Sexual Satisfaction in Monogamous, Nonmonogamous, and Unpartnered Sexual Minority Women in the US

Baldwin, Aleta; Herbenick, Debby; Schick, Vanessa; Light, Brenda; Dodge, Brian; Jackson, Crystal A.; Fortenberry, J. Dennis

doi:10.1080/15299716.2019.1598529

Cited by 9 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…These constructs are linked to relationship satisfaction and increased intimate communication within couples (Byers, 2005). Despite known benefits of sexual satisfaction and pleasure, sex research focusing on lesbian, gay, bisexual, or queer (LGBQ+) individuals primarily utilizes a deficit approach (see Baldwin et al, 2019; Mark et al, 2020; Shepler et al, 2018 for exceptions), often investigating rates of sexually transmitted infection or engagement in risky sexual behaviors (Holmes & Beach, 2020; Thoma et al, 2013; R. J. Watson et al, 2019).…”

Section: Minority Stress Theory and Identity Perceptionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analyzing (pluri)sexual satisfaction and pleasure: A 38-year content analysis.

Vigil¹,

Hargons²,

Savage³

et al. 2023

Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity

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Sexual satisfaction (i.e., feeling sexually fulfilled) and sexual pleasure (i.e., positive physical and emotional experiences during sex) are predominantly studied among heterosexual, white, cisgender samples; whereas, sex research using lesbian, gay, bisexual, or queer (LGBQ+) samples has often taken a deficit-based approach (e.g., sexually transmitted infection, engagement in risky sex). By studying this population predominantly within a deficit-based approach, the risk of pathologizing them rises, especially among multiply marginalized LGBQ+ individuals. Among the studies that do employ a sex-positive lens with LGBQ+ samples, existing scholarship has not been systematically reviewed to determine the representation of plurisexual individuals (i.e., bisexual and pansexual), how these studies depict their intersecting marginalized racial and gender identities, or the inclusion of LGBQ+-specific variables (i.e., internalized homonegativity [IH], internalized binegativity [IB], identity pride [IP]). To address these questions, we conducted a 38-year (1983-2021) content analysis of literature studying sexual satisfaction and/or sexual pleasure among LGBQ+ individuals. Of 75 articles analyzed, sexual satisfaction was measured more frequently (N = 65) than sexual pleasure (N = 10). While roughly half of the articles (N = 39) included bisexual participants, on average they comprised only 10.58% of the sample. Pansexual (N = 5) or queer (N = 9) identities were significantly less represented within samples. Twelve articles included IH, one article included IB more specifically, and two articles included identity affirmation or pride. Only 12 articles included samples that were not predominately white and 11 articles included transgender or gender-expansive participants. Implications for future research among plurisexual samples will be discussed. Public Significance StatementThis content analysis indicates that plurisexual individuals overall and plurisexual individuals who hold other intersecting marginalized identities are vastly underrepresented in sex-positive research focusing on the LGBTQ+ community. Our findings highlight the need for intentional study design that is specifically catered to the unique experiences of multiply marginalized plurisexual individuals.

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Section: Minority Stress Theory and Identity Perceptionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analyzing (pluri)sexual satisfaction and pleasure: A 38-year content analysis.

Vigil¹,

Hargons²,

Savage³

et al. 2023

Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The rigidity of heteronormativity also has implications for sexual satisfaction. For example, higher levels of internalized homonegativity (e.g., experiencing feelings of shame or guilt over one's sexuality) can mentally create barriers to a healthy and satisfying sex life; specifically, internalized homonegativity has been linked to lower sexual satisfaction (Bahamondes et al 2023;Baldwin et al 2019). Shoptaw et al (2009) found that in a sample of cisgender men who have sex with more than one gender, the highest internalized homonegativity scores came from those who have never been tested for HIV.…”

Section: Sexual Health Disparitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Conceptually, sexual satisfaction is the extent to which someone is satisfied with their sexual lives individually (e.g., masturbation) and/or relationally (i.e., sexual interactions with one or more others) across psychological, emotional, and physiological domains (e.g., Björkenstam et al 2020). We note this conceptualization is evolving due to increased scholarly focus, generally, and insights gleaned from the inclusion of more diverse samples (e.g., LGBTQ+ and older adults), more specifically (e.g., Bahamondes et al 2023;Baldwin et al 2019;and Pascoal et al 2019). This is compared to sexual satisfaction's historical conceptualization based on data from (or theories about) largely cisgender, heterosexual men and, to a lesser extent, cisgender, heterosexual women in monogamous partnerships (e.g., Lawrance and Byers 1995).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Multidimensional Understanding of the Relationship between Sexual Identity, Heteronormativity, and Sexual Satisfaction among a Cisgender Sample

van Eeden-Moorefield,

Cooke,

Bible

et al. 2023

Social Sciences

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Contemporary scholarship has begun to focus more on understanding the myriad health disparities (e.g., sexual anxiety, depression) related to sexual identity and its correlates. Sexual satisfaction is linked to many of these disparities, thereby serving as a potentially impactful correlate to understand more deeply in ways that might suggest potential intervention sites to mitigate various disparities. Further, there have also been calls to consider sexual identity multidimensionally beyond only self-identified sexual orientation (LGBQ+ vs. heterosexual) as well as to better understand the role of cultural factors, such as heteronormativity, as correlates of health disparities. Accordingly, this cross-sectional study used internet survey data from 455 cisgender adults of varying sexual identities to test a moderated mediating model linking two dimensions of sexual identity (self-identified sexual orientation and attraction) to sexual satisfaction as mediated by heteronormativity. Results from the multi-group path model analysis were significant for moderation and suggest that heteronormativity mediated the relationship between the attraction dimension of sexual identity and sexual satisfaction only for those who identified as queer (i.e., LGBQ+), whereas attraction was directly related to sexual satisfaction for those that self-identified as heterosexual. Thus, different dimensions of sexual identity have differential impacts on sexual satisfaction and negative impacts of heteronormativity appear significant only for those that identify as queer.

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“…Contrary to the impact of stigma, well‐being and satisfaction in CNM relationships are areas where recent research has offered more nuanced insights. While historically studies have often focused on individual types of CNM, such as swinging (Ruzansky & Harrison, 2019) and polyamory (Balzarini et al., 2021), other research has begun to view CNM relationships more broadly (Baldwin et al., 2019; Brooks et al., 2021; Garner et al., 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘It's a magnifying glass for your relationship’: a thematic analysis of motivations, benefits, and challenges in consensually non‐monogamous relationships

Codrington,

du Plooy

2023

ANZ J of Family Therapy

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The last decade has seen an increase in public and academic interest in consensual non‐monogamy (CNM). CNM involves sexual and/or romantic relationships between multiple partners, with the consent of all individuals involved. Engagement in CNM is estimated at 5% of the general population, although due to stigma with the strong idealisation of monogamy in many cultures, it is a hidden population. This qualitative study explores the motivations, benefits, and challenges experienced in CNM relationships, an area that has been understudied despite the resurgence of interest in it. While previous research has mainly focused on comparisons between CNM and monogamy or individual types of CNM such as polyamory, this study seeks to provide a broader understanding of CNM relationships. We employ a critical realist framework and thematically analyse semi‐structured interviews with eight participants. The results identify three overarching themes: mononormativity and cultural norms; growth and responsibility; and diversity and complexity; each has several subthemes. These findings suggest that CNM provides opportunities for greater diversification of needs and increased community and individual growth. The study also highlights the challenges experienced in CNM relationships and the strategies used to manage them, such as personal responsibility for managing difficult emotions and temporarily closing a relationship at times for relationship security. A novel finding in this study is that some individuals involved in CNM have internalised cultural norms and the idealisation of monogamy and need to unlearn these norms. This study adds to the existing knowledge on CNM and is expected to be of interest to clinicians and researchers seeking to understand its motivations, benefits, and challenges. Relationship therapists will benefit from increased knowledge of how to work with clients interested or engaged in CNM relationships. Overall, this study supports previous findings that CNM is a viable, enjoyable, yet sometimes challenging type of relationship.

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Sexual Satisfaction in Monogamous, Nonmonogamous, and Unpartnered Sexual Minority Women in the US

Cited by 9 publications

References 60 publications

Analyzing (pluri)sexual satisfaction and pleasure: A 38-year content analysis.

Analyzing (pluri)sexual satisfaction and pleasure: A 38-year content analysis.

A Multidimensional Understanding of the Relationship between Sexual Identity, Heteronormativity, and Sexual Satisfaction among a Cisgender Sample

‘It's a magnifying glass for your relationship’: a thematic analysis of motivations, benefits, and challenges in consensually non‐monogamous relationships

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