The Association Between Sexual Motives and Sexual Satisfaction: Gender Differences and Categorical Comparisons

Abstract

Past research suggests that sexual satisfaction may be partially dependent on sexual motives (the reasons people have sex). The primary goal of this study was to determine which of a wide range of empirically derived sexual motives were related to sexual satisfaction, and whether gender differences existed in these relationships. Examining data from 544 undergraduate participants (93 men, 451 women), we found that certain types of motives predicted levels of sexual satisfaction for both genders. However, a greater number of motive categories were related to satisfaction for women than for men, and sexual motives were a more consistent predictor of satisfaction in general for women than for men. We also found that empirical categories of motives predicted more variance in satisfaction ratings than did previously used theoretical categories. These findings suggest that a wide range of sexual motives are related to sexual satisfaction, that these connections may be moderated by gender, and that empirically-constructed categories of motives may be the most effective tool for studying this link.

The Upside to Hooking Up: College Students’ Positive Hookup Experiences

“…In a sample of 544 undergraduates, both men and women's sexual satisfaction was positively related to motives such as love/commitment, self-esteem, and resources. In addition, sexual motives including expression, pleasure, and experience seeking were also related to sexual satisfaction for women (Stephenson, Ahrold, & Meston, 2011). Similarly, when assessing nine sexual motives, including approach (i.e., to seek pleasurable or positive experiences) and avoidant (i.e., to avoid negative experiences) motives, men and women endorsed all motives equally, except one.…”

Predictors of Sexual Distress in Women with Desire and Arousal Difficulties: Distinguishing Between Personal, Partner, and Interpersonal Distress

“…In addition, our study confirmed earlier findings showing that relational satisfaction is relevant to the prediction of sexual distress due to desire and arousal impairments, but this was only significant for perceived partner-and interpersonal distress, 3,[15][16][17][18][19][20] Women have various reasons to engage in sex with their partner. 39 However, with the presence of a sexual impairment, the motivation to have sex is more likely to be influenced by interpersonal compared to intrapersonal reasons. Women with low quality relationships may be more likely to have sex because of partner approval reasons (that have been shown to elicit negative mood in partners, as they perceive these motives as 'not genuine') and women with high quality relationships are more likely to have sex because of partner approach motives (e.g., relational intimacy).…”

Gender Differences in Liking and Wanting Sex: Examining the Role of Motivational Context and Implicit Versus Explicit Processing

“…That is, sexual appraisal may vary depending on which motivation is triggered at a certain moment in time. These motivational triggers may be different for men and women (Carroll, Volk, & Hyde, 1985;Hill & Preston, 1996;Oliver & Hyde, 1993;Stephenson, Ahrold, & Meston, 2011). In men, sexual activity may be rewarding in itself whereas women often have sex to express intimacy or strengthen the emotional bond (Basson, 2000(Basson, , 2001.…”