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Relationship Contingency and Sexual Motivation in Women: Implications for Sexual Satisfaction

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Abstract

Deriving self-worth from romantic relationships (relationship contingency) may have implications for women’s sexual motives in relationships. Because relationship contingency enhances motivation to sustain relationships to maintain positive self-worth, relationship contingent women may engage in sex to maintain and enhance their relationships (relational sex motives). Using structural equation modeling on Internet survey data from a convenience sample of 462 women in heterosexual and lesbian relationships, we found that greater relationship contingency predicted greater relational sex motives, which simultaneously predicted both sexual satisfaction and dissatisfaction via two distinct motivational states. Having sex to improve intimacy with one’s partner was associated with greater sexual satisfaction and autonomy, while having sex to earn partner’s approval was associated with sexual dissatisfaction and inhibition. While some differences exist between lesbian and heterosexual relationships, relationship contingency had sexual costs and benefits, regardless of relationship type.

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Notes

  1. In retrospect, the use of the word “usually” may have made this difficult for participants to interpret on a 1 (Never) to 6 (Always) scale. This represents a limitation for this measure.

  2. Participants were also asked “How often do you engage in sexual intercourse with your partner? (i.e., vaginal penetration)”, “How often do you give oral sex to your partner?”, and “How often do you receive oral sex from your partner?” on a scale where 0 = I have never engaged in this activity and 6 = 5 or more times a week. Women in lesbian relationships indicated engaging in penetrative sex (M = 3.34) less frequently than women in heterosexual relationships (M = 3.99). No other differences on the oral sex frequencies measures were observed.

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Acknowledgements

During the preparation of this article, Ms. Moss-Racusin was supported by a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship and Ms. Phelan was supported by a Jacob Javits Fellowship.

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Correspondence to Diana T. Sanchez.

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Sanchez, D.T., Moss-Racusin, C.A., Phelan, J.E. et al. Relationship Contingency and Sexual Motivation in Women: Implications for Sexual Satisfaction. Arch Sex Behav 40, 99–110 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-009-9593-4

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