A trifecta: patterns in orgasm consistency, relational satisfaction, and sexual satisfaction.

BACKGROUND: We based this study on the sexual wholeness model, which considers emotional, physical, and meaning elements of sexuality, and previous research that indicates variability in the associations among orgasm consistency, relational satisfaction, and sexual satisfaction. AIM: We performed a person-based latent class approach to examine variables linked with the trifecta of orgasm consistency, relational satisfaction, and sexual satisfaction. METHODS: We used a Mechanical Turk sample that consisted of 1645 sexually active participants (1032 women) to evaluate classes and related variables. OUTCOMES: Women divided into 5 classes and men into 3 classes. High orgasm consistency alone did not ensure sexual or relational satisfaction. RESULTS: We found that 5 groups emerged for women: high orgasm/low satisfaction (6%), low trifecta (8%), low orgasm/high satisfaction (16%), moderate orgasm/high satisfaction (15%), and high trifecta (55%). For men, 3 groups emerged: lower orgasm/high satisfaction (12%), moderate trifecta (14%), and high trifecta (74%). We also found that high orgasm consistency for women did not guarantee relational and sexual satisfaction, nor did lower orgasm consistency for men or women guarantee problematic relational and sexual satisfaction. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Communication, attachment, and sexual harmony were key elements associated with positive trifecta outcomes. Clinicians and educators may emphasize the importance of these variables when individuals encounter sexual or relational distress. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: Data analytic techniques revealed a variety of groups for men and women and associations between a host of physical, psychological, and meaning variables and the trifecta of orgasm consistency, relational satisfaction, and sexual satisfaction. However, this study is cross-sectional and correlational, which limits the conclusions that we can draw from it. CONCLUSION: While the variables of orgasm consistency, relational satisfaction, and sexual satisfaction are each informative, together they help clinicians, educators, and researchers better understand the complexity of sex.

Religiosity, Sexual Satisfaction, and Relationship Satisfaction: The Moderating Role of Sexual Mindfulness and Sexual Sanctification.

There are a variety of conditions under which religiosity may be positively or negatively associated with sexual and relationship satisfaction. To better understand these conditions, we conducted two studies using two separate samples: one with individuals (1,695 individuals), and one with couples (481 dyads), to test how sexual sanctification and sexual mindfulness moderate these associations. Across studies sexual mindfulness was positively associated with sexual and relationship satisfaction for the individual and partner, but there was no evidence for moderation; sexual sanctification was consistently associated with higher sexual and relationship satisfaction, and in some cases moderated the association between religiosity and both sexual and relationship satisfaction for women and men. In Study 1, religiosity was associated with lower sexual and relationship satisfaction for both men and women when sexual sanctification was low, but not with either type of satisfaction when sexual sanctification was high. In Study 2, religiosity was positively associated with sexual satisfaction for men but only when sexual sanctification was high. The combined evidence indicates that sexual sanctification may be one factor that distinguishes whether religion helps or hinders sexual and relationship satisfaction.

Meta-analytic evidence that attachment insecurity is associated with less frequent experiences of discrete positive emotions.

OBJECTIVE: Individual differences in attachment insecurity can have important implications for experiences of positive emotions. However, existing research on the link between attachment insecurity and positive emotional experiences has typically used a composite measure of positive emotions, overlooking the potential importance of differentiating discrete emotions. METHOD: We conducted a meta-analysis of 10 cross-sectional samples (N = 3215), examining how attachment insecurity is associated with self-reported frequency of experiencing positive emotions, with a distinction made between more social (i.e., love and gratitude) and less social (i.e., peace and awe or curiosity) positive emotions. RESULTS: High (vs. low) levels of both attachment anxiety and avoidance were associated with less frequent experience of positive emotions regardless of their social relevance. When analyzing each emotion separately, we found that attachment anxiety showed negative relations to all emotions except gratitude. Attachment avoidance was negatively associated with all emotions, and the link was even stronger with love (vs. peace, awe, or curiosity). Additional analyses of daily diary data revealed that attachment anxiety and avoidance were also negatively associated with daily experiences of positive emotions, regardless of social relevance. CONCLUSION: Our results underscore the need to further investigate the mechanisms underlying insecure individuals' blunted positive emotional experiences.

A Longitudinal Examination of Mothers' Early Postnatal Adaptation: Relative Stability Across the First Eight Weeks.

OBJECTIVE: Using person-centered analyses, this study examined the trajectories of women's early postnatal adaptation and explored whether there were differences in their trajectories based on women's status as a first-time or more experienced mother. METHODS: Data were collected from women (N = 137; Mage = 28.6 years, SD = 4.49; 48.2% first-time mothers) at 2-, 4-, 6-, and 8-weeks postpartum. At each wave of data collection, mothers reported on their parenting self-efficacy, parenting satisfaction, anxiety, parenting stress, and depressive feelings. RESULTS: The creation of an amalgamated measure of postnatal adaptation demonstrated acceptable fit. Latent class growth analysis revealed four distinct trajectories of postnatal adaptation; two revealed stability across the early postnatal period and two had relative stability except for a change between weeks four to six. Women's parity was not associated with differences in their trajectories. CONCLUSIONS FOR PRACTICE: These findings reiterate the importance of collecting data from women in the early postnatal period and identifying if a woman is struggling in those early weeks, as the women in our sample demonstrated relative stability in their postnatal adaptation across the first eight weeks. Furthermore, the findings suggest that work should be taken to dismantle the commonly held belief that parenting is "easier" after having already navigated the early postnatal period with an infant once before.

Associations Between Pornography Use and Sexual Dynamics Among Heterosexual Couples.

BACKGROUND: While links between pornography use and couple relational well-being have been the subject of multiple research studies, less attention has been paid to the associations between pornography use and specific sexual behavior within the relationship. AIM: This study aimed to explore associations between each partner's pornography use, sexual desire, sexual satisfaction, and intercourse/non-intercourse sexual behavior. The confounding and moderating role of religiosity was also explored. METHODS: A dyadic sample of 240 heterosexual couples was used. Measurement assessed pornography use, sexual desire, sexual satisfaction, and sexual behavior. OUTCOMES: Sexual satisfaction as well as intercourse and non-intercourse sexual behaviors were examined. RESULTS: Results suggested consistent gendered differences where female pornography use was directly associated with higher reports of female sexual desire, whereas male pornography use was directly associated with more male but less female partner desire and lower overall male sexual satisfaction. Male pornography use was also indirectly associated with sexual satisfaction for both partners and non-intercourse behaviors within the relationship through sexual desire. Overall, religiosity had little impact on the results of the study. CLINICAL TRANSLATION: The complex associations between pornography use, sexual desire, and sexual behaviors suggested by our results highlight the importance of comprehensive and systemic assessment and education around sexuality when working with individuals and couples. STRENGTHS & LIMITATIONS: The main strength of this study is the use of dyadic data. The main limitation is the cross-sectional nature of the data CONCLUSION: The associations between pornography use and a variety of outcomes are highly nuanced. This study provides an important step forward in more fully accounting for the complications of pornography use in a relationship. Willoughby BJ, Leonhardt ND, Augustus RA. Associations Between Pornography Use and Sexual Dynamics Among Heterosexual Couples. J Sex Med 2021;18:179-192.

When Is Enough Enough? Orgasm's Curvilinear Association With Relational and Sexual Satisfaction.

BACKGROUND: Curvilinearity has been found for sexual frequency, but research has not examined whether curvilinear associations exist for other aspects of sexual relationships like orgasm consistency. AIM: We examined whether there is curvilinearity and the nature of that curvilinearity between orgasm consistency and sexual and relational satisfaction for men and women. METHODS: With pooled samples of 1,619 and 1,695 men and women from Amazon's Mechanical Turk, we examined the differences of orgasm consistency values and both sexual satisfaction and relationship satisfaction through analysis of variance. We then tested for curvilinearity between orgasm consistency and sexual and relational satisfaction with regression analyses. OUTCOMES: For men we found no evidence of a curvilinear relationship, but for women we found a curvilinear relationship between orgasm consistency values and both sexual satisfaction and relationship satisfaction. RESULTS: Across tests, the overall picture suggests that there is no curvilinear association for men, but there is for women. For women, with each unit increase in orgasm consistency, the increase in sexual satisfaction and relationship satisfaction became progressively smaller. Past the 61-80% threshold for orgasm consistency, there was little gain in sexual satisfaction and no gain in relational satisfaction. CLINICAL TRANSLATION: Physicians, therapists, and educators can reorient women's orgasm expectations by explaining that having regular orgasms-not necessarily always-is associated with satisfaction in their relationship and sexual experience. STRENGTHS & LIMITATIONS: Converging large samples and data analytic techniques evinced the curvilinear association between orgasm consistency and both relational and sexual satisfaction for women. However, this study is cross-sectional and correlational, which limits the conclusions we can draw from it. CONCLUSION: While men's orgasm consistency is linearly associated with relational and sexual satisfaction, more consistent orgasms seem to be associated with women's sexual and relational satisfaction, to a point. Leavitt CE, Leonhardt ND, Busby DM, et al. When Is Enough Enough? Orgasm's Curvilinear Association With Relational and Sexual Satisfaction. J Sex Med 2021;18:167-178.

Associations Between Postpartum Depressive Symptoms and Couples' Sexual Function and Sexual Distress Trajectories Across the Transition to Parenthood.

BACKGROUND: The transition to parenthood is associated with changes to new parents' mood and sexual health. Sexual dysfunction-problems with sexual function accompanied by sexual distress (i.e., worries and concerns about one's sex life)-is linked to poorer overall health, yet few studies have examined how sexual dysfunction unfolds for couples during this transition. Postpartum depression is a risk factor for sexual dysfunction; however, the association between depressive symptoms and how postpartum sexual dysfunction evolves has not been examined. PURPOSE: To establish trajectories of sexual function and sexual distress for mothers and partners and to examine if postpartum depressive symptoms were associated with these trajectories. METHODS: Data were collected from 203 first-time parent couples from midpregnancy until 12-months postpartum. Sexual function and sexual distress were assessed at six time points (two prenatal) and depressive symptoms were assessed at 3-months postpartum. RESULTS: Dyadic latent piece-wise growth curve models revealed significant declines in mothers' and partners' sexual function between pregnancy and 3-months postpartum and significant improvements from 3- to 12-months postpartum. Mothers' sexual distress increased between pregnancy and 3-months postpartum and decreased thereafter, whereas partner's sexual distress remained stable. Depressive symptoms were associated with poorer sexual function and higher sexual distress at 3-months postpartum for both partners but did not predict change over time. CONCLUSIONS: Mothers and their partners experience changes to their sexual function during the transition to parenthood; however, mothers are at greater risk of sexual dysfunction. Depressive symptoms are a risk factor for poorer sexual health at 3-months postpartum for both parents.

One Line of Sexual Decline? Growth Mixture Modeling for Midlife Sexual Satisfaction.

Most research has shown that sexual satisfaction in long-term relationships tends to decline over time. Studies showing the average trajectory, however, are limited by only assessing one slope. With longitudinal data from the Flourishing Families Project, Marital Instability Dataset, and the Iowa Youth and Families Project, we utilized growth mixture modeling to assess what trajectories of sexual satisfaction exist in midlife marriages. In the three samples (one individual, two dyadic), we found clear evidence for heterogeneous sexual satisfaction trajectories, for both wives and husbands. Through the datasets, we found some trajectories did decline over time. We also found stably high, stably medium, stably low, and some trajectories that showed an increase in sexual satisfaction over time. Overall, trajectories were similar for wives and husbands, though some classes had one partner with variability while the other was stable, some classes had trajectories with wives having higher sexual satisfaction than husbands, and some classes had trajectories with husbands having higher sexual satisfaction than wives. Demographic variables were not strong distinguishers of these differing trajectories. Both marital satisfaction and perceived marital stability trajectories (based on sexual satisfaction classes) generally had similar patterns to sexual satisfaction trajectories, with a few exceptions. Both marital satisfaction and perceived marital stability were less likely to significantly change over time, have discrepancies between wives and husbands, and have either low marital satisfaction or high perceived marital instability, even if sexual satisfaction was low. These data can help couples recognize various possibilities for sexual satisfaction over time, perhaps helping them to avoid cultural myths of inevitably declining sexual satisfaction.

Pursuit of Harmony: Relational and Individual Predictors of Sexual Passion Expression.

Harmonious, obsessive, and inhibited sexual passion comprise the Triadic Model of Sexual Passion. Research has shown that together they play an important role in sexual and relationship satisfaction. Little is known, however, about the factors that predict the likelihood of having these types of passion expression. Using a Mechanical Turk sample of 1414 individuals, we estimated structural equation models to evaluate how relationship factors (i.e., relationship length, sexual desire, sexual drive) and individual factors (i.e., attachment style, childhood abuse, personality) predict the three constructs from the Triadic Model of Sexual Passion. In general, those with higher sexual desire, secure attachment, no childhood abuse, and low impulsivity and shyness were most likely to report optimal sexual passion (higher harmonious, lower inhibited, and lower obsessive sexual passion). By better understanding how these factors predict sexual passion expression, couples may have an increased likelihood of experiencing harmonious sexual passion in their sexual relationships.

An Organizational Framework for Sexual Media's Influence on Short-Term Versus Long-Term Sexual Quality.

Although research has suggested a net negative influence of sexual media on sexual quality, enough researchers have found results suggesting that sexual media has no effect or a positive influence that the matter warrants further investigation. We present an organizational framework utilizing primarily the acquisition, activation, application model (3AM), and the Antecedents-Context-Effects model (ACE) to reconcile these apparently contradictory claims. By synthesizing these theories, we suggest that to truly understand the impact of sexual media on sexual quality, four factors must be taken into account: (1) the content of the sexual media being viewed, (2) the difference between short-term and long-term sexual quality, (3) the influence of exclusivity, formativeness, resonance, and reinforcement in moderating the extent to which the portrayed sexual script is applied (influences attitudes and behavior), and (4) the couple context for congruency of use, script application, and moral paradigms. While acknowledging the many nuances that should be considered, we ultimately argue that when considering these factors simultaneously, the overall scripts presented in sexual media are congruent with pursuing factors for short-term sexual quality and incongruent with pursuing factors for long-term sexual quality.

Sexual Passion in Committed Relationships: Measurement and Conceptual Issues.

The purpose of this study is to discuss the need for a new triadic model of sexual passion in relationships and to present the preliminary psychometric properties of a scale designed to measure these three approaches to passion (harmonious, obsessive, and inhibited) for use in clinical and scholarly work. Existing theory and measures of general passion are based on a dualistic model of passion that includes the harmonious and obsessive approaches to passion. We added the inhibited approach to passion from the sexuality research and develop measures for assessing sexual passion in relationships. We utilized an Amazon Mechanical Turk sample of 1,421 individuals in committed relationships to test this measure. Reliability analyses and confirmatory factory analyses evinced that these three approaches to sexual passion were unique constructs and distinct from sexual satisfaction. Sexual passion showed predictive validity above and beyond relationship length, sexual desire toward a partner, and a broader variable of sexual drive. Harmonious sexual passion robustly predicted higher sexual satisfaction and relationship satisfaction, and inhibited sexual passion moderately predicted lower sexual satisfaction and relationship satisfaction. Obsessive sexual passion had minimal associations with either outcome. These new constructs, especially harmonious and inhibited sexual passion, may help scholars and practitioners improve their understanding of sexual satisfaction and overall relationship satisfaction.

El propósito de este artículo es debatir la necesidad de un nuevo modelo triádico de pasión sexual en las relaciones y presentar las propiedades psicométricas preliminares de una escala diseñada para medir estos tres enfoques de la pasión (armonioso, obsesivo e inhibido) a fin de usarlos en trabajos clínicos y académicos. La teoría y las escalas actuales de la pasión en general se basan en un modelo dualista de la pasión que incluye los enfoques armonioso y obsesivo de la pasión. Nosotros agregamos el enfoque inhibido de la pasión a partir de la investigación sobre sexualidad y desarrollamos escalas para evaluar la pasión sexual en las relaciones. Utilizamos una muestra de Amazon Mechanical Turk de 1421 personas en relaciones de pareja estables para probar esta escala. Los análisis de fiabilidad y los análisis factoriales confirmatorios demostraron que estos tres enfoques de la pasión sexual eran constructos únicos y diferentes de la satisfacción sexual. La pasión sexual demostró validez predictiva más allá de la duración de la relación, el deseo sexual hacia una pareja y una variable más amplia de impulso sexual. La pasión sexual armoniosa predijo sólidamente mayor satisfaccion sexual y satisfacción con la relación, la pasión sexual inhibida predijo moderadamente menor satisfacción sexual y satisfacción con la relación. La pasión sexual obsesiva tuvo asociaciones mínimas con ambos criterios. Estos nuevos constructos, especialmente la pasión sexual armoniosa y la inhibida, pueden ayudar a los investigadores y a los profesionales a mejorar su comprensión de la la satisfacción sexual y de la satisfacción con la relación en general.

The Significance of the Female Orgasm: A Nationally Representative, Dyadic Study of Newlyweds' Orgasm Experience.

BACKGROUND: Self-reported orgasm, perception of partner's orgasm, and misperception of partner's orgasm have each been correlated with individual sexual and relationship satisfaction, but these associations have rarely included dyadic data, have not fully accounted for potentially confounding variables such as sexual communication, and have never been simultaneously studied with a nationally representative sample. AIM: To provide a more complete picture of how the orgasmic experience within the heterosexual couple influences individual and partner sexual and relationship satisfaction. METHODS: Using a nationally representative dyadic sample of 1,683 newlywed heterosexual couples, a structural equation model was estimated to test associations between husband and wife self-reported orgasm frequency, husband and wife report of the other partner's orgasm frequency, and husband and wife misperception of their partner's orgasm frequency, as correlates of relationship and sexual satisfaction. OUTCOMES: Both husband and wife completed the Couples Satisfaction Index to assess their own relationship satisfaction, and completed a sexual satisfaction instrument designed for the CREATE study. RESULTS: 87% of husbands and 49% of wives reported consistently experiencing orgasm. 43% of husbands misperceived how often their wives experienced orgasm. The final structural equation model, including sexual communication, explained moderate amounts of variance in wives' and husbands' relationship satisfaction, and a high level of variance for wives' and husbands' sexual satisfaction. Wives' relationship satisfaction was positively associated with wives' and husbands' sexual communication. Wives' sexual satisfaction was positively associated with self-reported orgasm frequency, and both wives' and husbands' sexual communication. Husbands' relationship satisfaction was positively associated with husbands' and wives' sexual communication. Husbands' sexual satisfaction was positively associated with husbands' perception of wives' orgasm frequency, and both husbands' and wives' sexual communication. CLINICAL TRANSLATION: When counseling couples, clinicians should give particular attention to the wife's orgasm experiences, to potentially help both husbands and wives have higher sexual satisfaction. STRENGTHS & LIMITATIONS: Strengths of this study include the use of a nationally representative sample and dyadic data. Limitations include cross-sectional data, and the assessment of sexual experiences only in newlywed couples. CONCLUSION: Wives' orgasm (wives' self-report of frequency and husbands' perception of frequency) has a unique positive association with sexual satisfaction, even after taking into account other aspects of the orgasm experience and sexual communication. Leonhardt ND, Willoughby BJ, Busby DM, et al. The Significance of the Female Orgasm: A Nationally Representative, Dyadic Study of Newlyweds' Orgasm Experience. J Sex Med 2018;15:1140-1148.

Pornography Use and Loneliness: A Bidirectional Recursive Model and Pilot Investigation.

Sexuality is presumptively and observably a powerful core element of the human pair-bond relationship. Technological advances of the last half-century have made media a dominant cultural and developmental presence, including scripting sexual relationship attitudes and behavior. Theoretically and empirically, we examine loneliness as it relates to pornography use in terms of pornography's relational scripting and its addictive potential. Empirically, we examine the associative nature between pornography use and loneliness using a measurement model and two structural equation models where pornography use and loneliness are regressed on each other, respectively. Survey data were collected from a sample of 1,247 participants, who completed an online questionnaire containing questions on pornography use, the University of California-Los Angeles Loneliness Scale (UCLALS), and other demographic variables. Results from our analyses revealed significant and positive associations between pornography use and loneliness for all three models. Findings provide grounds for possible future bidirectional, recursive modeling of the relation between pornography use and loneliness.

Learning About Love: A Meta-Analytic Study of Individually-Oriented Relationship Education Programs for Adolescents and Emerging Adults.

Despite recent policy initiatives and substantial federal funding of individually oriented relationship education programs for youth, there have been no meta-analytic reviews of this growing field. This meta-analytic study draws on 17 control-group studies and 13 one-group/pre-post studies to evaluate the effectiveness of relationship education programs on adolescents' and emerging adults' relationship knowledge, attitudes, and skills. Overall, control-group studies produced a medium effect (d = .36); one-group/pre-post studies also produced a medium effect (d = .47). However, the lack of studies with long-term follow-ups of relationship behaviors in the young adult years is a serious weakness in the field, limiting what we can say about the value of these programs for helping youth achieve their aspirations for healthy romantic relationships and stable marriages.

Is the association of sexual quality with relationship satisfaction really stronger when the sexual relationship is functioning poorly?

The purpose of this article is to bring empirical evidence to the oft-quoted assumption that sexual quality has a stronger association with the overall relationship when sexuality is dysfunctional as compared to when it is optimal. Using three national samples to analyze a structural equation model, the results verified this assumption with some adaptations. There was an interaction between the association of sexual quality and the overall relationship depending on how sexually satisfied couples were in the sexuality area. However, it was when sexuality was only moderately satisfying rather than at high or low levels that it had the strongest associations with relationship satisfaction. Also, female sexual quality had a significant association with both partner's relationship satisfaction whereas male's sexual quality only had actor effects. Additionally, the sexual relationship had a stronger association with relationship satisfaction and dissatisfaction for couples who reported both low levels of sexual satisfaction and dissatisfaction.

Orgasm Consistency in Mixed-Gender Couples: Actor, Partner, and Discrepancy Effects from Dyadic Response Surface Analysis.

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.

Turning toward or away from God: COVID-19 and changes in religious devotion.

Major stressors can influence religiosity, making some people more religious, while making others less religious. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we conducted a mixed-method study with a nationally representative sample of religiously affiliated American adults (N = 685) to assess group differences between those who decreased, stayed the same, or increased in their religious devotion. In quantitative analyses we evaluated differences on sociodemographic variables, religious behaviors, individual differences, prosocial emotions, well-being, and COVID-19 attitudes and behaviors. Of most note, those who changed (i.e., increased or decreased) in religious devotion were more likely than those with no change in devotion to experience high levels of stress and threat related to COVID-19, but only those who increased in religious devotion had the highest dispositional prosocial emotions (i.e., gratitude and awe). Further, those who changed in religious devotion were more likely to report searching for meaning than those with no change, but only those who increased were more likely to report actual presence of meaning. Qualitative analyses revealed that those who increased in religious devotion reported increasing personal worship, the need for a higher power, and uncertainty in life as reasons for their increase in religious devotion; those who decreased reported being unable to communally worship, a lack of commitment or priority, and challenges making it hard to believe in God as reasons for their decrease in religious devotion. The findings help identify how COVID-19 has affected religious devotion, and how religion might be used as a coping mechanism during a major life stressor.

Shared Hearts and Minds: Physiological Synchrony During Empathy.

Empathy is a multidimensional construct that includes changes in cognitive, affective, and physiological processes. However, the physiological processes that contribute to empathic responding have received far less empirical attention. Here, we investigated whether physiological synchrony emerged during an empathy-inducing activity in which individuals disclosed a time of suffering while their romantic partner listened and responded (N = 111 couples). Further, we examined the extent to which trait and state measures of cognitive and affective empathy were associated with each other and with physiological synchrony during this activity. We found evidence for physiological synchrony in skin conductance reactivity and also in interbeat interval reactivity, though only when disclosers were women, but not for respiratory sinus arrhythmia reactivity. Physiological synchrony was not consistently associated with other well-established trait and state measures of empathy. These findings identify the nuanced role of physiological synchrony in empathic responding to others' suffering. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42761-023-00210-4.

Putting the Dyad into the Sexual Response Discussion: A Latent Class Analysis Using Ratings of Self and Partner.

In this study we explored the sexual response process in couple relationships. With a U.S. sample of 383 mixed-sex couples we found seven different classes of couple sexual response using Dyadic Latent Class Growth Analysis for ratings of self and partner about their most recent sexual experience. These classes ranged from synchronous High Arousal (31.6%) and Medium Arousal (27.7%) groups, to a few classes where one partner had a quick arousal process and the other partner had very low levels of arousal. Couples in these classes were differentiated on their levels of accuracy in understanding what their partner was experiencing, as one class had couples where men experienced higher arousal than women in the first part of the experience, but the male partner was aware of the discrepancy (Equifinality, 6.8%, i.e. couples start at different levels of arousal but end up at the same place), and another where men experienced higher arousal than women throughout the experience, but men inaccurately thought their partner also experienced higher arousal (Inaccurate Split, 7.3%). The seven classes had significantly different values on variables measuring the quality of the specific sexual experience. These classes also significantly differed on a variety of measures assessing the overall sexual relationship and the relationship as a whole. These findings counter the argument that the sexual response cycle is uniform for most couples.