Exploring the Link Between Daily Relationship Quality, Sexual Desire, and Sexual Activity in Couples

Dewitte, Marieke; Mayer, Axel

doi:10.1007/s10508-018-1175-x

Cited by 68 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 52 publications

(66 reference statements)

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“…Use of intimate apparel might also act as a form of self-arousal: a thorough review of women's sexual desire by Meana [55] suggests that women want to feel sexually desired. Although a main factor in the decline of sexual desire and overall functioning for women is the presence of children and increased roles and responsibilities [56][57][58], the current study found that women's parental status, employment status, income, and age were not predictors for the use of intimate apparel. We found the best predictors for women's use of intimate apparel during their most sexual encounter to be relative mate value, relationship commitment, and relationship satisfaction.…”

Section: Plos Onecontrasting

confidence: 67%

Women's use of intimate apparel as subtle sexual signals in committed, heterosexual relationships

Craig

Gray

2020

PLoS ONE

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Current literature on women's sexual signaling focuses on modes of attracting potential, new sexual partners, but says little about women's subtle sexual signals in committed, romantic relationships. Subtle sexual signals are inherently private and are only visible to the intended audience; a woman might use these signals to elicit or accept a sexual response from her partner or to increase her overall attractiveness, or attractivity. In this study, we sought to identify women's use of intimate apparel as a proceptive or receptive behavior as well as the effects of relative mate value, relationship commitment, relationship satisfaction, and sexual functioning. A total of N = 353 women in the United States aged 25-45 who were in committed, heterosexual relationships completed the survey; 88.7% of the sample indicated wearing or having worn sexy underwear. Results indicate that women report wearing sexier underwear the day taking the survey if they anticipate sexual activity that same day. However, during the most recent sexual activity, women did not report wearing sexier underwear if they initiated (proceptive) that activity. While relative mate value was not directly related to sexiness of intimate apparel, women who report higher mate value tend to wear sexier underwear. Women's use of intimate apparel might be viewed as a method of increasing attractivity and underlying receptivity to aid relationship maintenance, though caveats regarding measures and alternative interpretations are also discussed. Findings suggest that these women use intimate apparel to feel sexy, desired, aroused, and to prepare for sex with their partners. This study is the first to examine intimate apparel in relationships and as a subtle sexual signal of proceptivity and receptivity. OPEN ACCESS Citation: Craig LK, Gray PB (2020) Women's use of intimate apparel as subtle sexual signals in committed, heterosexual relationships. PLoS ONE 15(3): e0230112. https://doi.org/10.Relationship maintenance strategies include positivity, openness, social network, and task sharing [5]. Originally defined by Canary and Stafford [22], positivity is acting nice and courteous; openness involves speaking openly about thoughts and feelings; social network is spending time with mutual friends; and task sharing involves sharing in household responsibilities. Others indicate that sharing activities with a romantic partner is beneficial for relationship maintenance [23], and sexual satisfaction in relationships is associated with relationship satisfaction and commitment [24, 25]. Indeed, all these strategies are associated with greater PLOS ONEWomen's intimate apparel in heterosexual relationships PLOS ONE | https://doi.

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Section: Plos Onecontrasting

confidence: 67%

Women's use of intimate apparel as subtle sexual signals in committed, heterosexual relationships

Craig

Gray

2020

PLoS ONE

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“…Acknowledging that the menopause transition often undermines sexual functioning in women (Avis et al, 2017), we speculate that the importance postmenopausal women attribute to sexuality depends much more on relationship-oriented motivational processes than spontaneous (hormone-driven) sexual desire. Such motivational component of the female sexual response, including nonsexual motivation for sexual behavior, has already been postulated by Basson (2000) and shown in empirical studies for premenopausal women (Dewitte & Mayer, 2018). After having become widowed or divorced, downgrading the importance of sexuality may thus serve as an adaptive selfregulatory strategy (Gott & Hinchliff, 2003).…”

Section: Cohort Differences In Late-midlife Sexualitymentioning

confidence: 82%

Perceived Importance and Enjoyment of Sexuality in Late Midlife: Cohort Differences in the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA)

et al. 2020

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Introduction Age-related declines in multiple facets of sexuality in later life are well documented. However, most studies have been cross-sectional with data collected at one point in time, leaving questions about cohort differences and interrelated historical changes in physical health and psychosocial functioning unanswered. Methods We examined cohort differences in perceived importance and enjoyment of sexuality in late midlife using data from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA) obtained 20 years apart, 1992–1993 (N = 718) and 2012–2013 (N = 860), from two independent samples aged 55 to 65 years (both samples: Mage ≈ 60, 52–53% women). Results Later-born adults in late midlife reported attributing slightly higher importance to sexuality than their earlier-born peers and experiencing their sex life as slightly less pleasant. Effect sizes were small at the sample level (d < .15), but substantial for certain population segments. For example, historical increases in reported importance of sexuality were especially pronounced among women with no partner (d = .56). When controlling for socio-demographic, physical health, and psychosocial factors, cohort differences in perceived importance of sexuality remained significant, but those for enjoyment did not. Conclusions Late-midlife sexuality undergoes historical changes. Specifically, reported perceived importance of sexuality has increased over historical time, especially in particular population segments. Policy implications We discuss whether our findings represent historical changes in actual behavior, perception, or the willingness to report on one’s sex life.

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“…These normative factors are likely to have played a particularly prominent role in the socialization of older age cohorts. However, as suggested by recent dyadic studies (Muise et al 2014;Dewitte and Mayer 2018), some of these sexuality-related gender differences may not be confined to older couples. Apart from the sociocultural influences, the potential disruptiveness of the male partner's less successful ageing for the couple's sexual life may also reflect physical (problematic male sexual function) and psychological issues (giving up sex due to a declining sense of masculinity; see Jowett et al 2012).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Successful aging, change in sexual interest and sexual satisfaction in couples from four European Countries

et al. 2018

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Although the importance of sexuality and physical intimacy for well-being of older adults has been recognized, the role of sexuality in successful ageing (SA) has been largely neglected. Building on our previous work, here we further validated a 3-dimensional model of SA and examined its associations with sexual satisfaction and change in sexual interest among older heterosexual couples (aged 60-75 years). Participants were recruited in a probability-based survey, which was carried out in 2016-2017 in four European countries. Using structural equation modelling of the Actor-Partner Interdependence, we observed significant relationships between SA and sexual satisfaction for both male and female partners across countries. Among women, their retrospectively assessed change in sexual interest over the past 10 years was consistently associated with sexual satisfaction. Partner effects were gender-specific: male partners' SA was significantly related to their female partners' change in sexual interest, which in turn was linked to male partners' sexual satisfaction. The findings point to substantial ties between successful ageing and sexuality in older European couples. Taking into account the prevalent stereotypes about old age and sexuality, this study's findings can assist professionals working with ageing couples.

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Exploring the Link Between Daily Relationship Quality, Sexual Desire, and Sexual Activity in Couples

Cited by 68 publications

References 52 publications

Women's use of intimate apparel as subtle sexual signals in committed, heterosexual relationships

Women's use of intimate apparel as subtle sexual signals in committed, heterosexual relationships

Perceived Importance and Enjoyment of Sexuality in Late Midlife: Cohort Differences in the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA)

Successful aging, change in sexual interest and sexual satisfaction in couples from four European Countries

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