Browsing by Subject "Sexual satisfaction"

Now showing 1 - 7 of 7

Body esteem predicts sexual functioning and satisfaction for women reporting childhood sexual abuse
(2010-12) Khouri, Yasisca; Meston, Cindy M.; Telch, Michael Joseph
Research supports a link between poor body esteem, depression, and sexual dysfunction among childhood sexual abuse (CSA) survivors. Though the interplay of these factors also impacts nonabused women, it is possible that the impact is differentially affects these populations. The present study examined the degree to which body esteem may act as psychological mechanism through which CSA impacts adult sexuality, while controlling for the effects of depression – a problem that affects many abuse survivors. Data were collected from 108 women, 73 of who reported CSA. Women with CSA reported poorer body esteem, lower sexual functioning, less sexual satisfaction, and higher depression than women without CSA. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that body esteem significantly predicted sexual functioning and sexual satisfaction and there were significant interactions between body esteem and abuse history, and among body esteem and marital status. Depressive symptom severity was not a moderator in the relationship between body esteem and sexual functioning-satisfaction. These findings suggest that treatments for CSA survivors with sexual difficulties might benefit from addressing body esteem concerns.
Dimensions of couples’ sexual communication, relationship satisfaction, and sexual satisfaction : a meta-analysis
(2018-12) Mallory, Allen Burnell Sears; Russell, Stephen Thomas, 1966-; Russell, Stephen
This meta-analysis examined the associations between sexual communication and both relationship and sexual satisfaction. The meta-analysis included 83 studies with 183 unique effect sizes which represented 40,594 unique individuals. The random effects multi-level model evidenced a positive association between sexual communication and both relationship (r = .38) and sexual satisfaction (r = .42). The effect size for sexual satisfaction was significantly larger for compared to the effect size for relationship satisfaction. For sexual satisfaction, the quality of sexual communication (r = 48) was larger compared to both frequency (r =.34) and sexual self-disclosure (r =, .33). Relationship status remained a significant moderator after accounting for age, and relationship length; however, for relationship satisfaction mixed samples differed only from married samples and for sexual satisfaction, and mixed samples differed only from dating samples. In a subset of dyadic studies, accounting for both partners' sexual communication attenuated the effect sizes for the association between sexual communication and both relationship satisfaction and sexual satisfaction. Finally, a countries level of individualism moderated the association between sexual communication and sexual satisfaction. Results suggest that how sexual communication is measured, sample characteristics, and cultural factors have important implications for understanding the association between sexual communication and both relationship and sexual satisfaction
Do you still find me attractive? : partners’ daily perceptions of attractiveness across the transition to parenthood
(2023-12) Blickman, Rachel Sherak; Gleason, Marci Elizabeth Joy; Neff, Lisa Hassig
The transition to parenthood is often characterized by physical changes and altered sexual dynamics that can increase new parents’ insecurity regarding their own attractiveness. Drawing from theories of risk regulation, this insecurity may lead individuals to underestimate their partner’s attraction to them and become more attentive to daily changes in their partner’s regard. To investigate this possibility, the current study examined bias and accuracy in new parents’ perceptions of their partner’s daily attraction to them. Sixty-one couples completed 21-day daily diary tasks during pregnancy, immediately after childbirth, and again when their child was approximately four months old (i.e., up to 63 days of data). On average, parents did not exhibit significant bias in their perception of their partner’s attraction across the three phases. Further analyses examined whether bias and accuracy would be stronger for those experiencing (1) higher appearance insecurity, (2) lower sexual frequency, and (3) lower sexual satisfaction. Results indicated that, for both mothers and fathers, those who experienced higher appearance insecurity and lower sexual satisfaction were more likely to underestimate their partner’s level of attraction to them. These findings underscore the notion that fathers, as well as mothers, experience sensitivities that can impact how they perceive their partner’s attraction during this pivotal and often challenging life transition.
Efficacy of an exercise intervention for sexual side effects of antidepressant medications in women
(2013-08) Lorenz, Tierney Kyle Ahrold; Meston, Cindy M.
Antidepressants are associated with sexual side effects (Clayton, Keller, & McGarvey, 2006). Sexual side effects are associated with non-compliance or discontinuance of antidepressants (Werneke, Northey, & Bhugra, 2006). Despite this, there are few empirically supported treatments for antidepressant side effects. However, in laboratory studies, exercise immediately before sexual stimuli improved sexual arousal of women taking antidepressants (Lorenz & Meston, 2012). I evaluated if exercise improves sexual functioning in women experiencing antidepressant-induced sexual side effects. Fifty-two women reporting antidepressant sexual side effects were followed for 3 weeks of sexual activity only. They were randomized to complete either three weeks of exercise immediately before sexual activity (3x/week) or 3 weeks of exercise separate from sexual activity (3x/week). At the end of the first exercise arm, participants crossed to the other. I measured sexual functioning, sexual satisfaction, depression and physical health. Completers showed modest improvements in sexual functioning and satisfaction. For women taking selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, exercising immediately before sexual activity was superior to exercise in general. As well as known effects in improved physical and psychological health, exercise may help improve sexual health and pleasure in women taking antidepressants. These findings have important implications for public health, as exercise is accessible, cheap, and does not add to burden of care.
Emotional climate, sex, and satisfaction in marriage : does sex really matter?
(2006-12) Hartzell, Allyson Camille; Huston, Ted L.
This study examined sexual frequency, sexual satisfaction, and marital satisfaction in connection with the emotional climate within which it exists, using data from a 13-year longitudinal study about marriage. First, affection and negativity were used to predict sexual frequency. Second, affection, negativity and sexual frequency were used to predict spouses' sexual satisfaction. Third, sexual frequency and spouses' sexual satisfaction were used to predict marital satisfaction. A positive association was found between affection and sexual frequency, whereas no association was found between negativity and sexual frequency. Affection was found to be associated with higher sexual satisfaction for husbands in the early years of marriage and negativity was associated with lower sexual satisfaction for both spouses. An association was also found between one's own sexual satisfaction and marital satisfaction. No association was found between sexual frequency and marital satisfaction when the emotional climate was considered.
Factors affecting sexual function and sexual satisfaction among females with or without rectal cancer or gynecological cancer
(2011-12) Li, Chia-Chun; Rew, Lynn; Walker, Lorraine; Volker, Debbie; Whittaker, Tiffany; González-López, Gloria
This descriptive, comparative, correlational study explored the relationships among demographic characteristics, health histories, disease characteristics, body image, anxiety and depression, sexual relationship power, female sexual function, and sexual satisfaction; examined sexual self-schema as a moderator or mediator on female sexual function and sexual satisfaction; and compared the differences in female sexual function and sexual satisfaction between women with gynecological or rectal cancer and women without any cancer. Fifty-five females with gynecological or rectal cancer in the study group and 72 females without any cancer in the comparison group completed seven structured questionnaires. For females in the study group, a significant negative relationship existed between time since surgery and anxiety and depression, between the number of cancer treatments and female sexual function, and between performance status and anxiety and depression. In addition, a significant positive relationship existed between performance status and sexual relationship power and between the number of cancer treatments and sexual satisfaction. Further, body image was significantly related to anxiety and depression, sexual relationship power, sexual self-schema, and sexual satisfaction. The anxiety and depression factor was significantly linked with sexual relationship power, female sexual function, and sexual satisfaction. There was a significant negative relationship between sexual satisfaction and sexual relationship power and between sexual satisfaction and female sexual function. Also, females in the study group reported significantly worse sexual function and sexual satisfaction than females in the comparison group. A hierarchical multiple regression model accounted for 40% of the variance in female sexual function, and gynecological/rectal cancer, body image, and the interaction between sexual relationship power and sexual self-schema were three significant predictors. After controlling for gynecological/rectal cancer, body image, sexual relationship power, sexual self-schema, and the interaction term between sexual relationship power and sexual self-schema, female sexual function accounted for 17% of the variance in sexual satisfaction. In unsolicited comments, females in the study group described the changes in their sexual lives after surgery and treatments, emphasizing that sexual information should be provided promptly and effectively by health care providers. The study findings led to implications and recommendations for the conceptual framework, nursing practice, research, and education.
Preliminary evidence for a relationship between physiological synchrony and sexual satisfaction in opposite-sex couples
(2020-03-24) Freihart, Bridget Kathleen; Meston, Cindy M.
Over the past three decades, our understanding of physiological synchrony (PS) has increased substantially. Research has shown that interpersonal PS is stronger in relationships characterized by emotional closeness and intimacy and that the magnitude of PS is moderated by relational satisfaction. Despite growing momentum for this area of study, no research to date has examined the relationship between PS and sexual satisfaction. The current study seeks to elucidate the relevance of PS for satisfaction in sexual relationships using study tasks that have been used in previous research to assess physiological covariation. Heterosexual couples (N=28) were invited to a laboratory setting where they were connected to a three-lead electrocardiogram and instructed to complete baseline, gazing, and mirroring tasks. Subsequently, heart rate data for each dyad were analyzed for PS using a moderated multi-level modeling approach. Scores on the Sexual Satisfaction Scale were used to moderate dyadic coherence between male- and female- partner heart rate over time. PS was detected in our sample, with both men reliably predicting the heart rate of their female partners, and women reliably predicting the heart rate of their male partners. A significant interaction effect was found between observed PS during the mirroring task (with male HR predicting female HR) and overall sexual satisfaction scores. There was no relationship between PS during baseline or gazing and overall sexual satisfaction. Based on these results, we can conclude that the ability of couples to coregulate while attempting actively to synchronize (as in the mirroring task) may be connected to how they perceive and experience their sexual relationship. Conversely, more sexually satisfied couples may be more likely to synchronize physiologically. Taken together, these findings reflect the first evidence that PS and sexual satisfaction may be associated at the couple-level