Relationships and Sexual Satisfaction
In 2021, I presented my honours thesis to a male marker and when I opened my slide deck, his eyes almost fell out of his head. It was titled “Sexual Satisfaction across different relationship types”. Whilst his response was not overly comforting, it highlighted to me the importance of covering what is clearly such a taboo topic.
When looking at intimate relationships, research suggests that things like sexual assertiveness have a positive impact on sexual satisfaction. And because this research is usually done with heterosexual women in long-term relationships, I decided to investigate whether sexual assertiveness can still help improve sexual satisfaction for heterosexual women in casual sexual relationships.
So what do these terms actually mean?
🡪 Sexual Satisfaction = One’s personal experience of fulfilment, pleasure and contentment which comes from sexual activity and intimate connections
🡪 Sexual Assertiveness = Being able to talk about what you want sexually and start this with your partner
Why do we care?
To develop and maintain strong and intimate connections, we need to understand factors contributing to relationship satisfaction.
It is important to consider the different sexual exchanges occurring within society (whether this be in casual sexual encounters or long-term committed relationships).
Research on “the orgasm gap” shows that 39% women versus 91% men experience orgasms.
According to Sexual Script Theory, men are expected to be the “dominant initiators” and women are expected to be unassertive, passive, and compliant.
Social norms and expectations have impacted female sexual autonomy and therefore, their experiences of sexual satisfaction.
Take home messages:
Sexual assertiveness can enhance sexual pleasure and enjoyment, contributing to greater sexual satisfaction across various types of relationships.
Communication around sexual needs fosters mutual understanding & responsiveness which helps to increase relationship satisfaction.
Gender differences still exist with the sexual expectations of men and women, potentially changing the way women engage in sexual relationships.
This is a fascinating area of psychology which requires ongoing research to better understand human relationships.
So, for any readers whose eyes are also falling out of their head, ask yourself why you’re feeling this way… and for my fellow psychologists who have a special interest in the area, let’s talk about sex!
Written By: Deana Arbelaez - Clinical Psychologist Registrar