What Keeps Passion Alive? Sexual Satisfaction Is Associated With Sexual Communication, Mood Setting, Sexual Variety, Oral Sex, Orgasm, and Sex Frequency in a National U.S. Study

Journal of Sex Research
David A FrederickJustin R Garcia

Abstract

Passion and sexual satisfaction typically diminish in longer-term relationships, but this decline is not inevitable. We identified the attitudes and behaviors that most strongly differentiated sexually satisfied from dissatisfied men and women who had been together for at least three years (N = 38,747). Data were collected in 2006 from cohabiting and married men (M) and women (W) via an online survey on a major national U.S. news Web site. The vast majority of these participants reported being satisfied with their sex lives during their first six months together (83% W; 83% M). Satisfaction with their current sex lives was more variable, with approximately half of participants reporting overall satisfaction (55% W; 43% M) and the rest feeling neutral (18% W; 16% M) or dissatisfied (27% W; 41% M). More than one in three respondents (38% W; 32% M) claimed their sex lives were as passionate now as in the beginning. Sexual satisfaction and maintenance of passion were higher among people who had sex most frequently, received more oral sex, had more consistent orgasms, and incorporated more variety of sexual acts, mood setting, and sexual communication. We discuss implications of these findings for research and for helping people rev...Continue Reading

References

Aug 1, 1997·Archives of Sexual Behavior·E Haavio-Mannila, O Kontula
Mar 12, 1998·Archives of Sexual Behavior·D SinghD F Hurlbert
Dec 31, 2003·Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health·Richard O de VisserAndrew E Grulich
Jan 30, 2007·The Journal of Adolescent Health : Official Publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine·Janet LeverLeila Sadeghi-Azar
Sep 12, 2007·Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health·Christine Elizabeth Kaestle, Carolyn Tucker Halpern
Sep 28, 2007·Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery·David A FrederickLetitia Anne Peplau
Aug 21, 2008·Archives of Sexual Behavior·Letitia Anne PeplauNegin Ghavami
Jan 12, 2010·Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy·Debra HerbenickJ Dennis Fortenberry
Jan 13, 2010·Psychological Bulletin·Jennifer L Petersen, Janet Shibley Hyde
Apr 2, 2010·Journal of Sex Research·Kimberly R McBride, J Dennis Fortenberry
Aug 28, 2010·Journal of Sex Research·Susan M Hughes, Daniel J Kruger
Nov 5, 2010·The Journal of Sexual Medicine·Debby HerbenickJ Dennis Fortenberry
Jan 27, 2011·Archives of Sexual Behavior·Julia R HeimanRaymond C Rosen
Mar 28, 2012·Journal of Sex Research·Franklin O PoulsenAdam M Galovan
Oct 17, 2012·Archives of Sexual Behavior·Sari M van AndersChelsea R Samples-Steele
Nov 28, 2012·Archives of Sexual Behavior·Andrew GalperinGian C Gonzaga
Oct 12, 2013·Journal of Sex Research·Kristen P MarkMichael Reece
Apr 30, 2014·Archives of Sexual Behavior·Amy MuiseEmily A Impett
Aug 12, 2014·Journal of Sex Research·Peter B GrayHelen E Fisher
Aug 19, 2014·The Journal of Sexual Medicine·Justin R GarciaHelen E Fisher
Sep 25, 2014·Annual Review of Psychology·Samuel D Gosling, Winter Mason
Dec 19, 2014·Archives of Sexual Behavior·David A Frederick, Melissa R Fales

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Apr 27, 2016·Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy·Brian Joseph Gillespie
Feb 7, 2017·Journal of Sex Research·Ateret Gewirtz-Meydan, Ricky Finzi-Dottan
Dec 16, 2017·Journal of Sex Research·Dylan SeltermanIrene Tsapelas
Sep 28, 2018·Journal of Sex Research·Ingela Lundin KvalemTilmann von Soest
Aug 8, 2018·The Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences·Hui LiuNing Hsieh
Jul 25, 2018·Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy·Heather M FrancisEmily Abbruzzi
Jul 25, 2018·Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy·Heather Blunt-VintiMary Hunt
Apr 29, 2020·Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy·Matthew B EzzellChyng F Sun
May 30, 2019·Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynaecology·Krisztina HevesiDavid L Rowland
May 19, 2020·Journal of Sex Research·Erin J Shumlich, William A Fisher
Jul 2, 2020·Culture, Health & Sexuality·Sharron HinchliffBriony Dow
Aug 14, 2020·Journal of Sex Research·Louis LindleyM Paz Galupo
Nov 21, 2019·International Journal of Impotence Research·Aleksandar ŠtulhoferBente Træen
May 26, 2020·Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy·Louis LindleyM Paz Galupo
Jun 8, 2019·Journal of Homosexuality·Jane M FleishmanPatricia Barthalow Koch
Jan 4, 2020·International Journal of Impotence Research·Mary E WestermanMatthew J Ziegelmann
Dec 24, 2019·Journal of Sex Research·Dean M BusbyVeronica Hanna-Walker
May 28, 2019·Journal of Sex Research·Chelom E LeavittDean M Busby
Feb 6, 2020·Journal of Sex Research·Martin SeehuusAmelia M Stanton
Feb 9, 2020·Archives of Sexual Behavior·Laura M Vowels, Kristen P Mark
Jul 12, 2020·Archives of Sexual Behavior·Jessica A Maxwell, Andrea L Meltzer
Dec 9, 2020·Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy·Leonor de OliveiraPedro Nobre
Aug 31, 2020·Gynecologic Oncology·Jian Tao LeeMei-Ling Chen
Jun 9, 2021·Sexual Medicine Reviews·Diana Rausch, Martin Rettenberger
Jul 17, 2021·Journal of Sex Research·Bente TræenIngela Lundin Kvalem
Aug 19, 2021·Archives of Sexual Behavior·Chelom E LeavittSpencer James

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.