In the early stages of romantic relationships, sexual desire is often intense, but over time, as partners get to know each other, desire tends to decline. Low sexual desire has negative implications ...for relationship satisfaction and maintenance. Self-expansion theory suggests that engaging in novel activities with a long-term romantic partner can reignite feelings of passion from the early stages of a relationship. Across 3 studies using dyadic, daily experience, longitudinal, and experimental methods, we find evidence for our central prediction that engaging in self-expanding activities with a partner is associated with higher sexual desire. In turn, we found that higher desire fueled by self-expansion is associated with greater relationship satisfaction. Self-expansion, through sexual desire, is also associated with an increased likelihood that couples will engage in sex, and when they do engage in sex, they feel more satisfied with their sexual experiences. We also demonstrate that the benefits of self-expansion for relationship satisfaction are sustained over time, and that the effects cannot be attributed solely to increases in positive affect, time spent interacting with the partner or closeness during the activity. Implications for self-expansion theory and sexual desire maintenance in relationships are discussed.
The Psychology of Erectile Dysfunction Allen, Mark S.; Wood, Alex M.; Sheffield, David
Current directions in psychological science,
12/2023, Letnik:
32, Številka:
6
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Erectile dysfunction is a major chronic condition affecting hundreds of millions of individuals worldwide. This review provides a concise overview of research on the psychological experience of ...erectile dysfunction. There is evidence that psychological factors such as personality, depression, stress, and cognitive interference (e.g., performance worry, shifts in attentional focus) contribute to erectile problems. There is also evidence that the experience of erectile dysfunction can have negative psychological effects, including feelings of emasculation and humiliation, decreases in self-confidence and feelings of self-worth, feelings of isolation and loneliness, increases in depression, and decreases in subjective well-being. Effects on the affected individuals’ sexual partner include feelings of being unattractive, feelings of rejection, feeling unloved, decreases in self-esteem, and frustration. Psychological interventions (particularly multimodal interventions) show promise for treating erectile dysfunction, but more research is needed to help establish their effectiveness. We present a brief research agenda of critical areas in need of further study. This review should be of interest to the general public and also researchers looking to develop a program of research in sexual health psychology that focuses on the psychological experience of erectile dysfunction.
The current research used two 8-wave longitudinal studies spanning the first 4–5 years of 207 marriages to examine the potential bidirectional associations among marital satisfaction, sexual ...satisfaction, and frequency of sex. All three variables declined over time, though the rate of decline in each variable became increasingly less steep. Controlling for these changes, own marital and sexual satisfaction were bidirectionally positively associated with one another; higher levels of marital satisfaction at one wave of assessment predicted more positive changes in sexual satisfaction from that assessment to the next and higher levels of sexual satisfaction at one wave of assessment predicted more positive changes in marital satisfaction from that assessment to the next. Likewise, own sexual satisfaction and frequency of sex were bidirectionally positively associated with one another. Additionally, partner sexual satisfaction positively predicted changes in frequency of sex and own sexual satisfaction among husbands, yet partner marital satisfaction negatively predicted changes in both frequency of sex and own sexual satisfaction. Controlling these associations, marital satisfaction did not directly predict changes in frequency of sex or vice versa. Only the association between partner sexual satisfaction and changes in own sexual satisfaction varied across men and women and none of the key effects varied across the studies. These findings suggest that sexual and relationship satisfaction are intricately intertwined and thus that interventions to treat and prevent marital distress may benefit by targeting the sexual relationship and interventions to treat and prevent sexual distress in marriage may benefit by targeting the marital relationship.
The sexual double standard (SDS) refers to the acceptance of different criteria to assess the same sexual behavior in men and women. To date, the few studies that have addressed the relationship ...between SDS and sexual satisfaction have obtained inconclusive results. In addition, no study has analyzed sexual satisfaction in people who maintain different forms of adherence to the SDS. This study establishes three SDS typologies of adherence (man-favorable, woman-favorable, egalitarian) in two areas of sexual behavior (sexual freedom and sexual shyness) to examine the predictive capacity of personal variables (age, social dominance orientation, propensity for sexual excitation/inhibition), interpersonal variables (relationship satisfaction) and social variables (gender norms about sexual behaviors) in sexual satisfaction. A sample of 1194 heterosexual adults (51.1% men, 48.8% women) aged between 18 and 87 years (
= 40.63;
= 15.67), who had been in a relationship for more than 6 months, was evaluated. In men, the highest sexual satisfaction levels were obtained in the egalitarian typology in the sexual freedom area. In women, no significant differences were found between the typologies of adherence to the SDS. Regression models showed that relationship satisfaction was the main predictor of sexual satisfaction in all the typologies in both men and women. In addition, the predictive relationship of personal variables with sexual satisfaction varied according to gender and the SDS adherence type. The results show the importance of studying sexual satisfaction by taking into account not only the differences between men and women. Furthermore, it is essential to consider other differences between people; for example, the difference that derives from the way of psychologically internalizing attitude toward the SDS.
Abstract Objective Previous research on the impact of the Covid‐19 pandemic on romantic relationships has mainly concentrated on short‐term effects and average trends of change. This study aimed to ...explore different trajectories of relationship and sexual satisfaction from April 2020 to March 2022. Method Including a cross‐national sample of 2859 individuals, a latent class approach was applied to identify subgroups of sexual and relationship satisfaction trajectories. Participants' satisfaction levels, attachment style, psychological symptoms, life satisfaction, and living arrangements were taken into account. Results Three latent classes were identified for both relationship and sexual satisfaction: (1) a group with high satisfaction levels but a slightly declining trajectory, (2) a group with low satisfaction levels but an ascending trajectory, and (3) a fluctuating group. Living apart, having children, psychological symptoms, low life satisfaction, and avoidant attachment characterized the two groups with low or fluctuating trajectories. Conclusions The findings suggest that there were different trajectories of relationship and sexual satisfaction during the pandemic, which can be predicted by individual dispositions. Even 2 years after the pandemic, its effects had not disappeared.
Relationship obsessive–compulsive disorder (ROCD) is marked by the presence of obsessions and compulsions focusing on romantic relationships. ROCD symptoms were previously linked with decreased ...relationship quality and might interfere with sexual functioning.
The study aims to examine the association between ROCD symptoms and sexual satisfaction.
Participants completed an online survey assessing ROCD symptoms and relationship and sexual satisfaction levels. Depression, general worry, obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms, and attachment orientation were also measured.
The main outcome measures were self reported relationship satisfaction and sexual satisfaction.
ROCD symptoms were associated with decreased sexual satisfaction over and above symptoms of depression, general worry, OCD, and attachment orientation. The link between ROCD symptoms and sexual satisfaction was mediated by relationship satisfaction.
Identifying and addressing ROCD symptoms may be important for treatment of sexual functioning. Doron G, Mizrahi M, Szepsenwol O, and Derby D. Right or flawed: Relationship obsessions and sexual satisfaction. J Sex Med 2014;11:2218‐2224.
Background: Subjective well-being and life satisfaction can help individuals achieve more success in their lives and enjoy better supportive social relationships and higher levels of physical and ...mental health. The present study aimed to determine the relationship of social maturity with sexual satisfaction, subjective well-being, and controlling behaviors through the mediating role of marital commitment in couples. Methods: The statistical population in this correlational cross-sectional study included all couples in Tehran City, Iran, in 2019, of which 370 people were selected as the sample using a multi-stage cluster sampling method. The research tools included Rao’s social maturity scale (RSMS), the Golombok-Rust inventory of sexual satisfaction (GRISS), the subjective well-being scale (SWS), the controlling behaviors scale (CBS), and the dimensions of commitment inventory (DCI). The obtained data were statistically analyzed by employing structural equation modeling (SEM) in SPSS software, version 23 and LISREL version 8.8. Results: The results showed a positive relationship between sexual satisfaction and social maturity as well as between subjective well-being and social maturity, both mediated by marital commitment (P<0.001). However, a negative relationship was observed between controlling behaviors and social maturity, mediated by marital commitment (P<0.001). Conclusion: Based on the results of the present study, the proposed model had a good fit. Therefore, considering the findings of this study helps researchers and therapists design more appropriate therapies.
To better understand sexual satisfaction in emerging adults, previous research has emphasized the importance of considering the role of developmental experiences, such as cumulative childhood trauma ...(CCT; the number of different forms of abuse and neglect sustained during childhood). However, the mechanisms by which CCT and sexual satisfaction are related remain unknown. Sex motives are suggested as an explanatory mechanism given the previously found associations between sex motives and both sexual satisfaction and CCT.
This study examined the direct associations between CCT and sexual satisfaction, as well as indirect associations through sex motives, in emerging adults.
A sample of 437 French Canadian emerging adults (76 % women, mean age of 2.3) were recruited.
Participants completed online self-reported validated questionnaires assessing CCT, sex motives and sexual satisfaction.
Results from a path analysis revealed that CCT was associated with a higher endorsement of the self-affirmation sex motive (β = 0.25, p < .001) which was linked to lower sexual satisfaction (β = −0.13, p < .001). CCT was also associated with a higher endorsement of the coping (β = 0.25, p < .001) and partner approval (β = 0.09, p < .05) sex motives. A higher endorsement of the intimacy (β = 0.28, p < .001) and pleasure (β = 0.24, p < .001) sex motives, and a lower endorsement of the partner approval sex motive (β = −0.13, p < .001) were linked to greater sexual satisfaction.
Results suggest education and intervention targets to improve emerging adults' sexuality.
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