Applying Theories of Communal Motivation to Sexuality

Muise, Amy; Impett, Emily A.

doi:10.1111/spc3.12261

Cited by 42 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…Although being motivated to be responsive to a partner’s sexual needs can be associated with greater sexual well-being for both partners, if the motivation to meet a partner’s sexual needs is extreme and excludes one’s own needs—termed high unmitigated sexual communion (USC]—this is no longer associated with greater sexual well-being and, instead, may be associated with poorer well-being [16,26]. Unmitigated communion differs from communal care in that it involves self-neglect [26], see also [27]. Thus, it is possible to be high in SCS without also being high in USC, as demonstrated in prior research [20,21].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexual communal motivation in couples coping with low sexual interest/arousal: Associations with sexual well-being and sexual goals

et al. 2019

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Women coping with female sexual interest/arousal disorder (FSIAD) report lower sexual and relationship satisfaction compared to healthy controls. In community samples, high sexual communal strength (i.e., the motivation to meet a partner’s sexual needs) is associated with higher sexual desire and satisfaction, but high unmitigated sexual communion (i.e., the prioritization of a partner’s needs to the exclusion of one’s own needs) is associated with lower sexual satisfaction. People higher in sexual communal strength report engaging in sex for approach goals (i.e., to enhance intimacy in their relationship), but not for avoidance goals (i.e., to avert conflict or a partner’s disappointment) and this is one reason why they report greater sexual desire. In the current sample of 97 women diagnosed with FSIAD and their partners we investigated the association between sexual communal strength and unmitigated sexual communion and sexual well-being (i.e., sexual desire, sexual satisfaction and sexual distress) and sexual goals (i.e., approach and avoidance goals). Women who reported higher sexual communal strength were more likely to pursue sex for approach goals and their partner reported greater sexual satisfaction. When partners reported higher sexual communal strength, they reported higher sexual desire, but when they reported higher unmitigated sexual communion, they reported higher sexual distress. Additional associations emerged for couples who engage in sex more (compared to less) frequently. Our findings demonstrate that being motivated to meet a partner’s sexual needs is associated with greater sexual well-being for couples coping with FSIAD, but when this motivation involves neglecting one’s own needs, people do not report greater sexual well-being and instead, partners report higher sexual distress.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexual communal motivation in couples coping with low sexual interest/arousal: Associations with sexual well-being and sexual goals

et al. 2019

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“…Most studies linking close relationships to well-being have focused on social support, while neglecting the importance of nonverbal interactions, such as sex or touch (Gallace & Spence, 2010; Impett, Muise, & Peragine, 2014). Sexual activity in romantic relationships is a nonverbal interaction often experienced as highly intimate (e.g., Muise & Impett, 2016). Moreover, the literature suggests a robust positive association between sexual frequency and well-being (e.g., Blanchflower & Oswald, 2004; Muise, Schimmack, & Impett, 2016).…”

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confidence: 99%

More Than Just Sex

Debrot

Meuwly

Muise

et al. 2017

Pers Soc Psychol Bull

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Positive interpersonal interactions such as affection are central to well-being. Sex is associated with greater individual well-being, but little is known about why this occurs. We predicted that experienced affection would account for the association between sex and well-being. Cross-sectional results indicated that affection mediated the association between sex and both life satisfaction (Study 1) and positive emotions (however, among men only in Study 2). In Study 3, an experience sampling study with 106 dual-earner couples with children, affection mediated the association between sex and increased positive affect in daily life. Cross-lagged analyses in Study 3 to 4 supported the predicted direction of the associations. Moreover, the strength of the daily association between sex and positive affect predicted both partners' relationship satisfaction 6 months later. Our findings underscore the importance of affection and positive affect for understanding how sex promotes well-being and has long-term relational benefits.

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“…In other words, people may care for others while desiring mutual care, or they may provide care in ways that are devoid of agency and concern for their own needs. More recently, research has shown that people may also be communally motivated in specific relationship domains, such as sexuality (Muise, Impett, Kogan, and Desmarais 2013;Muise and Impett 2016). Importantly, these different forms of communal motivation have unique personal and relationship implications, which are discussed below.…”

Section: History and Definitionsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Communal Motivation

Le¹,

Impett²

2018

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In close relationships, people’s outcomes become highly intertwined, or interdependent, over time and across contexts (Clark & Mills 2011; Kelley & Thibaut 1978; Rusbult & Van Lange 2003). For example, young children rely on care from their parents as they grow and develop, and as they become older themselves, they often provide care and companionship to their aging parents. Friends provide emotional support to one another in times of need and share in one another’s joys in times of accomplishment. Romantic partners provide affection and physical intimacy to each other in ways unmatched by other relationship partners. Given that people rely on their relationship partners to meet many of their needs and desires, communal motivation, or care for the welfare of others, is an important component of personal well-being and satisfying relationships (Le, Impett, Lemay, Muise, & Tskhay 2018). Here, the history of communal motivation research is reviewed; the role of communal motivation in building and maintaining relationships described; and the emotional expressions and reactions linked to communal motivation explained.

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Applying Theories of Communal Motivation to Sexuality

Cited by 42 publications

References 61 publications

Sexual communal motivation in couples coping with low sexual interest/arousal: Associations with sexual well-being and sexual goals

Sexual communal motivation in couples coping with low sexual interest/arousal: Associations with sexual well-being and sexual goals

More Than Just Sex

Communal Motivation

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