Accuracy in perceptions of a partner’s sexual goals

Intimate partners engage in sex for a variety of reasons, and their perceptions of each other’s sexual goals play an important role in intimate relationships. How accurate are these perceptions of a partner’s sexual goals and is accuracy associated with relationship quality and sexual satisfaction for the couple? To answer these questions, we conducted a 21-day dyadic daily experience study of 121 couples, which we analyzed using two different approaches to examine accuracy: the profile approach and the Truth and Bias Model. Results from these two approaches demonstrated that people’s perceptions of their partner’s sexual goals were indeed accurate, but that accuracy was not associated with relationship quality or sexual satisfaction for the perceiver or their partner. Rather, perceiving a partner’s sexual goals in normative (or socially desirable) ways was associated with relationship quality and sexual satisfaction for both the perceiver and their partner. Implications of these findings are discussed.

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Sexual communication, sexual satisfaction, and relationship quality in people with multiple sclerosis.

Rehabilitation Psychology ◽

10.1037/rep0000203 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 63 (2) ◽

pp. 267-275 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Abbey K. Valvano ◽

Michael J. D. Rollock ◽

William H. Hudson ◽

Marie-Christine Rutter Goodworth ◽

Eliot Lopez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Relationship Quality ◽

Sexual Satisfaction ◽

Sexual Communication

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Effects of mothers' racial socialization and relationship quality on African American youth's school engagement: A profile approach.

Cultural Diversity & Ethnic Minority Psychology ◽

10.1037/a0020653 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 16 (4) ◽

pp. 476-484 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Ciara Smalls

Keyword(s):

African American ◽

Relationship Quality ◽

Racial Socialization ◽

School Engagement ◽

Profile Approach

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Trajectories of Within-Relationship Relationship Quality, Relationship Satisfaction, and Sexual Satisfaction Among Young African American Women

Interpersonal Relationships and Health ◽

10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199936632.003.0011 ◽

2014 ◽

pp. 232-251

Author(s):

J. Dennis Fortenberry ◽

Devon J. Hensel

Keyword(s):

African American ◽

Relationship Satisfaction ◽

African American Women ◽

Relationship Quality ◽

Sexual Satisfaction ◽

American Women

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Singles’ Sexual Satisfaction is Associated With More Satisfaction With Singlehood and Less Interest in Marriage

Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin ◽

10.1177/0146167220942361 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 014616722094236

Author(s):

Yoobin Park ◽

Emily A. Impett ◽

Geoff MacDonald

Keyword(s):

Life Satisfaction ◽

Sexual Satisfaction ◽

Social Aspects ◽

Data Sets ◽

Potential Importance ◽

Sexual Frequency ◽

Single Person ◽

People’S Perceptions

Despite the worldwide increase in single-person households, little research has examined what factors contribute to a satisfying single life. We used three data sets ( N = 3,890) to examine how satisfaction with sexual and social aspects of life are linked with single people’s perceptions of marriage and singlehood. Our results suggest that higher sexual satisfaction is associated with less desire to marry (Study 1), stronger beliefs that unmarried people can be happy without marriage (Study 2), and greater satisfaction with singlehood and less desire for a partner (Study 3). All effects in Studies 1 and 3 remained significant controlling for life satisfaction and sexual frequency. Satisfying friendships were associated with variables related to satisfaction with singlehood but not variables related to desire for a partner, whereas no effect was found for satisfaction with family. This study highlights the potential importance of maintaining a satisfying sex life in people’s satisfaction with singlehood.

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Gender Socioeconomic Inequalities in Intimate Relationships

Revija za sociologiju ◽

10.5613/rzs.49.3.2 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 49 (3) ◽

pp. 349-375

Author(s):

Ksenija Klasnić

Keyword(s):

Social Context ◽

Intimate Relationships ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Socioeconomic Inequalities ◽

Traditional Values ◽

Intimate Partners ◽

Underlying Assumption ◽

Level Of Education ◽

Domestic Partnership ◽

Materialist Feminist

Inspired by the materialist feminist theoretical approach, this study starts from an underlying assumption that research of gender socioeconomic inequalities in intimate relationships requires the analysis of specific variables that constitute the socioeconomic status of intimate partners. Based on five indicators relevant for contemporary Croatian society, the GSEI index was constructed and applied to a representative sample of Croatian women in intimate relationships. The results showed significant gender socioeconomic inequalities between intimate partners, mostly in favour of men. The highest level of inequality between intimate partners was discovered with regard to real-estate ownership, whereas the highest level of equality between partners was found in their level of education. Although socioeconomic inequalities between intimate partners in favour of men prevail regardless of the geographic and social context, they are more pronounced in regions with more traditional values, among couples who live in rural areas, and among those who are married (in comparison with those who live in domestic partnership). A recommendation for further research and GSEI index application is to consider which are the relevant indicators for measuring gender socioeconomic inequalities in intimate relationships depending on the wider social context.

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When Tonight Is Not the Night: Sexual Rejection Behaviors and Satisfaction in Romantic Relationships

Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin ◽

10.1177/0146167220907469 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 46 (10) ◽

pp. 1476-1490

Author(s):

James J. Kim ◽

Amy Muise ◽

John K. Sakaluk ◽

Natalie O. Rosen ◽

Emily A. Impett

Keyword(s):

Romantic Relationships ◽

Sexual Satisfaction ◽

Conflicts Of Interest ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Daily Experience ◽

Sexual Rejection ◽

Perceived Partner Responsiveness ◽

Partner Responsiveness

In most long-term romantic relationships, partners experience sexual conflicts of interest in which one partner declines the other partner’s sexual advances. We investigated the distinct ways people reject a partner’s advances (i.e., with reassuring, hostile, assertive, and deflecting behaviors) in Studies 1 and 2. Using cross-sectional (Study 3) and daily experience methods (Study 4), we investigated how perceptions of a partner’s rejection behaviors are linked with the rejected partner’s relationship and sexual satisfaction. We found robust evidence that perceived partner reassuring behaviors were associated with greater satisfaction, whereas perceived partner hostile behaviors were associated with lower levels of satisfaction. Perceived partner responsiveness was a key mechanism underlying the effects. Findings for assertive and deflecting behaviors were limited, but the effect of deflecting behaviors was qualified by levels of hostile behaviors for sexual satisfaction. Findings provide the first empirical investigation of the specific ways partners can decline one another’s advances to preserve satisfaction.

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Female Partner's Perception of Premature Ejaculation and Its Impact on Relationship Breakups, Relationship Quality, and Sexual Satisfaction

Yearbook of Urology ◽

10.1016/j.yuro.2014.05.020 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 126-127

Author(s):

A.W. Shindel

Keyword(s):

Relationship Quality ◽

Sexual Satisfaction ◽

Premature Ejaculation

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A Mixed-Methods Inquiry into the Intimate Practices of Partnered Mature Students and Influences on Relationship, Sexual, and School Satisfaction

Canadian Journal of Higher Education ◽

10.47678/cjhe.v45i2.184382 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 45 (2) ◽

pp. 116-133

Author(s):

Tricia Marie Van Rhijn ◽

Sarah H. Murray ◽

Robert C. Mizzi

Keyword(s):

Academic Success ◽

Family Support ◽

Sexual Satisfaction ◽

Sexual Desire ◽

Intimate Relationships ◽

Quantitative Methods ◽

Partner Support ◽

School Satisfaction ◽

Mature Students ◽

The Impact

Through the use of mixed qualitative and quantitative methods, the current study explored the impact of postsecondary study on the intimate relationships and school experiences of partnered mature students. Quantitative regression analyses indicated that parental status, family support, partner support, and sexual desire significantly predicted relationship satisfaction, while family support and partner support significantly predicted sexual satisfaction. Age and sexual desire predicted school satisfaction for women only. Through qualitative thematic analysis it was determined that not having enough time, feeling too tired, and being stressed negatively impacted sexual satisfaction, while experiencing personal growth was described as both beneficial and problematic. Some participants reported using sex to aid in their academic success by way of offering a distraction or reducing stress. We discuss possible ways that postsecondary institutions, through their campus programs, can better address the impact school may have on mature students’ intimate relationships.

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