Little is known about how fat talk - a verbal expression of body image concerns - functions within romantic relationships. This study used vignettes about a fictional couple to examine how varied levels of a woman's fat talk were perceived by participants as affecting a fictional couple's relationship and sexual satisfaction. Participants were recruited from Amazon Mechanical Turk and included 239 heterosexual people (127 men, 112 women) with long-term relationship experience. Using a 3 (Level of Body Talk: Excessive vs. Minimal Fat Talk vs. Self-Accepting Talk) × 2 (Participant Gender: Male vs. Female) × 2 (Perspective: Husband vs. Wife) between-subjects design, participants read a vignette where the target woman used varying levels of body talk when speaking with her partner. Afterwards, participants completed a series of questionnaires to report on their perceptions of the couple's relationship and sexual satisfaction. Supporting hypotheses, results indicated that participants in the Excessive Fat Talk condition perceived lower relationship and sexual satisfaction levels than the Minimal Fat Talk and Self-Accepting Body Talk conditions. No differences emerged between those exposed to the Self-Accepting and Minimal Fat Talk vignette dialog. Male participants reported lower perceived relationship quality and sexual satisfaction than women participants. Research in this area is in its infancy, and more is needed (especially with actual couples) to better understand how fat talk, as a behavioral function of poor body image, impacts relationship functioning.

The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between mindfulness and its link to sexual satisfaction and relationship satisfaction. Data were collected from 809 individuals (18.8% bisexual, 60.7% straight, 19.2% gay/lesbian) in romantic relationships. Participants completed an online survey to measure mindfulness (five facets: observing of experience, describing with words, acting with awareness, non judging of inner experience, non reactivity to inner experience), sexual satisfaction, and relationship satisfaction. Results from two multivariate analyses (predicting sexual satisfaction and relationship satisfaction) revealed that relationship satisfaction is significantly predicted by three of the five facets of mindfulness – acting with awareness, describing with words, and non judging of inner experience. Sexual satisfaction was significantly predicted by the non judging of inner experience facet of mindfulness. Non judging of inner experience was the only facet that significantly predicted both relationship and sexual satisfaction. These findings indicate that when individuals are able to take a non-evaluative stance towards their sensations, cognitions, and emotions, they are more likely to be satisfied. Future research and clinical intervention for improving satisfaction may benefit from focusing on mindfulness related to the non judging of inner experience. Implications for clinical practice and future research will be discussed.

O objetivo desta tese é analisar se há associação entre atividade sexual e satisfação sexual, e as condições demográficas, socioeconômicas e de saúde, e também a importância dada à vida sexual no passado e no presente, para a população idosa residente no município de São Paulo. Foram considerados os dados do Estudo SABE - Saúde, Bem-Estar e Envelhecimento, relativos à amostra de 2006, composta por 1.078 sujeitos, correspondendo após ponderação a uma população de 854.724 idosos do município de São Paulo. Homens e mulheres foram analisados separadamente, e os dados comparados posteriormente. Os resultados mostraram que frente ao aumento da idade e determinadas condições socioeconômicas e de saúde, a satisfação sexual é cada vez menos associada à atividade sexual, sendo isso mais verificado entre as mulheres do que os homens. Em relação às condições de saúde, a ocorrência de doenças entre as mulheres mostrou mais interferência negativa para a satisfação sexual do que entre os homens. Entre os casados verificou-se maior relação entre a atividade sexual e a satisfação sexual. Como conclusão observou-se que, com o avanço da idade, a satisfação sexual está menos associada à realização de atividade sexual, independente do sexo, porém, isso se verifica mais entre as mulheres, o que não justifica dizer que as pessoas idosas são assexuadas. / The purpose of this thesis is to analyze whether there is an association between sexual activity and sexual satisfaction, and demographic, socioeconomic and health conditions, and the importance given to sexual life in the past and nowadays by the elderly population living in São Paulo. Data from the SABE Study - Health, Welfare and Aging were considered, relating to sample of 2006, consisting of 1078 individuals, corresponding to a population of 854.724 elderly, after weighting, in São Paulo. Men and women have been analyzed separately and then information has been compared. The results showed that against the increased age and specific socioeconomic and health conditions, sexual satisfaction is becoming less associated with sexual activity and it is more observed among women than men. Regarding health conditions, occurrences of diseases among women proved more negative interference for sexual satisfaction than men. Among those married there was a highest ratio between sexual activity and sexual satisfaction. As a conclusion, it was observed that, with increasing age, sexual satisfaction is less tied to the sexual activity, regardless of sex, but it occurs more among women, which is not right to say that older people are asexual.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-05T19:36:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 6 / Nenhuma / A qualidade de vida refere-se ao bem estar, físico, social e psicológico. A ansiedade, depressão e a satisfação sexual são fatores importantes que podem interferir na avaliação da qualidade de vida de pacientes com câncer. O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a qualidade de vida os indicadores de ansiedade e depressão e o grau de satisfação sexual em pacientes adultos com câncer. Participaram deste estudo 82 pacientes com diferentes tipos de câncer, sendo 25 homens e 57 mulheres, com idade média de 38,99 (DP= 7,47). O delineamento foi quantitativa, correlacional e transversal. Os instrumentos utilizados foram: WHOQOL-breve, QSG-12 e Questionário de Satisfação Sexual. Os resultados mostraram que a qualidade de vida, os indicadores de ansiedade e depressão e a satisfação sexual estiveram correlacionados de forma significativa. Observou-se que os pacientes que foram submetidos à radioterapia apresentaram melhor qualidade de vida na dimensão total, física e social que os pacientes que não fizeram esse tra / Quality of life was conceptualized by WHO as physical, social and psychological wellbeing. Anxiety, depression and sexual satisfaction are important factors that influence the evaluation of the quality of life. The present study aimed to examine quality of life, anxiety and depression indicators and sexual satisfaction in patients with cancer. Participants were 82 patients with different types of cancer, 25 men and 57 women, with average age 38,99 (DP=7,47). The design was quantitative, correlacional and cross-sectional. Instruments used were Whoqol-brief, QSG-12 and sexual satisfaction questionnaire. Quality of life, anxiety, depression and sexual satisfaction indicators were significantly correlated. Patients submitted to radiotherapy presented a better total quality of life, and physical and social dimension than patients no submitted to this 12 treatment. Regression analysis showed that anxiety and depression indicators were significant predictors of total quality of life, and sexual satisfaction was pa

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between relational aggression and sexual satisfaction, as well as the mediating role of attachment on this relationship. Data came from the Relationship Evaluation Survey (RELATE) comprised of the matched-pair responses of 797 couples in serious dating, engaged, or married relationships. Results showed the greater the perceived relational aggression the lower the sexual satisfaction for both self and partner, regardless of gender. Additionally, it appears a more satisfying sexual relationship can occur when an individual experiences a secure attachment base and can feel confident that his/her relationship is safe. For both genders, the more relationally aggressive behaviors reported, the lower the reports of secure attachment behaviors. Implications for clinicians and future research are discussed.

A satisfying sexual relationship is an important aspect of general marital satisfaction. Considering that most people will marry, understanding the factors influencing marital sexual satisfaction becomes important in understanding what makes happy, satisfied relationships and individuals in our society. This study builds on previous research, which has indicated that there are a number of "risky factors" associated with having numerous premarital sexual partners, by demonstrating that there are risks associated with the future marital relationship. Using exchange theory concepts, this study empirically examines the relationship between premarital sexual promiscuity and marital sexual satisfaction. The sample included 313 married males and females between the ages of 18-40 using data from the NHSLS survey, a United States national random sample. The dichotomous dependent variable combined measures of emotional and physical sexual satisfaction. Premarital sexual promiscuity was measured continuously. Implications for clinicians are discussed. Of males, 87.7% reported being extremely satisfied with their marital sexual relationship and 12.3% reported being moderately satisfied. Of females, 84.6% of reported extreme satisfaction and 15.4% reported moderate satisfaction with their marital sexual relationship. The range of partners including the marital partner was 1-191 for men and 1-66 for women. The mean number of partners was 11.35 (SD 19.77) for men and 4.25 (SD 6.3) for women. Results indicate that for every additional premarital sexual partner an individual has, not including the marital sexual partner, the likelihood that they will say their current marital sexual relationship is extremely satisfying versus only being moderately satisfying goes down 3.9%. Additionally, when running models separately for males and females, the male model was more significant at 5.3%. The female model approached significance. Control variables for the models were not significant except that males who were not White, Black, or Hispanic, were 8.9% less likely than White males to report being extremely satisfied with their marital sexual relationship as compared to only being moderately satisfied. This model does not account for individuals who had sex with their spouse before marriage and the results should not be interpreted to include such.

This longitudinal study examined the relationship between husband and wife shame and husband and wife sexual satisfaction one year later with husband and wife relational aggression as mediating variables. The sample included 353 heterosexual married couples who participated in the Flourishing Families Research Project, a longitudinal study of daily family life. Results showed that husband and wife shame was negatively related with husband and wife sexual satisfaction, respectively. Husband love withdrawal was negatively related with both husband and wife sexual satisfaction, while wife love withdrawal was negatively related with only husband sexual satisfaction. Each partner's use of social sabotage was negatively related with their partner's sexual satisfaction. Research and clinical implications were discussed.

This dissertation addressed whether and how theories of marriage apply to same-sex relationships. These theories correspond to two main research questions. First, does the legal recognition of same-sex relationships provide the same benefits for members of same-sex couples that it does for different-sex spouses? Second, how do same-sex couples divide household labor, and, should inequalities emerge, what factors explain the division of labor? Marriage provides numerous benefits to husband/wife couples who wed, including better mental and physical health, greater financial security, and higher levels of sexual satisfaction. Using results from a web-based survey of members of same-sex couples and same-sex-attracted singles (N=429), I tested the applicability of the "marriage benefits model" to same-sex marriages, civil unions, domestic partnerships, and cohabiting couples. Although the focus of the same-sex marriage debate has been on the positive attributes of marriage, marriage for different-sex couples is also associated with great inequity in the division of household labor. Explanations for the housework gap point to gender or are tied up in correlates of gender, such as income and work hours. I also explored variations in the division of household labor in same-sex marriages and partnerships and tested extant theories of housework inequality. Results indicated that legal recognition (marriages and civil unions) does provide some benefits to financial well-being and physical health. Defining one's own relationship as a marriage (regardless of legal recognition) was more strongly associated with "marriage" benefits, including greater financial well-being, an improved sexual relationship, and fewer health-risk behaviors. Femininity was positively related to proportional housework contributions, and proportional work hours were inversely related, to proportional housework, supporting both the gender and time availability explanations of housework inequalities. Interactions between gender and relationship characteristics and between time availability and relationship characteristics were also explored.

Sexual assault (SA) has been associated with various negative psychological consequences for survivors. Recent studies have shown an association between the history of sexual assault and sexual dysfunction among female survivors of sexual victimization. Specifically, sexual assault survivors experience difficulties with aspects of sexual functioning, sexual satisfaction, and sexual self-schemas (Rellini & Meston, 2011). The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between sexual victimization severity and sexual functioning and sexual satisfaction. In addition, we tested a sequential mediational model in which sexual self-schema followed by depressive and PTSD symptoms would mediate the relationship between sexual victimization severity and sexual satisfaction and sexual functioning. Seventy-three female college students with a history of sexual victimization were asked to complete a series of self-report questionnaires designed to assess the history of sexual victimization, sexual functioning, sexual satisfaction, sexual self-schemas and psychological distress levels (i.e., depression and posttraumatic stress disorder symptom severity). Results revealed no significant associations between severity of sexual victimization and sexual satisfaction and sexual functioning. Additionally, our sequential mediational models, in which sexual self-schema followed by depressive and PTSD symptoms would mediate the relationship between sexual victimization severity and sexual satisfaction and functioning were non-significant. Our findings may have been limited due to the lack of variability in sexual victimization severity. Future studies further investigating the role of sexual self-schema, depression, and PTSD on sexual functioning and sexual satisfaction among sexual assault survivors are warranted.

How do people determine satisfaction in their relationships? One way may be to engage in bottom-up processing and rely on sexual satisfaction to arrive at an overall evaluation of the relationship. Another way may be to engage in top-down processing and allow the overall relationship satisfaction to color the perceptions of sexual satisfaction. The current study more rigorously examined the causal relationship between sexual and marital satisfaction through multilevel cross-lagged regression analyses of 8 waves of marital and sexual satisfaction reported by 72 newlywed couples over the first five years of marriage. Consistent with bottom-up processing, initial sexual satisfaction predicted subsequent marital satisfaction. Also, consistent with top-down processing, initial marital satisfaction predicted subsequent sexual satisfaction. The current findings extend theoretical perspectives on the relationship between sexual satisfaction and suggest that both causal paths be considered in future research and clinical practice.