle RB. Sexual Satisfaction: Exploring the Role of Flow. JOURNAL OF SEX & MARITAL THERAPY 2021; 47:481-491. [PMID: 33754948 DOI: 10.1080/0092623x.2021.1898503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Sexual satisfaction plays an important role in relationship, mental, and even physical health. Activities that produce a state of flow create meaning in people's lives. Although people who report high levels of sexual satisfaction describe their sex lives as being very meaningful, there is little research on the relationship between sexual satisfaction and flow. This study sought to address this gap. One hundred participants who were in monogamous relationships completed an online survey consisting of two questionnaires-the New Sexual Satisfaction Scale and the Core Dispositional Flow State Scale. We used partial least square structural equation modeling approach to examine the association between flow and sexual satisfaction. We found that flow was a statistically significant positive predictor of both partner-focused and personal sexual satisfaction. Our results indicate that there are no statistically significant gender differences.
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13
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Vowels LM, Rosenkrantz DE, Brown HM, Mark KP. Ebbs and Flows of Desire: A Qualitative Exploration of Contextual Factors Affecting Sexual Desire in Bisexual, Lesbian, and Straight Women. JOURNAL OF SEX & MARITAL THERAPY 2020; 46:807-823. [PMID: 33026308 DOI: 10.1080/0092623x.2020.1828207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Previous research has found that sexual desire ebbs and flows over time within and across relationships, leading to instances of desire discrepancy. The purpose of the present study was to understand factors that may contribute to desire and desire discrepancy and examine differences and similarities across women from diverse sexual identity groups. The present qualitative study involved semi-structured interviews with 31 women (10 bisexual, 8 lesbian, and 13 straight). We identified six main themes (changes across lifespan, hormonal influences, mental and physical health, objective of desire, partner dynamics, external factors) with 21 subthemes. The findings showed more similarities between the women than differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura M Vowels
- Department of Psychology, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | | | - Holly M Brown
- Compass Counseling and Psychology Services, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Kristen P Mark
- Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
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14
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Kim JJ, Muise A, Barranti M, Mark KP, Rosen NO, Harasymchuk C, Impett E. Are Couples More Satisfied When They Match in Sexual Desire? New Insights From Response Surface Analyses. SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PERSONALITY SCIENCE 2020. [DOI: 10.1177/1948550620926770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
While sexual frequency and satisfaction are strong contributors to the quality and longevity of romantic relationships and overall well-being, mismatches in sexual desire between partners are common and have been linked with poorer satisfaction. Previous findings linking mismatches in desire with poorer relationship and sexual outcomes have typically been derived using difference scores, an approach that does not account for partners’ overall levels of desire. In a sample of 366 couples, we investigated whether partners who match in desire are more satisfied than desire-discrepant couples. Results of dyadic response surface analyses provided no support for a unique matching effect. Higher desire rather than matching in desire between partners predicted relationship and sexual satisfaction. These findings shed new light on whether the correspondence between partners’ levels of sexual desire is associated with satisfaction and suggest the need to focus on sustaining desire and successfully navigating differences rather than promoting matching in desire.
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Affiliation(s)
- James J. Kim
- University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- James J. Kim and Amy Muise contributed equally
| | - Amy Muise
- York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- James J. Kim and Amy Muise contributed equally
| | | | | | | | | | - Emily Impett
- University of Toronto Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
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15
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Fischer N, Træen B, Štulhofer A, Hald GM. Mechanisms underlying the association between perceived discrepancy in sexual interest and sexual satisfaction among partnered older adults in four European countries. Eur J Ageing 2020; 17:151-162. [PMID: 32549870 DOI: 10.1007/s10433-019-00541-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The ways in which the discrepancy between one's own interest in sex and that of one's partner may affect personal sexual satisfaction has rarely been systematically studied, especially among older adults. Previous research among younger adults indicates that a discrepancy in sexual desire can be detrimental in terms of several relationship outcomes, including sexual satisfaction. This study aimed to investigate a conceptual model of sexual satisfaction among coupled older adults which posits that the association between perceived discrepancy in sexual interest and sexual satisfaction is mediated by the frequency of sexual activity and emotional closeness during sex. Data from a probability-based postal survey that included 2695 partnered heterosexual adults aged 60-75 years from four European countries (Norway, Denmark, Belgium, and Portugal) were used to test the mediation model. Due to expected gender differences in the two mediators, all analyses were carried out separately for men and women. The findings supported the proposed model, suggesting that as an individual's perception of a discrepancy in sexual interest increases, his or her levels of sexual frequency and perceived closeness during sex decrease-which in turn diminishes sexual satisfaction. The results of this study provide insights into links among sexual interest, sexual frequency, emotional closeness, and sexual satisfaction in older adults, and point to substantial similarities in the sexuality of aging men and women in this regard.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Fischer
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Forskningsveien 3A, 0373 Oslo, Norway
| | - B Træen
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Forskningsveien 3A, 0373 Oslo, Norway
| | - A Štulhofer
- Department of Sociology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - G M Hald
- Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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16
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Mark KP, Vowels LM, Leistner CE. “Not Tonight, Honey:” Reasons Couples Do Not Engage in Sex and Their Impact on Satisfaction and Desire. J Sex Med 2020; 17:431-441. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jsxm.2019.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2019] [Revised: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/07/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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17
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Vowels LM, Mark KP. Partners' Daily Love and Desire as Predictors of Engagement in and Enjoyment of Sexual Activity. JOURNAL OF SEX & MARITAL THERAPY 2020; 46:330-342. [PMID: 31914872 DOI: 10.1080/0092623x.2019.1711274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Romantic love and sexual desire have often been seen as two distinct constructs and studied separately. However, in most romantic relationships love, desire, and sex are intertwined. The purpose of the present study was to examine whether daily feelings of love and desire influence engagement in and enjoyment of sexual activity. Ninety mixed-sex couples (N = 180) completed a 30-day daily diary. The results were analyzed using hierarchical linear modeling and showed that both love and desire significantly predicted engagement in and enjoyment of sexual activity with desire being a stronger predictor. Clinical implications and future directions are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura M Vowels
- Department of Psychology, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Kristen P Mark
- Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
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18
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Leistner CE, Mark KP. Positive Communication and Partner Appraisals Among Mothers and Their Long-Term Male Partners: Impact on Sexual and Relationship Satisfaction. JOURNAL OF SEX & MARITAL THERAPY 2019; 46:269-281. [PMID: 31777315 DOI: 10.1080/0092623x.2019.1692980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Parents in the USA struggle to maintain their sexual and relational health over time. The current study aimed to investigate the impact of positive communication and partner appraisals on sexual and relationship satisfaction in a sample of 93 mixed sex couples (N = 186) with children living in the home on a full-time basis. Results indicated that for men and women, positive communication scores predicted higher levels of sexual and relationship satisfaction and more positive partner appraisals predicted higher levels of relationship satisfaction. Significant results were also found at the couple-level. Findings have clinical and educational implications for parents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine E Leistner
- Department of Public Health and Health Services Administration, California State University, Chico, CA, USA
| | - Kristen P Mark
- Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion, University of Kentucky, KY, USA
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Mark KP, Leistner CE, Dai M. Daily Sexual Desire and Its Impact on Next-Day Desire and Behavior in Mixed Sex Couples. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2019; 48:795-801. [PMID: 30756211 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-018-1320-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2017] [Revised: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 09/29/2018] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Sexual desire contributes to overall sexual and relational health among long-term romantic partnerships. However, little research has examined the nuances of partner-level sexual desire and behavior on a daily level, despite evidence that it ebbs and flows and is more of a state than a static characteristic. Additionally, daily sexual behavior and desire may impact women differently than men. Therefore, understanding individual and partner-level dynamics among men and women may provide a more nuanced understanding of sexual desire as a situational state in the context of long term couples. A sample of 87 mixed-sex couples (174 individuals; M age = 33 years) in long-term relationships (M = 9.33 years) completed a daily electronic report for 30 days and reported on their daily sexual desire and sexual behavior. A series of four stability influence actor partner interdependence models were conducted to investigate the individual and partner-level link between men and women's daily levels of sexual desire and their sexual behavior and desire the following day. Findings indicated that daily sexual desire fuels sexual desire on the following day, particularly for men, regardless of whether sexual behavior was engaged in. Additionally, sexual desire on one day impacts next-day desire for partners, particularly on days when sexual behavior occurred. Contextual, partner-level contributing factors seem to have the largest impact on daily levels of sexual desire among long-term couples. Implications and future research directions are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen P Mark
- Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion, University of Kentucky, 122 Seaton Building, Lexington, KY, 40506, USA.
| | - Christine E Leistner
- Department of Health and Community Services, California State University Chico, Chico, CA, USA
| | - Minhao Dai
- Department of Communication, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
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Pereira TJ, Machado PPP, Peixoto MM. Sexual and Relationship Satisfaction: The Role of Perceived (Non)problematic Sexual Desire Discrepancy in Gay and Heterosexual Men. JOURNAL OF SEX & MARITAL THERAPY 2019; 45:103-113. [PMID: 30628560 DOI: 10.1080/0092623x.2018.1488323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Sexual desire discrepancy has been associated with sexual and relationship dissatisfaction. Nonetheless, little is known regarding the role of desire discrepancy in gay men, as main research has been systematically conducted with heterosexual couples. Also, only one study has focused on problematic sexual desire discrepancies and sexual satisfaction with lesbian women. This study sought to understand if perceived sexual desire discrepancy influences sexual and relationship satisfaction in men, and to explore differences according to sexual orientation. A total of 346 men (245 heterosexual and 101 gay) completed an online survey and answered sociodemographic questions, a specific question about sexual desire discrepancy, and completed the Global Measure of Sexual Satisfaction and the Global Measure of Relationship Satisfaction. The main findings showed differences in sexual and relationship satisfaction according to sexual desire discrepancy groups, with men who experienced no desire discrepancy being more satisfied within their relationship and sex life compared to men who experienced both problematic and nonproblematic sexual desire discrepancy. Additionally, men who experienced nonproblematic sexual desire discrepancy reported being more sexually and relationship satisfied than men who experienced problematic sexual desire discrepancy. No sexual orientation differences were found. Overall, current findings emphasize the role of (non)problematic desire discrepancy in sexual and relationship satisfaction among heterosexual and gay men.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paulo P P Machado
- b School of Psychology , University of Minho, CIPSI-Research Center on Psychology , Braga , Portugal
| | - Maria Manuela Peixoto
- b School of Psychology , University of Minho, CIPSI-Research Center on Psychology , Braga , Portugal
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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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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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Mark KP, Lasslo JA. Maintaining Sexual Desire in Long-Term Relationships: A Systematic Review and Conceptual Model. JOURNAL OF SEX RESEARCH 2018. [PMID: 29521522 DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2018.1437592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
The most universally experienced sexual response is sexual desire. Though research on this topic has increased in recent years, low and high desire are still problematized in clinical settings and the broader culture. However, despite knowledge that sexual desire ebbs and flows both within and between individuals, and that problems with sexual desire are strongly linked to problems with relationships, there is a critical gap in understanding the factors that contribute to maintaining sexual desire in the context of relationships. This article offers a systematic review of the literature to provide researchers, educators, clinicians, and the broader public with an overview and a conceptual model of nonclinical sexual desire in long-term relationships. First, we systematically identified peer-reviewed, English-language articles that focused on the maintenance of sexual desire in the context of nonclinical romantic relationships. Second, we reviewed a total of 64 articles that met inclusion criteria and synthesized them into factors using a socioecological framework categorized as individual, interpersonal, and societal in nature. These findings are used to build a conceptual model of maintaining sexual desire in long-term relationships. Finally, we discuss the limitations of the existing research and suggest clear directions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen P Mark
- a Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion , University of Kentucky
| | - Julie A Lasslo
- a Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion , University of Kentucky
- b Department of Health Promotion & Administration , Eastern Kentucky University
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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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Girard A, Woolley SR. Using Emotionally Focused Therapy to Treat Sexual Desire Discrepancy in Couples. JOURNAL OF SEX & MARITAL THERAPY 2017; 43:720-735. [PMID: 27892795 DOI: 10.1080/0092623x.2016.1263703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Couples in committed relationships encounter a multitude of issues. According to Metz and McCarthy (2010), when couples report high sexual satisfaction, it accounts for 15% to 20% of their overall relationship satisfaction. However, when couples report low sexual satisfaction, it contributes 50% to 70% of their overall satisfaction with their partner. Issues of sexual desire, currently referred to as sexual desire discrepancy, are among the most difficult to treat. Although there are many factors contributing to the issue of sexual desire discrepancy, current literature highlights the importance of emotional intimacy as an outcome and predictor of increased sexual desire. Given the complex nature of sexual desire, clinicians often lack the understanding and treatment options that are systemic. By viewing sexual desire discrepancy as a relational problem that can be treated using emotionally focused therapy, clinicians are better equipped to work with emotional and sexual factors that impact desire and couple distress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abby Girard
- a Couple and Family Therapy, Alliant International University , San Diego , California , USA
| | - Scott R Woolley
- a Couple and Family Therapy, Alliant International University , San Diego , California , USA
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Peixoto MM. Sexual Problems and Distress in Lesbian Women. CURRENT SEXUAL HEALTH REPORTS 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s11930-017-0115-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Birnbaum GE. The Fragile Spell of Desire: A Functional Perspective on Changes in Sexual Desire Across Relationship Development. PERSONALITY AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY REVIEW 2017. [PMID: 28645226 DOI: 10.1177/1088868317715350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The sexual behavioral system evolved to motivate reproductive acts by arousing sexual desire. Building on the idea that this system has also been "exploited" by evolutionary processes to promote enduring bonds between romantic partners, the present article introduces an integrative model that delineates the functional significance of sexual desire in relationship formation and maintenance. This model explains why individuals' sexual reaction to their partner is context-dependent, clarifying how changes in the nature of interdependence over the course of relationships alter the ways in which specific predictors of sexual desire tend to promote (or inhibit) desire and thereby affect relationship depth and stability. The model postulates that although desire influences the development of attachment bonds, the contribution that it makes varies over the course of relationships. The model also provides new insight regarding fundamental but unresolved issues in human sexuality, such as the vulnerability of sexual desire and the desire-intimacy paradox.
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Ferreira LC, Narciso I, Novo RF, Pereira CR. Partners' Similarity in Differentiation of Self is Associated With Higher Sexual Desire: A Quantitative Dyadic Study. JOURNAL OF SEX & MARITAL THERAPY 2016; 42:635-47. [PMID: 26569544 DOI: 10.1080/0092623x.2015.1113584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
The relationship between sexual desire and differentiation of self in couples has been frequently discussed in clinical literature but lacks empirical support. This exploratory study investigates the associations between individual and dyadic levels of sexual desire, differentiation of self, and couple satisfaction. Similarities and discrepancies in sexual desire and differentiation of self between partners were especially targeted. Partners were expected to have a lower discrepancy of differentiation of self than unrelated individuals (Bowen's similarity hypothesis). Partners' discrepancy in differentiation of self was expected to be negatively associated with sexual desire, and higher levels of sexual desire and differentiation in the dyad were expected be positively associated with couple satisfaction. Results suggest that partners' similarity regarding differentiation of self predicted individual sexual desire. Other findings suggest that couple satisfaction was positively associated with both sexual desire and differentiation of self. Limitations and clinical implications are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Isabel Narciso
- a Faculdade de Psicologia, Universidade de Lisboa , Lisbon , Portugal
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Event-level impact of Promescent on quality of sexual experience in men with subjective premature ejaculation. Int J Impot Res 2016; 28:216-220. [PMID: 27557610 PMCID: PMC5399162 DOI: 10.1038/ijir.2016.31] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2016] [Revised: 05/13/2016] [Accepted: 06/24/2016] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Promescent is a lidocaine-based ejaculation delaying spray that absorbs into the skin of the penis prior to sexual activity. This article aimed to evaluate the effect of Promescent on the experience of orgasm, ejaculatory latency time and quality of sexual experience (QSE). Additionally, we assessed ease of application of Promescent and the extent to which it enhanced or interrupted the sexual experience. The analytic sample consisted of 91 men with self-reported subjective premature ejaculation who were sent a sample of Promescent and completed a 14-day internet-based prospective daily electronic report. Average ejaculatory latency time was 11.16 min during product use events, compared with 6.81 min during product non-use events. Both members of the couple had an orgasm 65.6% of the time when they used the product, compared with 44.1% when they did not use the product. QSE was significantly improved on product use days (P<0.05). Quality also significantly improved each subsequent time the product was used (P<0.01). The product was reported as easy to use and did not interrupt the sexual experience. Findings suggest that the use of this topical spray significantly improves QSE and perception of partner experience, and that these improve with longer duration of use.
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Sutherland SE, Rehman US, Fallis EE, Goodnight JA. Understanding the phenomenon of sexual desire discrepancy in couples. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN SEXUALITY 2015. [DOI: 10.3138/cjhs.242.a3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Given that desire levels tend to fluctuate over time, discrepancies in sexual desire are an inevitable feature of sexual relationships. However, we know little about how such desire discrepancies relate to a couple's sexual satisfaction. Past studies that have examined the association between sexual desire discrepancy and sexual satisfaction in college/university samples have had inconsistent findings. Also, the results may not generalize to more established romantic relationships. The current study compared two different conceptualizations of sexual desire discrepancy; perceived sexual desire discrepancy was assessed by asking a participant to subjectively compare his/her own level of sexual desire to that of his/her partner. Actual desire discrepancy was computed by subtracting the female partner's score on a self-report measure of sexual desire from the male partner's score on the same measure. In Sample 1, we examined the relationship between actual sexual desire discrepancy and sexual satisfaction for 82 couples in committed long-term relationships. In Sample 2, we investigated the association between perceived sexual desire discrepancy and sexual satisfaction for 191 individuals in committed long-term relationships. Our results showed that higher perceived, but not actual, desire discrepancy was associated with lower sexual satisfaction. In addition, we found that perceived desire discrepancy outcomes differed when measured using different response scales. Findings highlight methodological issues to consider when measuring sexual desire discrepancy and extend the literature by showing that perceived sexual desire discrepancy is associated with sexual satisfaction for couples in committed long-term relationships. Limitations of the current study and implications for future research are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Uzma S. Rehman
- Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON
| | - Erin E. Fallis
- Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON
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Mark KP, Garcia JR, Fisher HE. Perceived emotional and sexual satisfaction across sexual relationship contexts: Gender and sexual orientation differences and similarities. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN SEXUALITY 2015. [DOI: 10.3138/cjhs.242-a8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Despite general perceptions of committed romantic relationships as the most satisfying context with which to engage in sexual activity, acceptance of casual sexual contexts has increased in recent years. Yet little research has examined sexual and emotional satisfaction outside of the committed relationship context. Further, most satisfaction research has focused exclusively on heterosexual samples. The present study aimed to investigate sexual and emotional satisfaction derived from seven sexual relationship contexts and note similarities or differences based on gender and sexual orientation. Data were drawn from an online survey of 6,955 sexually diverse participants. Sexual satisfaction was stronger than emotional satisfaction within casual sex contexts (one night stand, first date, sex with a friend, and hookups) than within more committed contexts (married, living together, committed unmarried relationship). Men found all contexts except for sex in a committed unmarried relationship significantly more sexually and emotionally satisfying than women. Emotional and sexual satisfaction were significantly different across sexual orientation groups in casual sexual relationship contexts but not in more committed relationship contexts. Gay men reported gaining the most sexual and emotional satisfaction out of casual sex contexts, with lesbian women reporting the least out of casual sexual contexts. Overall, this research found that a wide variety of relationship contexts, including casual sexual contexts, can be a source of both sexual and emotional satisfaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen P. Mark
- Department of Kinesiology & Health Promotion, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
- The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
| | - Justin R. Garcia
- The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
- Department of Gender Studies, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
| | - Helen E. Fisher
- The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
- Department of Anthropology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
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Dawson SJ, Chivers ML. Gender Differences and Similarities in Sexual Desire. CURRENT SEXUAL HEALTH REPORTS 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s11930-014-0027-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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