The ebb and flow of sexual well-being: The contributions of basic psychological needs and autonomous and controlled sexual motivation to daily variations in sexual well-being

Abstract

Why do people have better sexual experiences on certain days but not others? In this study, we used self-determination theory (SDT) to examine whether sexual motives that are autonomous (i.e., genuinely self-endorsed) as opposed to controlled (i.e., pressured) were associated with variations in daily sexual well-being. We also sought to identify circumstances associated with changes in the quality of sexual motivation by considering the extent to which daily interactions with a partner satisfied the basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness. In a 21-day study of daily experiences ( N = 113), findings from multilevel analyses suggested that on days when sexual motives were more autonomous and less controlled, people experienced higher sexual well-being (i.e., higher sexual satisfaction, more positive sexual affect, and less negative sexual affect). Furthermore, on days when interactions with the partner were more positive, as evidenced by better needs satisfaction, sexual motives were more autonomous and this, in turn, was associated with higher sexual well-being. These associations held above the contributions of gender, relationship length, frequency of sexual activities, and relational satisfaction. These findings demonstrate the usefulness of SDT as a framework for the motivational underpinnings of sexual well-being.

Longitudinal associations between childhood maltreatment and sexual motivations in couples: The role of basic psychological needs

“…In turn, basic psychological needs satisfaction in the relationship was positively associated with more autonomous forms of extrinsic motivation (i.e., integrated and identified), and negatively associated with more controlled forms of extrinsic motivation (i.e., introjected and identified) and amotivation. These findings are in line with the small body of research investigating the interplay between basic psychological needs satisfaction and sexual motivation (Brunell & Webster, 2013; Gravel et al, 2020).…”

“…In addition, there is growing evidence for the association between the satisfaction of basic psychological needs and sexual motivation in individuals and couples. In a daily diary study among 113 individuals, days marked by higher basic psychological needs satisfaction also showed higher autonomous sexual motivation (Gravel et al, 2020). In a longitudinal dyadic study, higher need fulfillment during sexual interactions was also related to self-determined sexual motivation (Brunell & Webster, 2013).…”

Sex differences in predictors of relationship satisfaction: The effects of dyadic coping, love, sexual motivation and having children

“…In line with related previous findings, the obtained sex differences suggest that women's general satisfaction in intimate partner relationships involves more complex psychodynamics than men's. This is not surprising, considering that women as opposed to men are generally characterized by a wider variety of dyadic coping modes (e.g., Falconier & Kuhn, 2019;Martos et al, 2021) and sexual motives (e.g., Gravel et al, 2020;Meskó et al, 2022), and by more complex experiences of love (e.g., Meskó et al, 2021;Sorokowski et al, 2017). At the same time, this greater complexity is potentially associ ated with more vulnerable relationship satisfaction in women.…”

A Fertile Ground for Ambiguities: Casual Sexual Relationships Among Portuguese Emerging Adults

“…According to the literature, sexual motivations are important determinants of wellbeing (Gravel et al, 2020), and individuals involved in CSRs may report both self-determined and non-selfdetermined motives (Deci and Ryan, 2000), oriented toward the pursuit of positive experiences and the avoidance of negative ones (Cooper et al, 1998). Hence, it seems positive that, in contrast to the North-American hook-up culture where "it feels wrong not to go along" (Wade, 2017, p. 87), for this group of Portuguese college students, besides being an end in itself, engaging in casual sex represents a way to socialize, relax, and have a good time.…”