Whatever you Say: A Multimethod Investigation of Sex, Romantic Relationships, and Interpersonal Dependency

Abstract

An individual’s level of interpersonal dependency influences the way he or she engages with others, and researchers have achieved a comprehensive understanding of the interplay between dependency and interpersonal relationships across an array of social situations. This knowledge has improved the efficacy of medical and psychotherapeutic work with dependent clients and has informed approaches taken to reduce the societal costs of dependent personality disorder (e.g., increased risk for suicide and self-harm, perpetration of child abuse, perpetration of domestic violence, victimization by a partner, and physical illness). Relatively little research, however, has explored dependency’s links to sexual activity and sexual functioning, the findings of which stand to offer a similar wealth of knowledge valuable to sex counseling, couples therapy, sexual health, and our overall understanding of sexuality. The current study utilized a multimethod research design to explore dependency as it relates to sexual and romantic relationships and sexual activity. Multiple associations emerged between dependency, both interpersonal dependency and a healthy variant of dependency, and sexual activity. Based upon these findings, an initial discussion of sexual activity and sexual functioning through the lens of dependency is offered, as well as a brief discussion of some of the therapeutic implications of this knowledge and suggestions for working with dependent clients.