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The specific importance of communicating about sex to couples’ sexual and overall relationship satisfaction
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This study examined the impact of general and sexual communication on couples’ overall and sexual satisfaction. Data were collected from 116 heterosexual, monogamous couples in relationships of at least three months’ duration. Open sexual communication accounted for unique variance in both sexual and overall relationship satisfaction; general communication effectiveness did so only for overall satisfaction. The relationship between open sexual communication and overall satisfaction was stronger for males, and the relationship between open sexual communication and sexual satisfaction was stronger for couples who had been together longer. The three-way interaction of open sexual communication, relationship length, and gender significantly predicted overall relationship satisfaction but not sexual satisfaction. Sexual satisfaction mediated the relationship between open sexual communication and overall satisfaction.
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... and with relationship satisfaction (r = .51) [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]. These findings implicate that one path towards sexual enlightenment and fulfillment is sexual communication. ...
... The present study was performed to analyze the relationship between sexual communication and sexual satisfaction and to examine how schoolbased sex education does or may enhance sexual communication. The present data confirm previous research findings that sexual communication does contribute significantly to sexual satisfaction [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]. Cohen's [32] widely accepted recommendation is that correlation coefficients of .5 should be interpreted as large. ...
Introduction: Previous research demonstrated that sexual communication is positively intertwined with sexual satisfaction. The aim of this study was to identify the specific elements (‘sexual languages’, nonverbal behavior, post-sex communication, self-disclosure of sexual fantasies, negotiation of safe sex practices) that contribute to sexual satisfaction, and to derive implications for school-based sex education. Methodology: A mixed-methods approach was applied based on a questionnaire with open-ended items and two scales measuring sexual communication and sexual satisfaction. A convenience sample of 52 students (16 men, 36 women) recruited from Ludwigsburg University of Education was used. Qualitative content analysis was utilized to analyze qualitative data. Group comparisons and Spearman’s rank-order correlation test were performed to analyze quantitative data. Results: Nearly all participants perceived their sexual satisfaction as high, while they rated their sexual communication as mediocre to high. Sexual communication correlated strongly (ρ = 0.51, P < .001) with overall sexual satisfaction. Respondents’ sexual satisfaction did not depend on whether their sexual communication was verbal or non-verbal. Participants with undisclosed sexual fantasies (which they would love to turn into reality) had lower sexual satisfaction rates. Around a quarter of participants described concrete teaching methods to facilitate communication skills in school-based sex education. Discussion: The present results confirm, in line with previous research, that sexual satisfaction is highly predictable with sexual communication. Conclusion: One of the challenges of sex education is the cultural lack of modeling on how to communicate effectively about sex. A central goal must be that girls and boys can perceive their sexual turn-ons and -offs and disclose them to a partner. This self-disclosure is a crucial factor in developing a positive intimate relationship. As suggested by one of six of the participants, role-play scenarios (behavioral skill training) seem to be well suited to learn how to communicate about safe sex practices, sexual wants, and turn-offs.
... Sexual communication consists of the quality, frequency, and content of self-disclosure which may include sexual preferences, level of desire, attitudes, and values (Mallory et al., 2019). The way couples communicate about sex heavily impacts both sexual and relationship satisfaction levels (Jones, 2016;Montesi et al., 2010;Timm & Keiley, 2011). Moreover, hindered sexual communication can result in sexual dissatisfaction, sexual problems, relationship difficulties (Jones, 2016), insecure attachment styles, and sexual problems (Mallory et al., 2019). ...
... Open sexual communication is significantly linked to healthier sexual behavior in young adults (Alvarez et al., 2014), as well as a variety of benefits. Studies indicate that both relationship quality and overall sexual health in young adults can be improved by effective sex communication (Montesi et al., 2010;Landor & Winter, 2019). Additionally, greater comfort talking about sex among young adults is associated with later sexual debut, greater likelihood of using contraceptives, and less risky sex in general (Landor & Winter, 2019). ...
Young adults (18–30) tend to show insufficient levels of communication about sex with their romantic partners, despite its many benefits to relationships among this age group. Learned sexual shame and guilt can play a role in inhibiting sexual communication with partners, and early messages about sex from parents stemming from narrow cultural boundaries of communication may play a role in fostering sexual shame and guilt from a young age, potentially influencing later sexual communication patterns with partners. We sought to identify whether a significant relationship existed between the sexual communication participants received from parents while growing up and their current sexual communication satisfaction, relational satisfaction, and sexual satisfaction with romantic partners. Path analysis revealed a significant, positive link between parent–child sexual communication and current partner sexual communication satisfaction while controlling for all other variables and length of relationship. ANOVA analyses revealed greater reported sex guilt among males and highly religious participants. Correlation and regression analyses yielded significant, positive relationships between former parent–child communication quality and current young adult sexual satisfaction with partner. Clinical implications and research directions are discussed for increasing open parent–child sex communication.
... More frequent, comfortable, and/or assertive sexual communication is linked to several positive outcomes. For example, individuals who communicate about sexual topics with their partners report greater sexual satisfaction, sexual pleasure, commitment, and relationship satisfaction (MacNeil & Byers, 2009;Mark & Jozkowski, 2013;Montesti et al., 2011;Widman et al., 2006). Additionally, for both adolescents and adults, sexual communication is linked to safer sexual behavior, such as more frequent use of condoms and contraception (for reviews, see Gause et al., 2018;Noar et al., 2014;. ...
... Communication is an important skill across the life course. In adult relationships, sexual communication can lead to greater sexual satisfaction, sexual pleasure, and overall relationship satisfaction (Mark & Jozkowski, 2013;Montesti et al., 2011). We are not born as competent sexual communicators; these are skills that need to be learned and honed across time and relationships. ...
Sexual communication between adolescent partners is an important component of sexual health and wellbeing. Over 40 years of research on adolescent sexual communication has yielded rich information, yet there remain gaps in our understanding of the communication process. The purpose of this scoping review was to synthesize the body of research on adolescent sexual communication to identify how communication has been conceptualized, how researchers have measured communication, and what theoretical frameworks have been applied across the literature. We identified 198 assessments of sexual communication across 119 quantitative studies. This work included 127,489 adolescents (Mage = 15.97) from 15 countries (81.5% U.S.-based). Most studies relied on self-reports (93.4%) and surveyed only one member of a couple (97.5%). The definition of sexual communication was highly varied across the literature: in half of assessments (52.0%) sexual communication was operationalized as a behavior-the verbal or nonverbal exchange of messages about sex-whereas the remaining half of assessments captured social-cognitive aspects of communication (e.g., communication self-efficacy, fear/anxiety). There was also a tendency for investigators to create their own idiosyncratic instruments: half of studies (48.9%) used instruments created by the research team with limited or no discussion of reliability/validity. Regarding the topic of communication, a third of assessments (33.8%) focused exclusively on condom communication and another quarter (24.0%) focused on other safer-sex issues (e.g., STDs, abstinence). Notably absent were studies focused on communication surrounding consent or sexual pleasure. Also absent was a guiding conceptual model or theory that could unify this body of work. Overall, results highlight gaps and inconsistencies in how partner sexual communication has been conceptualized, measured, and theorized about in previous work. We provide several recommendations for future theory-building efforts as well as rigorous, multimethod empirical investigations of adolescent sexual communication that would further our understanding of this important aspect of adolescent sexual wellbeing.
... Given a plethora of previous research that suggests sexual disclosure predicts sexual, relational, and sexual communication satisfaction (Byers, 2011), and identity gaps predict relational and communication satisfaction (Jung, 2011(Jung, , 2013Jung & Hecht, 2004, it was predicted that both sexual disclosure and identity gaps contribute to satisfaction. Revealing sexual fears, fantasies, likes, dislikes, histories, and safety measures may lead directly to changes in the relationship because in addition to reflecting a communication climate in which that type of vulnerability is permitted, it allows the communication partners to make changes in their sexual relationship, which affects the overall quality of the relationship (Byers, 2011;Montesi et al., 2011;Noland, 2010). In addition, cognitive, behavioral, and affective dimensions of discrepancy or tension between parts of the self that occur in communication relate to satisfaction with the relationship and communication because they reflect relational partners' ability to affirm or undermine salient aspects of the self in communication. ...
... This may also warrant revisiting how we measure sexual communication, since considering sexual disclosure alone was less useful than disclosure and identity-based implications. Sexual communication as a uniquely vulnerable site of partner communication (Montesi et al., 2011) is interpersonally (Cupach & Metts, 1994;Noland, 2010) and socially (Kosenko, 2011a(Kosenko, , 2011bRubinsky & Cooke-Jackson, 2018) risky. The nature of certain disclosures as stigmatized may further the already identity-laden process of sexual communication and make the process of sexual communication as identity affirming or challenging all the more consequential. ...
Framed through the Communication Theory of Identity (CTI), the present study explored how CTI’s construct of identity gaps, or discrepancies between different aspects of the self, interact with the relationship between sexual self-disclosure and sexual satisfaction, relational satisfaction, and sexual communication satisfaction for people in non-normative relationships. Participants included 687 people in a variety of LGBTQ, polyamorous, or BDSM relational dynamics. Results of hierarchical regression analyses suggest that identity gaps explain additional variation in sexual satisfaction, relational satisfaction, and sexual communication satisfaction compared to sexual self-disclosure alone. The effects are more pronounced for sexual communication and relational satisfaction compared to sexual satisfaction. Implications and avenues for future research are addressed.
... Communication about sex and sexuality maybe initiated by men but women make efforts to accommodate their own expressions 51 . Acceptability of women articulating views on sex and desire is higher for urban men 63 who are also desirous of greater sexual access and hence encourage these conversations and they seem to want more engagement from their wives, which increases their sexual access. ...
Background: Across societies, gender norms often allow men to hold key decision-making power within relationships, households and communities. This extends to almost all domains, consisting of family planning (FP) as well. FP programs have largely engaged men as clients and rarely as equal partners or influencers although across lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs), and especially in South Asia, men hold key decision-making power on the domain of family planning. The objective of this article is to explore couple dynamics through the lens of spousal communication and decision-making and unpack male engagement and spousal dynamics in family planning.
Methods : This review presents a synthesis of evidence from two peer-reviewed databases, PubMed and Jstor, and and insights from programmatic documents to shed light on gender equitable engagement of young married men in family planning. Inclusion and exclusion criteria for both these databases was set and search strategies were finalized. This was followed by title and abstract screening, data extraction, synthesis and analysis.
Results: Study participants included unmarried men (16%, n=8), married men (19%, n=9), married women (19%, n=9), married couples (25%, n=12) or more than two respondent categories (21%, n=10). Almost three quarters (71%, n=34) of the studies selected had FP as the primary area of inquiry. Other prominent thematics on which the studies reported were around norms (n=9, 16%), couple dynamics and intimacy (n=12, 22%).
Conclusions: The evidence presented provides sufficient impetus to expand on gender-equitable male engagement, viewing men as equal and supportive partners for informed, equitable and collaborative contraceptive uptake and FP choices by couples.
... Broadly, sexual communication includes both verbal and nonverbal communication concerning sexual matters [20,21] and has largely been shown to be different from general communication (i.e., communication about nonsexual matters) [21][22][23][24][25], for an exception see Byers & Demmons [26]]. In the context of intimate relationships, sexual communication can include verbal communication (e.g., sharing sexual likes and dislikes with a partner, disclosing a sexual problem, negotiating condom use) and nonverbal communication (e.g., facial expressions, eye contact, and body language). ...
Purpose of Review
The purpose of this review is to summarize the current knowledge on sexual communication among sexual and gender/sex diverse (SGD) groups. Complementing an existing review of the literature on safer-sex communication with SGD individuals (Parrillo & Brown, 2021), we focus on sexual communication related to promoting sexual satisfaction.
Recent Findings
The two-pathways model of sexual communication has yet to be generalized with SGD samples. Research comparing SGD with non-SGD individuals has varied in whether there are differences between groups. There is some evidence of differences between gender diverse and non-gender diverse groups in sexual communication. Emerging evidence of the unique strengths and challenges of sexual communication among gender/sex diverse groups highlights the importance of deepening gender/sex diverse-specific sexual communications research.
Summary
A lack of literature regarding sexual communication in SGD groups is reported. Results on whether there are differences between and/or within groups are mixed and confounded by inconsistent methodologies for measurement of demographic and sexual communication variables. Clearly, further research is needed to increase our understanding of sexual communication in SGD groups. As such, we provide recommendations for future research, specifically regarding inclusive demographic and analytical considerations.
... For some participants, the effects of early sexual consent experiences within a relationship also provided information about nonsexual aspects of the relationship: Consent was occasionally considered an opportunity to get to know more about a partner's values and communication style, and it 'set the stage' to talk about other serious topics. Previous studies have similarly found that open sexual communication contributes not only to sexual satisfaction, but also to overall relationship satisfaction (Montesi et al., 2010). Consent may play a unique role in communicating information about values such as mutual respect, reciprocity and prioritizing sexual safety over sexual entitlement or pleasure. ...
Increasingly, affirmative consent – direct, unambiguous and voluntary agreement to engage in sexual activity ( Craig & McKinley, 2015 ) – is the standard being adopted by educational institutions in North America ( Bennett, 2016 ). Yet, studies show that most individuals continue to communicate consent through nonresistance ( Jozkowski et al., 2014a ). Given this discrepancy, it is critical to understand what factors prevent individuals from engaging in affirmative consent. Furthermore, a better understanding of the perceived rewards of consent communication could incentivize the adoption of affirmative consent. To understand the range of perceived barriers and rewards, we conducted an online, qualitative study where 231 participants answered two open-ended questions. We used inductive content analysis to categorize participants’ perceptions of sexual consent barriers and rewards into four general content areas: (1) Communication Quality, (2) Relational and Emotional Experiences, (3) Sexual Quality and (4) Safety and Coercion. These perceived rewards and barriers were examined through the lens of the Information-Motivation-Behavioural Skills Model. Participants viewed consent communication not only as a means of ensuring safety but also as away to enhance relational and sexual quality. However, they also perceived barriers in all three of these domains as well as barriers to ensuring that sexual consent communication is fluid and easily understood. These findings provide important avenues for future research investigating how individuals reconcile perceived rewards and costs of affirmative consent communication. We also suggest ways to enhance sexual education by discussing potential rewards and validating the normative nature of fears and anxieties around affirmative consent.
This study examined the role personality plays regarding sexual communication and sexual satisfaction. Data were collected from 279 participants who self-identified as currently having a sexual partner. Participants completed the Big Five Inventory to determine their personality traits (neuroticism, extraversion, openness to experience, conscientiousness, and agreeableness) and scales for sexual communication and sexual satisfaction. Results showed that agreeableness was correlated with sexual communication and sexual satisfaction, and sexual communication mediated the relationship between agreeableness and sexual satisfaction. Also, for men, neuroticism was associated with sexual communication and sexual satisfaction. Sexual communication mediated the relationship between neuroticism and sexual satisfaction for men.
Communicating verbally about sexual topics is one aspect of sexual communication, and romantic partners have to choose whether to disclose sexual information. The present study used conversational goals - what one hopes to accomplish in the conversation - to examine how people decide whether or not to engage in sexual self-disclosure. In an online survey, romantically involved participants (n = 428) provided data on four conversational goals (instrumental, impression management, identity, and relational), disclosure efficacy, disclosure anxiety, and likelihood to sexually self-disclose. Mediation model results indicated that the instrumental goal was directly associated with greater likelihood to disclose while the impression management goal was directly associated with less likelihood to disclose. The instrumental, impression management, and relational goals were indirectly connected with the likelihood to sexually self-disclose as mediated by disclosure efficacy and anxiety. The results highlight the importance of considering conversational goals perspectives when studying communication about taboo topics. Implications for future research are discussed.
Little is known about specific intimacy dimensions' role in sexual function. In the current study, we aimed to gain more insight into how expression of feelings and sexual self-disclosure (a mediator) might potentially affect sexual functioning testing a theoretically based moderated mediation model, that uses gender as a moderator. A total of 661 participants, of which 211 were men (31,90%) and 450 were women (68,10%) aged 18-74 years involved in a monogamous committed relationship participated in the study. We used macro PROCESS 3.2 for IBM - SPSS to test simple mediation and moderated mediation models. The data revealed a significant overall effect of expression of feelings on sexual function, supporting that sexual self-disclosure mediates this relationship. We found that gender does not moderate either the relationship between expression of feelings and sexual self-disclosure nor the trajectory between sexual self-disclosure and sexual function. Our results highlight the importance of taking an interpersonal behavioral approach to sexual function, namely one that focuses on communication behaviors. However, these results need to be explored with clinical samples to understand their full potential for clinical interventions within a behavioral paradigm to partnered people's sexual problems.
When is it timely to publish a synthesis of previously published and original materials from a specific discipline? I believe it to be timely when one has a sufficient amount of high-quality material covering the critical areas of that topic, when the previously published material is scattered over a wide range of journals and books, and when there is no single book that synthesizes the discipline. The treatment of sexual dysfunction emerged to the front lines of health delivery only during the past decade with the pioneering work of William Masters and Virginia Johnson. In spite of the rash of sex clinics and sex therapists that followed, preciously little solid research has been conducted on the various strategies of therapy, the means of assessing complex interpersonal sexual relation ships, and the manner by which clinical change is objectively assessed. No one reader can keep pace with the multitude of jounials that publish key material by sophisticated investigators. And no one investigator can cover these salient areas alone with his or her original work in a single volume. The critical papers have now been written. Ten were written specifically for this volume and thirty-three have previously appeared. This volume laces them together into a coherent pattern. Thus, the time for a synthesis in sexual dysfunction.
The present study has a threefold purpose. First, it addresses the issue of measuring sexual satisfaction (i.e., single- versus multiple-item scales), as well as response bias (i.e., social desirability and sexual defensiveness) in ratings of sexual satisfaction. Second, it examines sexual satisfaction in married and cohabiting males (N = 57) and females (N = 91). Finally, it examines the relationship between sexual satisfaction and nine theoretically and nine theoretically relevant variables drawn from Kaplan's multicausal model of sexual functioning.
This study examined the relationships between sexual problems, sexual self-disclosure and sexual satisfaction in a community sample. Fifty-three women and 34 men in long-term, heterosexual relationships returned completed questionnaires. A majority of the men and women reported that they had experienced one or more sexual concerns or problems in the past 18 months. For both men and women, an increasing number of sexual concerns and problems for self and for partner was associated with decreased sexual satisfaction. Both better communication in general, and disclosure of specific sexual likes and dislikes in particular, were associated with increased sexual satisfaction. However, the quality of communication did not alter the relationship between sexual problems and concerns and sexual satisfaction. Implications for sex therapy and future research are discussed.
We examined two proposed pathways between sexual self-disclosure and sexual satisfaction. According to the proposed expressive pathway, reciprocal sexual self-disclosure contributes to relationship satisfaction, which in turn leads to greater sexual satisfaction. According to the instrumental pathway, own sexual self-disclosure leads to greater partner understanding of sexual likes and dislikes, which in turn leads to a more favorable balance of sexual rewards and costs and thus to higher sexual satisfaction. Seventy-four heterosexual dating couples completed questionnaires assessing self-disclosure, sexual and relationship satisfaction, as well as own and partner positive and negative sexual exchanges. Support was found for the instrumental pathway for both women and men and for the expressive pathway for women. For men, the expressive pathway was between own nonsexual self-disclosure and sexual satisfaction. These results are interpreted in light of the more instrumental role for men in sexual relationships.
The present research explored the importance of several communication-related variables, including perspective-taking, self-disclosure, conflict tactics and relational competence, as well as love attitudes, in the prediction of relationship satisfaction. Some 140 dating couples completed several measures, including assessments of self as well as the romantic partner. Findings revealed that self and partner communication variables, and love orientations were significant predictors of relationship satisfaction. Implications for the importance of communication in relationships are discussed.
This study examined dating individuals' self‐disclosure about their sexual likes and dislikes to their partner. Forty‐seven college men and 52 college women in a dating relationship of 3 to 36 months completed a questionnaire measuring sexual exchange variables, sexual satisfaction, relationship satisfaction, sexual communication satisfaction, and sexual and non‐sexual self‐disclosure with their partner. Both sexual and nonsexual self‐disclosure were at the level of revealing some detail but not fully disclosing personal attitudes and feelings. Participants reported self‐disclosing significantly more about non‐sexual than about sexual topics. Sexual and nonsexual self‐disclosure were related to sexual satisfaction, relationship satisfaction, and sexual communication satisfaction. Sexual self‐disclosure was uniquely related to sexual communication satisfaction when nonsexual self‐disclosure was controlled, but was not uniquely associated with relationship satisfaction or sexual satisfaction. The study provided evidence that both sexual exchanges and relationship satisfaction mediate the relationship between sexual self‐disclosure and sexual satisfaction as proposed by Cupach and Metts (1991). The results of a series of analyses suggest that self‐disclosure affects sexual satisfaction through two routes. First, sexual self‐disclosure may increase sexual rewards in the relationship. Second, it may increase overall relationship satisfaction. Both increased sexual rewards and increased relationship satisfaction, in turn, enhance sexual satisfaction.