Degree and Direction of Sexual Desire Discrepancy are Linked to Sexual and Relationship Satisfaction in Couples Transitioning to Parenthood

Journal of Sex Research
Natalie O RosenAmy Muise

Abstract

Many new parents are concerned that they have different levels of interest in sex than their partner. Understanding the role of desire discrepancies in their sexual and relationship satisfaction could help promote adjustment. In community couples, larger desire discrepancies have been inconsistently linked to lower sexual and relationship satisfaction. However, these studies rarely accounted for both the degree and direction (e.g., which partner has higher desire) of the discrepancy. We surveyed 255 mixed-sex new parent couples to assess their sexual desire, sexual satisfaction, and relationship satisfaction. Using polynomial regression with response surface analysis (RSA), we found that desire discrepancies between partners (i.e., when partners were more mismatched as opposed to matched on their levels of sexual desire) were associated with lower sexual (but not relationship) satisfaction for both partners. However, the direction of desire discrepancy mattered: Parents felt less satisfied when mothers were the higher-desire partner compared to when fathers were the higher-desire partner. In addition, when partners' level of sexual desire was in agreement, they were more sexually and relationally satisfied if both partners repo...Continue Reading

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Citations

Jul 13, 2019·Breastfeeding Medicine : the Official Journal of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine·Figen Alp YılmazSevinç Polat
Sep 1, 2019·Archives of Sexual Behavior·James K McNultyRoy F Baumeister
Jun 4, 2020·Archives of Sexual Behavior·Natalie O RosenUNKNOWN #postbabyhankypanky Advisory Team
Oct 21, 2020·Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynaecology·Tierney K LorenzRebecca L Brock
Feb 13, 2021·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Giulia CasuFabiola Gómez
Mar 24, 2021·Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy·Emily N JameaRachel B Needle

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Methods Mentioned

BETA
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Software Mentioned

SPSS
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