Sexual Passion and Attachment: Sexual Passion Style as a Mediator between Attachment Insecurity and Sexual Satisfaction in Committed Relationships

Abstract

Attachment insecurity is negatively linked to sexual satisfaction in committed relationships, but we have much to learn about the specific mechanisms underlying this connection. With a sample of 1,421 participants from Amazon's Mechanical Turk, we used structural equation modeling to explore whether sexual passion expression (harmonious, obsessive, inhibited) might mediate the association between insecure attachment (anxious and avoidant) and sexual satisfaction. Anxious attachment was linked to lower harmonious sexual passion, higher obsessive sexual passion, and higher inhibited sexual passion. Attachment avoidance was linked to lower harmonious sexual passion and higher inhibited sexual passion. Harmonious sexual passion was strongly linked to higher sexual satisfaction, and inhibited sexual passion was negatively linked to sexual satisfaction (for men). Sexual passion expression variables fully mediated the associations between attachment insecurity and sexual satisfaction. This study highlights that the expression of sexual passion may be important when considering the connection between attachment and sexual satisfaction.

The sexual wholeness model: An initial evaluation with two samples

“…In addition, the results are consistent with existing research on sexual passion that indicates harmonious sexual passion is an important element of sexual functioning that relates both to other aspects of sexuality and larger constructs of relationship and life functioning (Busby, Leonhardt et al, 2020; Philippe et al, 2019; Valdez et al, 2020). Because sexual passion and its measures were derived from research from the SDT framework and passion (Busby et al, 2019; Philippe et al, 2019; Vallerand, 2015) where harmony in other areas is related to an autonomous environment that improves relatedness and competence, it is likely that the results in this study provide indirect support for SDT.…”

“…Additionally, several authors have studied the possibility that sexuality is one of the contributors to the adult attachment process (Busby, Hanna‐Walker et al, 2020; Birnbaum & Reis, 2019; Johnson & Zuccarini, 2010). Emerging literature has also started to develop linkages between harmonious passion and attachment (Valdez et al, 2020). We expect, therefore, that beyond the connection of each of the three dimensions of the sexual wholeness model with harmonious sexual passion, these dimensions will be related to secure adult attachment both directly and indirectly through harmonious sexual passion as shown in Figure 2.…”

Attitude and prevalence of early sexual debut and associated risk sexual behavior among adolescents in Tanzania; Evidence from baseline data in a Randomized Controlled Trial

“…It is important to note that whether someone exhibits self-rejection, self-contempt, and self-dissatisfaction or not depends on their level of self-esteem as a result of having good sexual ideas [ 4 ]. Here, the term "sexual ideas" refers to one's beliefs, perceptions, and/or feelings about oneself as a sexual being, which may be good or negative [ 34 , 35 ]. Good sexual ideals may be associated with self-control, moral integrity, societal responsibility, and making thoughtful, responsible judgments about sexual relationships and sexual behaviour [ 10 , 30 ].…”

Supportive, Delegated, and Common Dyadic Coping Mediates the Association between Adult Attachment Representation and Relationship Satisfaction: A Dyadic Approach

“…To support healthy relationships, it is important to understand the predictors of relationship quality for individuals and their partners. Attachment is repeatedly identified as key predictor of relationship quality [19][20][21][22], relationship satisfaction [23,24], commitment [25,26], intimacy [27,28], sexual satisfaction [29,30], marital adjustment [31], and relationship stability [32,33]. There is also a link between attachment insecurities and poor coping skills [34,35], more perceived conflict [36], negative affect [37], pessimistic attribution [38], and relationship distress [39].…”