Linking Sexual Mindfulness to Mixed-Sex Couples’ Relational Flourishing, Sexual Harmony, and Orgasm

Leavitt, Chelom E.; Maurer, Tawniele F.; Clyde, Tiffany L.; Clarke, Rebecca W.; Busby, Dean M.; Yorgason, Jeremy B.; Holmes, Erin K.; James, Spencer L.

doi:10.1007/s10508-021-02054-0

Cited by 29 publications

(28 citation statements)

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“…Husbands' compassionate relational attitudes predicted sexual harmony and non-judgment, and compassionate relational behaviors predicted their own harmony and awareness two years later. The findings regarding sexual awareness are particularly positive, as more sexual mindful awareness is certainly associated with a better sexual well-being overall (e.g., Leavitt et al, 2020Leavitt et al, , 2021c. Karremans et al (2017) framework explains that increased mindful awareness, and we would argue relational compassion, may facilitate a better understanding of how other's behaviors are impacted by external circumstances (Block-Lerner et al, 2007).…”

Section: Links Over Time Between Compassion and Sexual Well-beingmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Thus, building on separate, but equally compelling bodies of work, this study will use a novel approach to examine the links between relational compassion and comprehensive measures of sexual well-being. 1 Researchers have called for more comprehensive assessments of sexual well-being that do not rely on unidimensional sexual satisfaction measures (e.g., McClelland, 2010;Leavitt et al, 2021c). In response, we include orgasm consistency, sexual frequency, sexual satisfaction, sexual awareness and non-judgment, and sexual harmony as outcomes in the present study.…”

Section: A Framework Of Relational Compassionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Though no research we know of has linked relational compassion and sexual well-being generally, some "sister" research has evaluated the role of self -compassion within circumstances of sexual distress and found that self-compassion is negatively associated with sexual distress, but not necessarily with sexual satisfaction (Santerre-Baillargeon et al, 2018;Michael et al, 2021). Other studies found positive links between mindfulness and sexual well-being (Leavitt et al, 2021c) and compassion and to higher relationship quality generally (McDonald et al, 2020). The present study aims to expand this literature to encompass more comprehensive measures of both compassion and sexual well-being to expand understanding of a dynamic process and promote healthy romantic relationships.…”

Section: Relational Compassion and Sexmentioning

confidence: 99%

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“Feeling It”: Links between elements of compassion and sexual well-being

2023

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IntroductionCompassion may be a particularly important component of a sexual relationship as it facilitates needed self-awareness, understanding, and connection to frame deeply intimate expressions of sexual emotion and vulnerability. Given the lack of research on how broad concepts of compassionate elements may be linked to sexual well-being, we examine how mindfulness (an ability to maintain awareness in the present moment), compassionate relational attitudes (i.e., accessibility, responsiveness, and engagement), and compassionate relational behaviors (i.e., forgiveness and gratitude), are linked to sexual well-being (sexual harmony, orgasm consistency, and sexual frequency), and sexual mindfulness (a state of being mindful during sex) for oneself and one’s partner.MethodsWe constructed an actor partner structural equation model with newly married couples (n = 2,111) and regressed sexual outcomes at time 1 and time 2 on each partner’s compassionate attitudes, behaviors and mindfulness reported at time 1.ResultsResults showed that cross-sectionally, nearly all elements of one’s compassion related to one’s own sexual well-being for both partners. Strongest paths included positive significant relations for women between mindfulness and non-judgment and from compassionate relational attitudes and behaviors to sexual harmony. Men’s compassionate behaviors were positively related to their own sexual awareness. Perhaps more importantly, women’s and men’s compassionate behaviors had significant effects on their partner’s sexual well-being longitudinally.DiscussionImplications include an emphasis on compassion as a key mechanism that can increase sexual satisfaction and strengthen relationships, particularly in the critical time of early marriage where patterns of interconnectedness are being established.

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Section: Links Over Time Between Compassion and Sexual Well-beingmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: A Framework Of Relational Compassionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Relational Compassion and Sexmentioning

confidence: 99%

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“Feeling It”: Links between elements of compassion and sexual well-being

2023

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“…A closer look at mindfulness-based therapy suggests that there is more to the story of women's low desire than locating it in their minds. Researchers have theorized that mindfulnessbased therapy helps women's desire because attention to and acceptance of the present moment (fundamental elements of mindfulness) lessen cognitive behaviors that inhibit arousal and desire (Brotto et al, 2016;Brotto & Basson, 2014;Leavitt et al, 2021;Pepping et al, 2018); notably, many of these cognitive behaviors are connected to gendered expectations for women. For example, mindfulness-based therapy can help lessen the tendency to self-criticize, which is itself connected to cultural pressures for women to meet unobtainable beauty standards (Fredrickson & Roberts, 1997;Schick et al, 2010;Woertman & Brink, 2012).…”

Section: Psychological Therapy Approaches To Low Desirementioning

confidence: 99%

The Heteronormativity Theory of Low Sexual Desire in Women Partnered with Men

et al. 2021

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Low sexual desire in women partnered with men is typically presumed to be a problem—one that exists in women and encourages a research agenda on causation and treatment targeting women. In this paper, we present a distinct way forward for research on low sexual desire in women partnered with men that attends to a more structural explanation: heteronormativity. A heteronormative worldview assumes that relationships and structures are heterosexual, gender (usually conflated with sex) is binary and complementary, and gender roles fit within narrow bounds including nurturant labor for women. We propose the heteronormativity theory of low sexual desire in women partnered with men, arguing that heteronormative gender inequities are contributing factors. We outline four hypotheses and their predictions related to: inequitable divisions of household labor, blurring of partner and mother roles, objectification of women, and gender norms surrounding sexual initiation. We discuss some mechanisms—social, physiological, and otherwise—for the heteronormativity theory, especially related to stress, objectification, and nurturance. We close by noting some limitations of our paper and the ways that the heteronormativity theory of low sexual desire in women partnered with men provides a rigorous, generative, and empirical way forward.

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“…Zwei Beiträge raten Frauen indessen vor dem Hintergrund der evolutionstheoretischen Anpassungs-Theorie des weiblichen Orgasmus, sich nicht auf klitorale, sondern auf vaginale Empfindungen zu konzentrieren, da der vaginale Orgasmus dem klitoralen überlegen sei ( Brody und Weiss 2010 ; Krejčová et al 2020 ). Eine Studie empfiehlt Achtsamkeitspraktiken ( mindfulness ) während des Sex, um ablenkende Gedanken zu reduzieren ( Leavitt et al 2021a ).…”

Section: Ergebnisseunclassified

Der Gender Orgasm Gap. Ein kritischer Forschungsüberblick zu Geschlechterdifferenzen in der Orgasmus-Häufigkeit beim Heterosex

Döring

Mohseni

2022

Z Sex Forsch

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Zusammenfassung Einleitung Seit den 1960er-Jahren wird in Wissenschaft, Frauenbewegung und breiter Öffentlichkeit darüber diskutiert, dass und warum Frauen beim Heterosex seltener Orgasmen erleben als Männer und ob und wie man diesen Gender Orgasm Gap schließen kann. Im Rahmen eines bio-psycho-sozialen Verständnisses von Sexualität werden Gender Orgasm Gaps theoretisch sehr unterschiedlich erklärt. Forschungsziele Ziel des vorliegenden Forschungsüberblicks ist es, die bisherigen empirischen Befunde zur Größe des Gender Orgasm Gap zu berichten sowie die vorgeschlagenen Praxismaßnahmen zu seiner Überwindung zu präsentieren und kritisch zu diskutieren. Methoden Im Zuge einer systematischen Literaturrecherche wurden n = 20 empirische Publikationen zum Gender Orgasm Gap und zusätzlich n = 16 wissenschaftliche Originalarbeiten zu seinem Abbau identifiziert und kodiert (1982–2021). Ergebnisse Die eingeschlossenen Umfragen basieren auf Angaben von N = 49 940 Frauen und N = 48 329 Männern und zeigen, dass typischerweise 30 % bis 60 % der befragten Frauen berichten, beim Heterosex zum Orgasmus zu kommen, im Unterschied zu 70 % bis 100 % der Männer. Je nach Rahmenbedingungen des Heterosex schwankt die Größe des Gender Orgasm Gap zwischen –20 % und –72 % zuungunsten der Frauen. Die vorliegenden zehn bevölkerungsrepräsentativen Umfragen ergeben einen gewichteten mittleren Gender Orgasm Gap von –30 % [95 %iges Konfidenzintervall: –31 %; –30 %]. Die in der bisherigen Fachliteratur vorgeschlagenen Maßnahmen zum Schließen dieser Orgasmus-Lücke beziehen sich auf personale Faktoren, Beziehungsfaktoren, sexuelle Interaktionsfaktoren und gesellschaftliche Faktoren: Frauen wird empfohlen, den eigenen Orgasmus bewusster anzustreben und in der Beziehung offener über sexuelle Wünsche zu sprechen. Zudem wird Frauen und Männern geraten, mehr direkte klitorale Stimulation in den Heterosex zu integrieren und Orgasmen von Frauen gesellschaftlich zu demarginalisieren. Schlussfolgerung Aus dem bisherigen Forschungsstand leitet sich die Notwendigkeit ab, Fragen rund um den Gender Orgasm Gap weiterhin in Wissenschaft und Praxis zu bearbeiten. Angesichts der begrenzten Erfolge der letzten Dekaden scheint es jedoch auch geboten, die bisher verfolgten Ansätze im „Kampf um Orgasmus-Gerechtigkeit“ kritisch zu hinterfragen.

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Linking Sexual Mindfulness to Mixed-Sex Couples’ Relational Flourishing, Sexual Harmony, and Orgasm

Cited by 29 publications

References 54 publications

“Feeling It”: Links between elements of compassion and sexual well-being

“Feeling It”: Links between elements of compassion and sexual well-being

The Heteronormativity Theory of Low Sexual Desire in Women Partnered with Men

Der Gender Orgasm Gap. Ein kritischer Forschungsüberblick zu Geschlechterdifferenzen in der Orgasmus-Häufigkeit beim Heterosex

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