Motivation When Desire Is Low: Associations Between Sexual Motivation and Sexual Intimacy, Sexual Satisfaction, and Sexual Distress for Men with Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder and Their Partners.

Hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in men, characterized by chronically low sexual desire, is associated with poor sexual well-being, such as lower sexual satisfaction and higher sexual distress. Additionally, despite their low desire, men with HSDD often report wanting sexual intimacy and validation within their sexual lives/relationships. Studies that apply self-determination theory to sexual relationships demonstrate that adopting more autonomous (e.g., engaging in sex for its inherent pleasure) and less controlled (e.g., engaging in sex for some external reward or consequence) motives for engaging in sex is associated with greater sexual well-being for both members of the couple. Given that autonomous motivation in relationships is associated with intimacy and sexual satisfaction, and lower sexual distress, having sex for autonomous reasons may allow men with HSDD and their partners to feel more sexually intimate despite their lower sexual desire, whereas having sex for controlled reasons may hinder sexual intimacy and satisfaction and augment sexual distress. In this dyadic cross-sectional study, we examined the associations between types of sexual motivation and sexual intimacy, sexual satisfaction, and sexual distress for men with HSDD and their partners (n = 64 couples). Men with HSDD who reported having sex for more autonomous reasons reported more sexual satisfaction and both partners reported more sexual intimacy. Men with HSDD who had sex for more controlled reasons had partners who felt less sexual intimacy and satisfaction, and both partners were more sexually distressed. Promoting autonomous sexual motivation and decreasing controlled motivation may help couples navigating HSDD to feel closer in their relationship, more sexually satisfied, and less sexually distressed.

Self-Determined Sexual Motivation in Persons with Endometriosis and Their Partners: Dyadic Associations of Autonomous and Controlled Sexual Motivations with Sexual and Relational Well-Being and Pain.

Endometriosis is a chronic pain condition characterized by the growth of endometrial-like tissue outside of the uterus. Affected individuals and their partners report consequences to sexual functioning, sexual satisfaction, and relationship quality. Previous studies in clinical and non-clinical samples have found that sexual motivation can support or detract from sexual functioning; however, similar investigations are lacking among couples with endometriosis. Informed by self-determination theory, associations between autonomous and controlled sexual motivations with sexual functioning, sexual satisfaction, and relationship satisfaction for persons with endometriosis and their partners, and pain in persons with endometriosis were investigated. Couples (n = 54) completed measures of sexual motivation, sexual functioning, sexual satisfaction, relationship satisfaction, and pain. When persons with endometriosis reported greater autonomous sexual motivation, they were more sexually and relationally satisfied. When persons with endometriosis reported higher controlled sexual motivation, their pain was more unpleasant, and they and their partners were less sexually satisfied. Finally, when partners reported greater controlled sexual motivation, both members of the couple reported significantly lower sexual functioning. While controlled sexual motivation may hinder sexual and relational well-being in couples with endometriosis, autonomous sexual motivation may support them. The findings may inform interventions to promote sexual and relational health in couples with endometriosis.

Regulate and Communicate: Associations between Emotion Regulation and Sexual Communication among Men with Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder and their Partners.

Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD) is characterized by a persistent and distressing lack of sexual desire. Affected men report lower sexual well-being and romantic partners may also experience consequences. According to the Interpersonal Emotion Regulation Model of sexual dysfunction, how couples manage their emotions in relation to sexual problems may promote or hinder sexual communication. In the first dyadic study to date of men with HSDD and their partners (n = 64 couples), we investigated associations between two emotion regulation strategies - reappraisal and suppression - and couples' communication about their sexual relationship. Participants completed measures assessing use of reappraisal and suppression about their sexual relationship, sexual communication, and sexual assertiveness. Men with HSDD who reported greater suppression also reported lower sexual assertiveness and both partners reported poorer sexual communication. Partners of men with HSDD who used greater suppression were less sexually assertive. In contrast, while reappraisal was only marginally associated with perceived quality of sexual communication, men with HSDD who employed more reappraisal were also more sexually assertive. While suppression may hinder sexual communication, reappraisal may allow men with HSDD to better assert their sexual needs. Findings may inform interventions to help couples navigate impactful emotional experiences associated with HSDD.