The Association Between Sexual Initiation and Membership in Dyadic Profiles of Perceived Shared Power.

There is scarce empirical evidence examining whether sexual initiation and power are associated with each other. Utilizing latent profile analyses, we examined in a nationally representative sample of US newlywed heterosexual couples (N = 1,948 couples) whether wives' and husbands' sexual initiation patterns and satisfaction with these patterns were associated with membership in different profiles of wives' and husbands' perceptions of shared relational power while accounting for both partner's satisfaction with sexual frequency. We found four profiles of wives' and husbands' perceptions of power. The most common profile was when both wives and husbands perceived high levels of power compared to other profiles, but wives had significantly higher reports of perceived power than husbands (High Power, Wife Higher; 40.8%). Husbands' sexual initiation patterns were not associated with profile membership. Wives who reported equal sexual initiation patterns had a higher probability of being in the High Power, Wife Higher profile compared to the Wife Low Power, Husband Moderate Power profile. Both wives' and husbands' satisfaction with sexual initiation patterns were associated with profile membership. Wives and husbands that were satisfied with sexual initiation patterns had a higher probability of being in the High Power, Wife Higher profile compared to the profile where both wives and husbands had high perceptions of shared relational power compared to other profiles, but their scores were not significantly different from each other (High Power, Equal).

Sexual beliefs in couple relationships: Exploring the pathways of mindfulness, communication, and sexual functioning on sexual passion and satisfaction.

Two types of sexual beliefs, growth and destiny, have been found in past research to be differentially associated with sexual and relationship outcomes; however, past research has not explored these beliefs with dyadic data nor considered common intervening variables that might be pathways through which beliefs influence outcomes. Consequently, using the sexual wholeness model, we analyzed how couples' specific sexual beliefs (growth and destiny) influenced their sexual mindfulness, communication, and functioning within their couple relationships and how each of these variables influenced sexual satisfaction and harmonious sexual passion. Using a national sample of dyadic data from 964 sexually active individuals (482 heterosexual couples) who had been in a committed relationship for at least 2 years, we evaluated an actor/partner structural equation model with distinguishable dyads. We found that while sexual growth and destiny beliefs had a significant association with sexual mindfulness, communication, and functioning for both partners, sexual beliefs had no direct association with sexual satisfaction and harmonious sexual passion. Because growth beliefs had strong associations with sexual communication, it may be beneficial to help couples identify their implicit beliefs and encourage the development of sexual growth beliefs.

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.

The Need for Sexual Wholeness: Linking Self-Determination Theory to the Physical, Emotional, and Meaning Aspects of Sex.

Sexuality is a highly complex aspect of a human's existence with several elements contributing to a quality sexual relationship. This study examined a broad scope of sexuality encompassing physical, emotional, and meaning aspects of sex, or sexual wholeness. Sexual wholeness is grounded in the idea that a self-determined sexual relationship in which three innate human needs (autonomy, competence, and relatedness) are met is more likely to promote sexual well-being. Using a sample of 884 adults in long-term relationships, we used structural equation modeling to estimate the association between each of the three self-determination theory (SDT) needs and the physical, emotional, and meaning aspects of sex. We found that overall, greater SDT needs satisfaction predicted sexual wholeness, though some needs held more bearing than others and the associations with components of sexual wholeness varied. For women, the physical aspect of sex was predicted by autonomy (predicted comfort) and competence (predicted sexual knowledge) but for the physical aspects of sex for men, no significant associations were found. The emotional aspect of sex was associated with all three SDT needs for both men and women and sexual meaning was associated with competence and relatedness for both men and women.

Religious Piety and Sexual Passion: What Is the Connection?

The association between religiosity and the construct of sexual passion was examined to see whether religiosity is associated with harmonious, inhibited, and obsessive sexual passion styles. Using multiple regression and checking for interactions between religiosity, gender, broad categories of religion (Catholic, other Christian, other religious, nonreligious), and the three sexual passion styles, the following associations were found: Religiosity had a significant curvilinear relationship to all three sexual passion styles, suggesting an overlap in levels of religiosity and the construct of sexual passion. Optimal sexual passion outcomes were found at both higher and lower levels of religiosity, whereas mid-level religiosity was associated with the less beneficial sexual passion outcomes. Religious men were significantly more obsessively passionate than religious women, and religious men and women were similarly high on levels of harmonious and low on inhibited sexual passion. There were no significant interactions between religiosity, broad categories of religion, and sexual passion styles. Understanding how religion and sexual passion are associated could be useful for applied researchers as well as those who work with religious individuals who want to help these individuals develop beneficial patterns of sexual passion.

Is Kissing a Bellwether of Sexual and Relationship Satisfaction and Dissatisfaction?

In this study we explored how the amount of kissing during the most recent sexual experience (specific kissing) and amount of kissing during the last year (global kissing) were both associated with the quality of the sexual relationship and overall relationship satisfaction and dissatisfaction. To understand these associations, we obtained surveys from a national sample of 878 participants who had been in a romantic relationship for at least two years. We evaluated their results through a structural equation model and found that for women the rates of specific kissing were associated with their ability to orgasm, sexual frequency, and indirectly to sexual satisfaction. For both men and women, measures of global kissing were associated with both sexual and relationship satisfaction but more strongly with measures of sexual and relationship dissatisfaction. These findings suggest that measures of kissing could be used as a bellwether of both the quality of the sexual relationship for women and of feelings of dissatisfaction about both the sexual and overall relationship for both sexes.

Longitudinal anxiety in couples during a global pandemic: Considering loss, attachment behaviors, and trauma coping self-efficacy.

The COVID-19 (SARS-COV-2) pandemic has had a significant impact on multiple domains of daily functioning in communities, families, and couples. Research on couple dynamics amid mass stress events using dyadic data is still limited. As such, the current study employed a cross-lagged panel design with 535 cisgender, heterosexual couples to explore longitudinal paths between pandemic-related loss, attachment behaviors, trauma coping self-efficacy, and anxiety symptoms. Data were collected at three time points between April and October 2020. The findings demonstrated the potentially mobilizing nature of loss. Higher levels of loss associated with higher levels of attachment behaviors in partners later and higher levels of trauma coping self-efficacy for men in a partner effect at one lag. Higher levels of attachment behaviors generally associated with improved trauma coping self-efficacy at the next wave within and across partners, and higher levels of trauma coping self-efficacy appeared to offset later anxiety within partners. On the other hand, within partners, greater loss is associated with lower levels of attachment behaviors within partners across time. Furthermore, higher anxiety is associated with lower levels of TCSE and higher levels of loss within partners across most lags. Finally, higher trauma coping self-efficacy is associated with less loss within men at one lag, and greater loss within men at the later lag, which may demonstrate stress and efforts to mobilize to meet it. Indirect effects were found implying the intermediary nature of anxiety and trauma coping self-efficacy in explaining wave 3 anxiety. Implications for practice and further research are discussed.

La pandemia de la COVID-19 (SARS-COV-2) ha tenido un efecto significativo en varios aspectos del funcionamiento diario de las comunidades, las familias y las parejas. Las investigaciones sobre la dinámica de pareja en medio de situaciones de estrés masivo usando datos diádicos aún son escasas. Por lo tanto, en el presente estudio se utilizó un diseño de panel de retardo cruzado con 535 parejas cisgénero heterosexuales a fin de analizar las pautas longitudinales entre la pérdida, las conductas de apego, la autoeficacia para afrontar el trauma y los síntomas de ansiedad relacionados con la pandemia. Se recogieron datos en tres intervalos de tiempo entre abril y octubre de 2020. Los resultados demostraron la índole posiblemente movilizadora de la pérdida. Los niveles más altos de pérdida se asociaron con niveles más altos de conductas de apego en las parejas posteriormente, y con niveles más altos de autoeficacia para afrontar el trauma en los hombres en un efecto de la pareja durante un periodo. Los niveles más altos de conductas de apego se asociaron generalmente con una mejor autoeficacia para afrontar el trauma en la fase siguiente dentro y entre los integrantes de la pareja, y los niveles más altos de autoeficacia para afrontar el trauma parecieron compensar la ansiedad posterior dentro de los integrantes de la pareja. Por el otro lado, dentro de los integrantes de la pareja, una mayor pérdida se asoció con niveles más bajos de conductas de apego dentro de los integrantes de la pareja a lo largo del tiempo. Además, los niveles más altos de ansiedad se asociaron con niveles más bajos de autoeficacia para afrontar el trauma y con niveles más altos de pérdida dentro de los integrantes de la pareja durante la mayoría de los periodos. Finalmente, los niveles más altos de autoeficacia para afrontar el trauma se asociaron con una menor pérdida dentro de los hombres en un periodo, y con una mayor pérdida dentro de los hombres en el periodo posterior, lo cual puede demostrar estrés y esfuerzos para movilizarse y ocuparse. Se hallaron efectos indirectos, los cuales indicaron la índole intermediaria de la ansiedad y la autoeficacia para afrontar el trauma a la hora de explicar la ansiedad de la tercera fase. Se comentan las consecuencias para la práctica y las investigaciones futuras.

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.

Linking Sexual Mindfulness to Mixed-Sex Couples' Relational Flourishing, Sexual Harmony, and Orgasm.

Marriage is an important adult relationship, and recent research indicates that sexual mindfulness, awareness and non-judgment, may be an important tool in helping maintain relational and sexual well-being. Using a nationally representative U.S. sample of newly married, mixed-sex couples (women's age M = 29.70 years; men's age M = 31.76 years; N = 1473 couples), we evaluated whether the two factors of sexual mindfulness, awareness and non-judgment, were linked with relational flourishing, sexual harmony, and orgasm consistency. We utilized an actor-partner interdependence model within a structural equation modeling framework to evaluate how husbands' and wives' awareness and non-judgment were associated with relational flourishing, sexual harmony, and orgasm consistency. Results indicated that both wives' and husbands' awareness was positively associated with relational flourishing, sexual harmony, and orgasm consistency. Partner effects were found for all outcomes. However, no partner effects were found between non-judgment and orgasm consistency. Therapists, educators, and couples may consider the use of sexual mindfulness skills when addressing marriage and sexual relationships.

Missing Piece of the Puzzle: Evaluating a General Meaning of Sex Measure.

The presence of and search for meaning has divergent and salient outcomes for individuals' physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Although numerous domains of meaning have been examined, the literature on the meaning of sex is sparse and lacks a quantitative measure. In this study, we evaluated a new general Meaning of Sex (MOS) Measure that captured the presence of (MOS-P) and search for (MOS-S) the meaning of sex by analyzing how these subscales were associated with important relational and sexual outcomes (i.e., relationship stability and satisfaction and sexual satisfaction) in two samples. For Sample 1, all participants (N = 865) reported engaging in what they considered to be sexual intercourse and were either single or in a relationship. For Sample 2, all participants (N = 884) reported being in a committed relationship for at least two years. With both samples, confirmatory factor analyses showed good construct validity as the two subscales were distinct from one another and had good reliability. The analyses also demonstrated divergent validity between both scales and meaning in life, sexual motivations, sexual beliefs, and religiosity. The MOS-S had a strong (and negative) association with relationship stability in both samples. The MOS-P had a strong (and positive) association with relationship satisfaction in both samples.

La presencia y la búsqueda de significado tiene consecuencias divergentes y prominentes para el bienestar físico, mental y emocional de las personas. Aunque se han analizado varios componentes de significado, la bibliografía sobre el significado del sexo es escasa y carece de un instrumento de medición cuantitativo. En este estudio, evaluamos un nuevo instrumento general de medición del significado del sexo que captó la presencia y la búsqueda del significado del sexo analizando cómo estas subescalas estuvieron asociadas con resultados sexuales y relacionales importantes (p. ej.: la estabilidad y la satisfacción en la relación y la satisfacción sexual) en dos muestras. En la muestra 1, todos los participantes (N = 865) informaron participar en lo que consideraron relaciones sexuales y estaban solteros o en una relación. En la muestra 2, todos los participantes (N = 884) informaron estar en una relación de pareja estable durante al menos dos años. Con ambas muestras, los análisis factoriales confirmatorios indicaron una buena validez de constructo, ya que las dos subescalas eran distintas entre sí y tenían buena fiabilidad. Los análisis también indicaron una validez divergente entre ambas escalas y el significado en la vida, las motivaciones sexuales, las creencias sexuales y la religiosidad. La búsqueda del significado del sexo tuvo una asociación fuerte (y negativa) con la estabilidad de la relación en ambas muestras. La presencia del significado del sexo tuvo una asociación fuerte (y positiva) con la satisfacción en la relación en ambas muestras.

Measuring the Multidimensional Construct of Pornography: A Long and Short Version of the Pornography Usage Measure.

With the increase in the availability and usage of pornography, the research on the effects of pornography has also increased. This research has uncovered several controversies in the field regarding how pornography usage influences attitudes, sexual behaviors, and relationships. However, many of the measures of pornography are problematic as there is often little reliability and validity information for them and it is not clear that participants in these research studies are referring to the same types of materials when they answer pornography usage questions. Consequently, many of the research findings are suspect and it is crucial to develop reliable and valid scales to measure general pornography usage. In this study, we present both a 20-item and a 7-item version of the Pornography Usage Measure (PUM) that is based on extensive previous research on what types of materials individuals consider pornographic and that indicates pornography is a multidimensional construct. We evaluated the reliability and validity of both versions by using an MTurk sample of 934 males and 705 females (N =1639 total) to conduct confirmatory factor analyses, item response analyses, and structural equation model analyses. These analyses demonstrated that there were adequate reliability and early evidence for content, construct, concurrent, and predictive validity for both versions of the PUM. This measure could improve the quality of future research on pornography by providing more consistency between different studies about what is being measured when individuals indicate their pornography usage patterns.

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.

Associations of mindfulness with adolescent outcomes and sexuality.

INTRODUCTION: Using an online survey, we evaluated how adolescent trait and state mindfulness was associated with positive adolescent outcomes in non-sexually active and sexually active adolescents. Additionally, we evaluated a newly developed measure, the Sexual Mindfulness Measure (SMM), with adolescents. METHODS: We asked 2000 U.S. adolescents (half boys/girls; 1/3 low, medium, and high incomes) aged 13-18 (one group 13-15, another 16-18) about trait mindfulness, sexual state mindfulness, and adolescent outcomes. Using Confirmatory Factor Analysis and structured equation modeling, we evaluated the reliability and validity of the SMM and its associations with adolescent outcomes. RESULTS: Using a trait mindfulness measure, we found that mindful adolescents with no sexual experience, showed positive associations with self-efficacy, body-esteem, and disclosure with both fathers and mothers. Evaluating adolescents who were sexually active, we confirmed that the SMM had a two-factor structure and demonstrated acceptable reliability for both male and female adolescents. We found that the SMM was associated with positive sexual attitudes, body image, self-efficacy, and disclosure to parents above and beyond trait mindfulness. CONCLUSIONS: Trait mindfulness was associated with positive self-assessments and parental disclosure. The SMM provided an important assessment of how sexually active adolescents' ability to remain aware and non-judgmental during sexual experiences may be positively associated with outcomes such as sexual consent, positive body image, self-efficacy, disclosure to parents, and negatively associated with sexual shame and sexual anxiety above and beyond trait mindfulness.

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.

Evaluating the Dimensionality of Pornography.

Pornography may be a construct with a single trait or one with many traits. Research in the past was inconsistent in this regard with most researchers assuming that pornography was unidimensional (with one single trait of pornography). However, the considerable amounts of residual variation found in these studies beyond that explained by the single trait hints at what might be a multidimensional construct (with multiple traits such as sensitization and differentiation). Consequently, in this study, we intended to address the question of whether pornography consisted of a single trait or if it was multidimensional. Using MTurk, 2173 participants from the United States and the Commonwealth of Nations (in which pornography is not strictly illegal) were recruited and asked to rate how pornographic they thought a list of different depictions were. The data were analyzed utilizing the cross-validation procedure in which two subsamples were created from the main sample and one was used to establish the model building and the other to validate the model. Various models, including first-order and higher-order exploratory and confirmatory factor models, were tested. Results indicated that a bi-factor (multidimensional) model generated the best model fit, and that it was most appropriate to consider pornography multidimensional. The final model contained two dimensions ("Sensitization" and "Differentiation"). While sensitization revealed the participants' general tendency to rate all items to be more or less pornographic, differentiation revealed the participants' tendency to differentiate highly pornographic items from less pornographic items. Based on the findings of this study, we suggest that future research on the usage and effects of pornography be conducted while taking into consideration the multidimensional nature of pornography.

A Common-Fate Analysis of Pornography Acceptance, Use, and Sexual Satisfaction Among Heterosexual Married Couples.

Using matched, heterosexual couple data from the Relationship Evaluation Questionnaire (RELATE; n = 326 couples), an adapted common-fate approach was used to examine both common and unique attributes of husbands' and wives' acceptance of pornography and sexual satisfaction as well as husbands' and wives' pornography use. It was expected that spouses' unique as well as shared variance of pornography acceptance would be significantly associated with husbands' and wives' levels of personal pornography use and that these use patterns would be significantly associated with husbands' and wives' unique as well as shared variance of sexual satisfaction. It was also expected that pornography use would significantly mediate the relationship between pornography acceptance and sexual satisfaction. Results indicated that the shared variance of pornography acceptance was positively associated with both spouses' pornography use and that spouses' pornography use was negatively associated with their own sexual satisfaction. Wives' pornography use was found to be positively associated with the couple's shared variance of sexual satisfaction, but pornography use did not significantly mediate the relationship between pornography acceptance and sexual satisfaction. These findings emphasize the complexity of pornography use in couple relationships and the importance of studying pornography acceptance and use as a coupling dynamic within marriages rather than just an individual behavior.

Differences in Pornography Use Among Couples: Associations with Satisfaction, Stability, and Relationship Processes.

The present study utilized a sample of 1755 adult couples in heterosexual romantic relationships to examine how different patterns of pornography use between romantic partners may be associated with relationship outcomes. While pornography use has been generally associated with some negative and some positive couple outcomes, no study has yet explored how differences between partners may uniquely be associated with relationship well-being. Results suggested that greater discrepancies between partners in pornography use were related to less relationship satisfaction, less stability, less positive communication, and more relational aggression. Mediation analyses suggested that greater pornography use discrepancies were primarily associated with elevated levels of male relational aggression, lower female sexual desire, and less positive communication for both partners which then predicted lower relational satisfaction and stability for both partners. Results generally suggest that discrepancies in pornography use at the couple level are related to negative couple outcomes. Specifically, pornography differences may alter specific couple interaction processes which, in turn, may influence relationship satisfaction and stability. Implications for scholars and clinicians interested in how pornography use is associated with couple process are discussed.

Exploring the effects of sexual desire discrepancy among married couples.

Previous studies have found associations between the individual discrepancy of desired sexual frequency and actual sexual frequency and relational outcomes among premarital couples. The present study extended this research by using a sample of 1,054 married couples to explore how actor and partner individual sexual desire discrepancy (SDD) scores were associated with relationship satisfaction, stability, communication, and conflict during marriage. All participants took an online survey which assessed both couple sexual dynamics and relationship outcomes. Findings suggested that higher actor individual SDD was generally associated with negative relational outcomes, including lower reported relationship satisfaction, stability, and more reported couple conflict. These effects were found after controlling for background factors, baseline sexual frequency and desire, and couple desire discrepancies. Some partner effects were also found and were generally in the same direction. Marital length did not moderate the effects found although gender moderated associations between individual SDD and reported couple communication. Negative associations between individual SDD and communication were particularly strong when the husband reported high discrepancies between desired and actual sexual frequency. Results suggested that higher individual sexual desire discrepancies among married individuals may undermine relationship well-being. Applications of these findings to a clinical setting are also discussed.

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.