scholarly journals Responses to sexual advances and satisfaction in romantic relationships: Is yes good and no bad?

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kiersten Dobson ◽  
Jenney Zhu ◽  
Rhonda Nicole Balzarini ◽  
Lorne Campbell
Keyword(s):  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Relationship Satisfaction ◽  
Sexual Activity ◽  
Sexual Satisfaction ◽  
Daily Diary ◽  
Sexual Advance

We examine the relations between accepting and rejecting a partner’s sexual advances with sexual and relationship satisfaction, and assess how long these effects endure. Couples (N =115) completed a 21-day daily diary indicating whether a partner made a sexual advance each day, and if so, whether the advance was accepted or rejected. Having one’s sexual advance accepted was associated with increased sexual and relationship satisfaction that day, and increased sexual satisfaction up to 24 hours later. Having one’s sexual advance rejected was associated with decreased sexual satisfaction that day and up to 48 hours later. Sexual advances made by one’s partner were associated with increased sexual satisfaction that day and for up to 72 hours later, regardless of whether the advance was accepted or rejected. Findings indicate benefits of sexual activity, but also prolonged post-rejection decreases in sexual satisfaction.

scholarly journals Responses to Sexual Advances and Satisfaction in Romantic Relationships: Is Yes Good and No Bad?

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 801-811 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kiersten Dobson ◽  
Jenney Zhu ◽  
Rhonda N. Balzarini ◽  
Lorne Campbell
Keyword(s):  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Relationship Satisfaction ◽  
Sexual Activity ◽  
Sexual Satisfaction ◽  
Daily Diary ◽  
Sexual Advance

We examine the relations between accepting and rejecting a partner’s sexual advances with sexual and relationship satisfaction and assess how long these effects endure. Couples ( N = 115) completed a 21-day daily diary indicating whether a partner made a sexual advance each day, and if so, whether the advance was accepted or rejected. Having one’s sexual advance accepted was associated with increased sexual and relationship satisfaction that day and increased sexual satisfaction up to 24 hours later. Having one’s sexual advance rejected was associated with decreased sexual satisfaction that day and up to 48 hours later. Sexual advances made by one’s partner were associated with increased sexual satisfaction that day and for up to 72 hours later, regardless of whether the advance was accepted or rejected. Findings indicate benefits of sexual activity, but also prolonged postrejection decreases in sexual satisfaction.

Pornography use and romantic relationships: A dyadic daily diary study

2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (10-11) ◽  
pp. 2802-2821 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie-Pier Vaillancourt-Morel ◽  
Natalie O. Rosen ◽  
Brian J. Willoughby ◽  
Nathan D. Leonhardt ◽  
Sophie Bergeron
Keyword(s):  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Relationship Satisfaction ◽  
Sexual Activity ◽  
Sexual Desire ◽  
Daily Diary ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Same Sex Couples ◽  
Daily Diary Study ◽  
Pornography Use ◽  
Daily Diary Design

Pornography use is now considered a normative sexual activity, including for partnered individuals. Although there are documented positive and negative effects of pornography use on romantic relationships, studies to date suffer from key limitations, narrowing their clinical relevance. Most rely on vague recall measurement that may inadequately capture actual pornography use, and all are exclusively based on mixed-sex couples. This study used a 35-day dyadic daily diary design to examine the associations between an individual’s daily pornography use and their own and their partner’s relationship satisfaction, partnered sexual desire, and probability of partnered sexual activity in mixed-sex and same-sex couples ( N = 217 couples). For women, regardless of partner’s sex, using pornography was associated with their own and their partner’s higher sexual desire and with higher odds of partnered sexual activity. For men, regardless of partner’s sex, using pornography was associated with their partner’s lower sexual desire; for men coupled with women, with lower odds of partnered sexual activity, and for men coupled with men, with higher odds of partnered sexual activity. For all participants, pornography use was unrelated to relationship satisfaction. The current study demonstrated that an individual’s pornography use is associated with same-day couple’s sexual dynamics, with different associations according to users’ and their partners’ sex.

The Madonna-Whore Dichotomy Is Associated With Patriarchy Endorsement: Evidence From Israel, the United States, and Germany

2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 348-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rotem Kahalon ◽  
Orly Bareket ◽  
Andrea C. Vial ◽  
Nora Sassenhagen ◽  
Julia C. Becker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Relationship Satisfaction ◽  
Sexual Satisfaction ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
General Relationship ◽  
Heterosexual Relationships ◽  
The Social

The madonna-whore dichotomy denotes polarized perceptions of women as either good and chaste or as bad and promiscuous. In the present research, we examined the correlates of madonna-whore dichotomy among samples of heterosexual Israeli, U.S., and German women and heterosexual U.S. and German men. Demonstrating cross-cultural generalizability, madonna-whore dichotomy endorsement correlated with endorsement of patriarchy-supporting ideologies across samples. U.S. (but not German) men’s madonna-whore dichotomy endorsement negatively correlated with their sexual satisfaction in romantic relationships, which in turn predicted lower general relationship satisfaction. Among women, madonna-whore dichotomy endorsement did not correlate with sexual or general relationship satisfaction. These findings (a) support the feminist perspective on the madonna-whore dichotomy, which points to the role of the stereotype in policing women and limiting their sexual freedom; and (b) provide evidence that madonna-whore dichotomy endorsement can have personal costs for men. Increasing awareness to the motivations underlying the madonna-whore dichotomy endorsement and its costs can be beneficial at the social and personal levels for women and men, by providing knowledge that may help in developing focused interventions to change existing perceptions and scripts about sexuality, and perhaps foster more satisfying heterosexual relationships.

scholarly journals Situation perception mediates the link between narcissism and relationship satisfaction: Evidence from a daily diary study in romantic couples

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katrin Rentzsch ◽  
Larissa Lucia Wieczorek ◽  
Tanja M. Gerlach
Keyword(s):  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Relationship Satisfaction ◽  
Romantic Relationship ◽  
Daily Diary ◽  
Diary Study ◽  
Grandiose Narcissism ◽  
Romantic Couples ◽  
Daily Diary Study ◽  
Relationship Outcomes ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

Research has shown that diverging romantic relationship outcomes of grandiose narcissism can be explained by differential associations of agentic and antagonistic aspects of narcissism. In this study, we wanted to further investigate the underlying mechanisms by examining how narcissists perceive daily situations with their partner. In an online diary, 171 couples reported on 1941 daily situations experienced together. Analyses revealed that agentic narcissism was positively and antagonistic narcissism was negatively related to daily relationship satisfaction. These effects were differentially linked through distinct situation perceptions: Agentic narcissism was positively linked with relationship satisfaction through perceiving daily situations as, for example, containing more romance, sexuality and love, while antagonistic narcissism was negatively linked with relationship satisfaction through perceiving, for example, more threat, criticism, and accusation. Results are discussed in light of the NARC model and with respect to person-situation transactions in romantic relationships.

Broadening your horizon one day at a time: Relationship goals and exciting activities as daily antecedents of relational self-expansion

2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 1910-1926
Author(s):  
Cheryl Harasymchuk ◽  
Amy Muise ◽  
Chantal Bacev-Giles ◽  
Judith Gere ◽  
Emily A. Impett
Keyword(s):  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Relationship Satisfaction ◽  
Intimate Relationships ◽  
Daily Diary ◽  
Daily Basis ◽  
Relational Self ◽  
Diary Study ◽  
Daily Diary Study ◽  
Motivational Model ◽  
Relationship Benefits

Self-expansion in intimate relationships (i.e., broadening one’s perspective through engaging in novel, exciting activities with a partner) has been associated with relationship benefits. The goal of this study was to propose a motivational model of self-expansion to understand what prompts people to engage in self-expanding activities in their relationship on a daily basis. We hypothesized that when people report stronger daily approach relationship goals (i.e., goals focused on pursuing growth, intimacy, and rewards), they would report a greater likelihood of engaging in novel, exciting activities that enhance self-expansion and ultimately promote greater satisfaction in romantic relationships. To test our model, we recruited 122 couples for a 3-week daily diary study. In support of our hypotheses, on days when people (or their partners) reported higher than their usual approach relationship goals, they reported higher relational self-expansion, which was due, in part, to a greater likelihood of engaging in novel, exciting activities with the partner. In turn, higher relational self-expansion was associated with higher daily relationship satisfaction. Our findings have implications for understanding what promotes relationship growth on a day-to-day basis and the outcomes of daily approach-oriented relationship goals.

scholarly journals Situation Perception Mediates the Link Between Narcissism and Relationship Satisfaction: Evidence From a Daily Diary Study in Romantic Couples

2021 ◽  
pp. 194855062098741
Author(s):  
Katrin Rentzsch ◽  
Larissa L. Wieczorek ◽  
Tanja M. Gerlach
Keyword(s):  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Relationship Satisfaction ◽  
Romantic Relationship ◽  
Daily Diary ◽  
Diary Study ◽  
Grandiose Narcissism ◽  
Romantic Couples ◽  
Daily Diary Study ◽  
Relationship Outcomes ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

Research has shown that diverging romantic relationship outcomes of grandiose narcissism can be explained by differential associations of agentic and antagonistic aspects of narcissism. In this study, we wanted to further investigate the underlying mechanisms by examining how narcissists perceive daily situations with their partners. In an online diary, 171 couples reported on 1941 daily situations experienced together. Analyses revealed that agentic narcissism was positively and antagonistic narcissism was negatively related to daily relationship satisfaction. These effects were differentially linked through distinct situation perceptions: Agentic narcissism was positively linked with relationship satisfaction through perceiving daily situations as, for example, containing more romance, sexuality, and love, while antagonistic narcissism was negatively linked with relationship satisfaction through perceiving, for example, more threat, criticism, and accusation. Results are discussed in light of the Narcissistic Admiration and Rivalry Concept and with respect to person–situation transactions in romantic relationships.

Body Image Projection Bias in Heterosexual Romantic Relationships: A Dyadic Investigation

2021 ◽  
pp. 014616722110252
Author(s):  
Allanah Hockey ◽  
Caroline L. Donovan ◽  
Nickola Christine Overall ◽  
Fiona Kate Barlow
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Body Image ◽  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Relationship Satisfaction ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Sexual Satisfaction ◽  
Romantic Relationship ◽  
Married Couples ◽  
The Self ◽  
Projection Bias

Guided by projection bias perspectives, this article sought to advance understanding of the associations between body image and relationship and sexual satisfaction within heterosexual romantic relationships. Across two studies, both members of heterosexual dating and/or married couples reported on their body image, perceptions of partner’s attraction to the self, own attraction toward the partner, and relationship satisfaction. Study 2 also incorporated measures of participants’ body mass index (BMI) and sexual satisfaction. Across both studies, women with poorer body image perceived their partner to be less attracted to them (irrespective of their partner’s actual attraction to them, or how attracted they were to their partner), which in turn was associated with lower relationship and sexual satisfaction. For men, attraction to their partner was consistently associated with their own relationship satisfaction. Results demonstrate that projection biases are a possible mechanism through which body image is associated with romantic relationship and sexual satisfaction, and hint at the particular relevance of appearance-related projection biases for women’s relationship and sexual satisfaction.

scholarly journals Leading Better Sex Lives: Trait Charisma is Associated with Higher Sexual Desire and Satisfaction in Romantic Relationships

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Tu ◽  
Stephanie Raposo ◽  
Amy Muise
Keyword(s):  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Relationship Satisfaction ◽  
Sexual Satisfaction ◽  
Big Five ◽  
Sexual Desire ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Big Five Personality ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Daily Experience ◽  
Sexual Outcomes

Sexuality is a key predictor of relationship satisfaction, but sexual desire and satisfaction can be difficult to maintain over time. Limited research informs who might be more likely to experience higher (compared to lower) levels of desire and sexual satisfaction in their relationships. Certain aspects of personality, such as extraversion, have been associated with sexual satisfaction and desire, but evidence linking personality to sexual outcomes has generally been mixed. A promising, yet unexplored, trait that could be linked to desire and sexual satisfaction is charisma—a combination of influence and affability that has been identified as a desirable trait when people are selecting a romantic or sexual partner. Across two studies—a cross-sectional study of individuals in relationships (N = 413) and a 21-day dyadic daily experience study (N = 121 couples)—people higher in charisma reported being more communally responsive to their partner’s needs during sex, and in turn, experience higher daily sexual desire and satisfaction. Through higher sexual communal motivation, people with a charismatic partner also reported higher sexual desire, but not sexual satisfaction. The effects were retained above and beyond general communal motivation and Big Five personality dimensions, although extraversion accounted for some of the associations. Therefore, charisma is a trait that is linked with higher sexual communal motivation, which is associated with charismatic people reporting higher desire and sexual satisfaction in their romantic relationships.

Depressive Experience and Romantic Relationships in Young Adulthood

1998 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
pp. 339-349 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas L. Morrison ◽  
Anthony J. Urquiza ◽  
Beth L. Goodlin-Jones
Keyword(s):  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Relationship Satisfaction ◽  
Young Adulthood ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Attachment Security ◽  
Relationship Distress ◽  
Sexual Dissatisfaction ◽  
Two Factors ◽  
Relational Aspect ◽  
The Relationship

This study examined the associations between two factors of depressive experience (dependency and self-criticism) and satisfaction in adult romantic relationships. The Depressive Experiences Questionnaire, along with measures of attachment and relationship satisfaction, were administered to 107 men and 140 women attending local community colleges. Self-criticism was associated with global relationship distress and sexual dissatisfaction. In a combined regression equation, measures of self-criticism, attachment security, and attachment activation all contributed to predicting general relationship distress. Only scores on self-criticism predicted sexual dissatisfaction. The relationship dissatisfaction reported by those with high scores on self-criticism appears to be a relational aspect of the “destructiveness of perfectionism” described by Blatt.

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