The Tempo of Sexual Activity and Later Relationship Quality

Abstract

Rapid sexual involvement may have adverse long‐term implications for relationship quality. This study examined the tempo of sexual intimacy and subsequent relationship quality in a sample of married and cohabiting men and women. Data come from the Marital and Relationship Survey, which provides information on nearly 600 low‐ to moderate‐income couples living with minor children. Over one third of respondents became sexually involved within the first month of the relationship. Bivariate results suggested that delaying sexual involvement was associated with higher relationship quality across several dimensions. The multivariate results indicated that the speed of entry into sexual relationships was negatively associated with marital quality, but only among women. The association between relationship tempo and relationship quality was largely driven by cohabitation. Cohabiting may result in poorer quality relationship because rapid sexual involvement early in the romantic relationship is associated with entrance into shared living.

Cohabitation, post-conception unions, and the rise in nonmarital fertility

“…They may also result from distinct patterns of relationship formation. For example, sexual involvement occurs more rapidly among minority than white couples, which may elevate the risk of conception, reduce relationship quality, and affect subsequent union transitions (Sassler, Addo, and Lichter, 2012). …”

The Progression of Sexual Relationships

“…Rapid transitions into cohabitation may have consequences for young adults' subsequent health and welfare, particularly if quickly formed relationships are of lower quality or are less stable (Sassler, Addo, & Lichter, ; Surra & Hughs, ). Precipitous entrance into and out of sexual relationships may also have adverse health consequences, such as increasing exposure to sexually transmitted infections (Chen, Ghani, & Edmunds, ; Meyers, ).…”

The State of Sex Research in MFT and Family Studies Literature: A Seventeen‐Year Content Analysis

“…Maintenance/Housework/Relationships ‐ Clinicians need to consider a variety of behaviors that can increase/maintain excitement in intimate relationships (Malouff, Mundy, Galea, & Bothma, ). ‐ Therapists can help couples increase intimacy by spending more time together and negotiating changing gender expectations (Reynolds & Knudson‐Martin, ). ‐ Therapists need to consider couple strategies for increased sexual desire in intimate relationships (Ferreira, Fraenkel, Narciso, & Novo, ). ‐ Consider sexual restraint as a factor for increased relationship outcomes (Busby, Carroll, & Willoughby, ). ‐ Clinicians should consider perceptions of sexuality as a factor contributing to overall relationship satisfaction (Hernandez, Mahoney, & Pargament, ). ‐ Contribution of housework by male partners can increase sexual frequency and satisfaction in heterosexual relationships (Johnson, Galambos, & Anderson, ). ‐ External stressors and lack of dyadic coping are associated with lower sexual activity and satisfaction (Bodenmann, Atkins, Schär, & Poffet, ). ‐ Clinicians should consider how sexual satisfaction can contribute to long‐term relationship satisfaction (Fallis, Rehman, Woody, & Purdon, ). ‐ Therapists need to give attention to caring and loving behaviors in relationships as predictors to increased positive sexuality (Charny & Asineli‐Tal, ). ‐ Clinicians should consider the relationship between marital duration and extramarital sex as contributors to relationship satisfaction (Liu, ). ‐ Lower sexual frequency is associated with lower relationship outcomes in cohabiting couples than married couples (Yabiku & Gager, ). ‐ Clinicians should consider cohabitation as a predictor of poorer relationship quality (Sassler, Addo, & Lichter, ). ‐ Clinicians should consider contextual factors and attitudes regarding gender and sexual permissiveness (Kraaykamp, ). ‐ Therapists should consider depression as a predictor of relationship satisfaction among older couples (Scott, Sandberg, Harper, & Miller, ). ‐ Clinicians should consider the role of the sexual relationship in romantic relationships and how neuroticism can impact the marriage (Daspe, Sabourin, Lussier, Péloquin, & Wright, ). ‐ Risky sexual behaviors from husbands increases the risk of wives being exposed to STIs (Hall, Fals‐Stewart, & Fincham, ). ‐ Clinicians should consider the negative impact child sexual abuse may have on sexual satisfaction in relationships (Vaillancourt‐Morel et al., ). ‐ Extreme levels, both high and low, of neuroticism predicted poorer sexual satisfaction, but low‐to‐moderate levels predicted higher sexual satisfaction (Daspe et al., ). ‐ Gay couples who parent children report higher levels of commitment to their partners, while simultaneously reporting lower sexual satis...…”

“…-Clinicians should consider cohabitation as a predictor of poorer relationship quality (Sassler, Addo, & Lichter, 2012).…”