Insecure Attachment and Sexual Satisfaction: A Path Analysis Model Integrating Sexual Mindfulness, Sexual Anxiety, and Sexual Self-Esteem

Psychometric properties of the sexual five-facet mindfulness questionnaire (FFMQ-S): validation among a community sample of Persian-speaking women.

“…With sexual mindfulness notices feelings and details related to sexual interactions and by providing feedback to the sexual partner, they increase the sexual harmony and intimacy of themselves and their partner [15]. Leonhart et al [34] and Dawson et al [42] found similar results that improved sexual mindfulness skills lead to sexual well-being. Among its reasons, it can be said that the use of conscious action and nonjudgment in the sexual eld may help spouses to avoid common con icts and misunderstandings in sexual relations [8].…”

Sexual exchanges explain the association between attachment insecurities and sexual satisfaction in long-term couples

“…However, less is known about the association between attachment and sexual satisfaction over time and explanatory mechanisms for this association, particularly in long-term couples (see Raposo et al, 2020 for an exception). Specifically, the work to date focusing on the attachment-sexual satisfaction link has been primarily cross-sectional (e.g., Brassard et al, 2012; Butzer & Cambell, 2008; Lafortune et al, 2022), conducted among young adults with limited relationship experience (e.g., Davis et al, 2006; Little et al, 2010), and not informed by a conceptual model of sexual satisfaction. The Interpersonal Exchange Model of Sexual Satisfaction (Lawrance & Byers, 1995) delineates theory-driven factors leading to higher sexual satisfaction.…”

“…As such, these individuals report higher sexual satisfaction (Birnbaum & Reis, 2019; Stefanou & McCabe, 2012). In contrast, attachment insecurities (avoidance and anxiety) tend to negatively affect sexual relationships, leading insecure individuals to experience less positive and more negative emotions during sexual activity (Beaulieu et al, 2022; Birnbaum et al, 2006), greater sexual anxiety (Brassard et al, 2015; Péloquin et al, 2014), more sexual problems (Birnbaum, 2007; Stefanou & McCabe, 2012), and lower sexual satisfaction (Brassard, Péloquin, Dupuy, et al, 2012; Butzer & Campbell, 2008; Lafortune et al, 2022). However, most of the research on attachment and sexual well-being has surveyed adolescents or young adults with short-term partners (for exceptions, see Beaulieu et al, 2022; Brassard, Péloquin, Depuy, et al, 2012), limiting our knowledge of the relational processes involved in the sexual well-being of longer-term couples (Fisher et al, 2015).…”

Why do you have sex and does it make you feel better? Integrating attachment theory, sexual motives, and sexual well-being in long-term couples

“…Attachment insecurity is one such relational factor that is associated with lower sexual well-being ( Stefanou & McCabe, 2012 ). However, studies investigating the mechanisms underlying the association between attachment and sexual well-being have often used samples of individuals (e.g., Brassard et al, 2015 ; Lafortune et al, 2021 ) rather than couples, neglecting the dyadic nature of partnered sexual activity. They are also mostly cross-sectional, utilize single occasion measures of sexual well-being, and involve young individuals (e.g., Dang et al, 2018 ; Goldsmith et al, 2016 ), which limits our knowledge of how attachment contributes to partners’ emotional experiences during sexual activity in more established couples.…”

“…Research has shown that attachment insecurities are associated with more negative feelings and lower feelings of being loved and cared for by the partner during sexual activity ( Birnbaum, 2007 ; Birnbaum et al, 2006 ). Whereas a few cross-sectional studies have examined the mechanisms underlying the association between attachment insecurities and indicators of lower sexual well-being (e.g., Dang et al, 2018 ; Lafortune et al, 2021 ), very few of these studies have focused on emotions felt during sexual activity (for an exception, see Birnbaum et al, 2006 ).…”