The specific importance of communicating about sex to couples’ sexual and overall relationship satisfaction

Montesi, Jennifer L.; Fauber, Robert L.; Gordon, Elizabeth A.; Heimberg, Richard G.

doi:10.1177/0265407510386833

Cited by 111 publications

(63 citation statements)

References 22 publications

(32 reference statements)

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“…Open sexual communication has been associated with overall relationship satisfaction among young adults in the USA (Montesi et al 2011) and was similarly found to be associated with positive relationships among girls in this study. Personal characteristics such as confidence and good SRH knowledge may influence girls’ abilities and likelihood to discuss SRH matters with partners and the ability to discuss and negotiate SRH matters may signify a more supportive and open partner and result in safer sex practices.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 72%

What do young people think makes their relationships good? Factors associated with assessments of dating relationships in South Africa

Gevers

Jewkes

Mathews

2013

Culture, Health & Sexuality

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Little is known about the factors and outcomes associated with young people’s subjective relationship assessments. Understanding what young people think makes their relationships ‘good’ or ‘bad’ would give us insight into what is important to them in their relationships as well as their decision-making and behaviour within them. Self-report data from 757 girls (mean age = 17.09 years) and 642 boys (mean age = 17.23 years) were analysed using logistic regression. Relationship primacy was significantly associated with positive relationships for girls and boys. Among girls, partner education and open communication about sexual and reproductive health were additionally related to relationship assessments. Among boys, very little quarrelling was the only additional factor associated with positive relationship assessment. Although relationship assessment was not associated with depression or problem drinking for either girls or boys, drug use was less likely among both girls and boys who reported having a positive relationship. Boys in positive relationships were also more likely to have used a condom the last time they had sex with their main partner. Intervention programmes should equip teenagers with skills to develop and maintain positive relationships.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 72%

What do young people think makes their relationships good? Factors associated with assessments of dating relationships in South Africa

Gevers

Jewkes

Mathews

2013

Culture, Health & Sexuality

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“…However, previous research has also demonstrated that sexual satisfaction and relationship satisfaction often influence each other bidirectionally over time (Byers, 2005;Sprecher & Cate, 2004) and are highly correlated (Mark & Murray, 2012;Montesi, Fauber, Gordon, & Heimberg, 2011). Thus, it is possible that individuals who are more satisfied with their current dating relationship (perhaps due, in part, to being more characteristically mindful in the context of their relationship) are thereby more able to experience a satisfied sexual relationship with their partner.…”

Section: Mindfulness Sexual Satisfaction and Relationship Satisfactionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Zen and the art of sex: examining associations among mindfulness, sexual satisfaction, and relationship satisfaction in dating relationships

Khaddouma

Gordon

Bolden

2014

Sexual and Relationship Therapy

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The purpose of the present study was to examine the links among the five facets of trait mindfulness, sexual satisfaction, and relationship satisfaction in dating relationships. Three hundred and twenty-two individuals in a current dating relationship completed measures of trait mindfulness, sexual satisfaction, and relationship satisfaction. Results of path analyses indicated that sexual satisfaction fully mediated the associations between the Observing (PE D .08, CI D [.02, .15]) and Nonjudging of Inner Experience (PE D .11, CI D [.03, .19]) facets of mindfulness and relationship satisfaction. In contrast, the three remaining facets of mindfulness (Describing, Acting with Awareness, and Nonreactivity to Inner Experience) were not related to sexual satisfaction or relationship satisfaction. These results suggest that attending to and noticing (but refraining from evaluating) internal and external stimuli may contribute to greater relationship satisfaction specifically by increasing sexual satisfaction with one's partner. Furthermore, findings from the current study provide empirical support for the link between mindfulness and sexual satisfaction in dating relationships and suggest that they may jointly contribute to relationship satisfaction, thus indicating an important area for future research and suggesting a potential target for relationship education and intervention efforts.

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“…Furthermore, researchers reported a positive correlation between relationship satisfaction and love attitudes, self-disclosure, and relational competence (Meeks, Hendrick, & Hendrick, 1998). Sexual communication, specifically, contributes to sexual satisfaction (Montesi, Fauber, Gordon, & Heimberg, 2010), relationship satisfaction (Montesi et al, 2010), marital satisfaction (Chesney, Blakeney, Cole, & Chan, 1981) and marital quality (Sprecher & McKinney, 1992). In addition, Theiss (2011) showed that no and indirect sexual communication each negatively relates to sexual satisfaction.…”

Section: Sexual Disclosure and Relational Outcomesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexual Disclosures: Connections to Relational Satisfaction and Closeness

Coffelt

Hess

2013

Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy

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This study examines sexual communication by describing the content of sexual disclosures within marital relationships and assessing the association between sexual disclosures and relational outcomes, specifically relational satisfaction and closeness. A survey administered to 293 married individuals (58% female) who had an average age of 40 years (range = 20-73), 13.7 years of marriage (range = 1 month to 54 years), and who reported high levels of relational satisfaction assessed the relation between the content of sexual disclosures and satisfaction and closeness. While sexual disclosures are made infrequently, positive affect and sexual preferences are disclosed more than negative topics and disclosing sexual information is positively related to relationship satisfaction, rρ(280) =.26, p <.001; and closeness, rs(280) =.475, p <.01. Therapists can use these findings to show clients the positive relation between revealing sexual information and relationship satisfaction and closeness, as reported by individuals experiencing relationship satisfaction.

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The specific importance of communicating about sex to couples’ sexual and overall relationship satisfaction

Cited by 111 publications

References 22 publications

What do young people think makes their relationships good? Factors associated with assessments of dating relationships in South Africa

What do young people think makes their relationships good? Factors associated with assessments of dating relationships in South Africa

Zen and the art of sex: examining associations among mindfulness, sexual satisfaction, and relationship satisfaction in dating relationships

Sexual Disclosures: Connections to Relational Satisfaction and Closeness

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