This study aimed to assess whether differences among categories of sexual self-schemas of men and women existed for weekly frequency of masturbation and sexual activity, level of sexual satisfaction, and level of marital adjustment in the context of marital relationship. In order to evaluate this, the Sexual Self-Schema Scale (Hill, 2007) was translated into Turkish, and its psychometric quality was tested on undergraduate university students. In a sample of 204 married individuals, the interrelationship between sexual self-schema categories and study variables was evaluated through univariate analyses of covariance. Results revealed that the Sexual Self-Schema Scale consisted of three factors in the sample of university students: Loving/Compassionate, Sensual/Stimulating, and Direct/Outspoken. However, the pattern of factors differed for married individuals / factors were labeled as Loving/Warm, Direct/Outspoken, and Reserved/Conservative in this sample. For married individuals, differences among categories of sexual self-schemas were reported for frequency of sexual activity, sexual satisfaction and marital adjustment. Specifically, individuals having positive sexual self-schemas in the present study reported higher frequency of sexual activity, higher levels of sexual satisfaction and marital adjustment in their relationships compared to aschematic and negative schematic individuals. However, weekly frequency of masturbation did not result in any difference among categories. Moreover, gender differences were demonstrated. Women were shown to endorse lower levels of sexual satisfaction and to engage in less frequent masturbation than men. After findings were evaluated, limitations were discussed with an emphasis on recommendations for future research, and implications for clinical psychology were mentioned.

The major aims of the present study have been to investigate the predictive role of communication patterns and sexual satisfaction on relationship satisfaction / and to investigate the moderating role of sexual satisfaction on this relationship for married individuals both with and without children and for cohabiting individuals. In order to evaluate these, the Communication Pattern Questionnaire (CPQ), the Golombok-Rust Sexual Satisfaction Inventory (GRISS), the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS), and Demographic Information Form were administered to 74 married individuals with children, 68 married individuals without children, and 66 cohabiting individuals. To examine relationship statuses differences on communication patterns, sexual and relationship satisfaction, analysis of variance was performed. The results showed that relationship statuses do not differ on these variables. After controlling for the effects of age and duration of relationship, the main and interaction effects of communication patterns and sexual satisfaction on relationship satisfaction were assessed with a hierarchical regression analysis. The results revealed that a lower level of destructive communication, a higher level of constructive communication, and sexual satisfaction were separately associated with greater relationship satisfaction for all relationship status. However, emotional-logical communication was positively associated with relationship satisfaction only among married individuals with children and that aggressive communication was negatively associated with relationship satisfaction among married individuals without children and cohabiting individuals. Moreover, the interaction effect was found that sexual satisfaction moderated the effect of destructive communication on relationship satisfaction only among married individuals without children. Results are discussed with reference to related literature together with implications and the limitations of the study.

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.

Research supports a link between poor body esteem, depression, and sexual dysfunction among childhood sexual abuse (CSA) survivors. Though the interplay of these factors also impacts nonabused women, it is possible that the impact is differentially affects these populations. The present study examined the degree to which body esteem may act as psychological mechanism through which CSA impacts adult sexuality, while controlling for the effects of depression – a problem that affects many abuse survivors. Data were collected from 108 women, 73 of who reported CSA. Women with CSA reported poorer body esteem, lower sexual functioning, less sexual satisfaction, and higher depression than women without CSA. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that body esteem significantly predicted sexual functioning and sexual satisfaction and there were significant interactions between body esteem and abuse history, and among body esteem and marital status. Depressive symptom severity was not a moderator in the relationship between body esteem and sexual functioning-satisfaction. These findings suggest that treatments for CSA survivors with sexual difficulties might benefit from addressing body esteem concerns. / text

Few studies have examined the relationships between recreational physical activity, body image and sexuality simultaneously. Research has demonstrated that females experience poor body satisfaction to a greater degree than men (Faith & Schare, 1993; Feingold & Mazzella, 1998), however, studies focusing on male body image and sexuality are lacking (Lavender, 2011). The objective of the current study was to investigate the relationships between recreational physical activity, body image and sexual function and satisfaction in 849 emerging adult, heterosexual men. Results indicated that engagement in recreational physical activity predicted better body image but not sexual functioning or satisfaction. Better body image predicted greater sexual function and satisfaction, and sexual function predicted greater sexual satisfaction. Implications and future research are discussed.

Motivations for sex have an impact on sexual desire, and relationship and sexual satisfaction. However, it is not known whether motivations for pretending orgasm similarly impact these constructs. In three studies, North American men and women (N = 525) in committed relationships between the ages of 18 and 29 were recruited via Amazon Mechanical Turk to complete an online survey. In Study 1, exploratory factor analysis revealed that motives for feigning orgasm could be organized into six categories: Intoxication, Partner Self-Esteem, Poor Sex/Partner, Desireless Sex, Timing, and Insecurity, which together comprise the Motives for Feigning Orgasms Scale (MOFO). Motives were found to affect women’s satisfaction, but not their desire, while motivations were not found to be impactful among men. In Study 2, confirmatory factor analysis was performed on the MOFO and, in Study 3, its test-retest reliability was assessed. The findings of this research support and inform current sexual scripts.

Provoked vestibulodynia (PVD), or recurrent vulvar pain, is a prevalent condition among women. Although research has documented that PVD is associated with sexual problems, little research has systematically examined the intimate relationships of affected women. The general purpose of the current studies was to comprehensively examine sexual and relationship functioning among women with provoked vulvar pain. In order to do so, three related studies were conducted. The first study was a systematic review of the literature examining sexual and relationship satisfaction among PVD-affected women. Secondly, an online study was conducted using both standardized and qualitative measures to examine sexual, relationship, and psychological functioning among women with self-reported provoked vulvar pain and their male partners in comparison to controls. The online study also examined associations between affected women’s pain and women and partner’s functioning. The final study was a laboratory-based study that included women with PVD and matched control women and examined psychosexual functioning, including sexual and relationship satisfaction, and vestibular pain sensitivity; additionally, this study examined potential associations between women’s pain and self-reported functioning. Overall, these studies suggest that women with provoked vulvar pain experience decreased sexual functioning, sexual satisfaction, and psychological functioning in comparison to control women, and that pain-affected partners experience decreased sexual functioning and sexual satisfaction. The findings also indicate that some aspects of women’s pain experiences are related to their self-reported functioning and to that of their partners. This research has implications for understanding the potential sexual and relationship consequences associated with provoked vulvar pain, and is among the first to comprehensively examine affected partners’ functioning. It is hoped that these studies will contribute novel information to the vulvar pain literature, and that they will encourage future research examining sexual and relationship functioning among women with provoked vulvar pain and their partners. / Thesis (Ph.D, Psychology) -- Queen's University, 2010-08-25 12:02:29.446

Bakgrund: Många patienter som är födda med en livmoder upplever livmodern som ett sexuellt organ och är vid hysterektomi rädda att förlora sin sexuella identitet. Hysterektomi, avlägsnande av livmodern, är ett av det vanligaste gynekologiska ingreppen och i Sverige genomgår cirka en av tio patienter födda med livmoder behandlingen. Teoretiskt sett kan hysterektomi påverka sexualiteten och den sexuella förmågan. Syfte: Beskriva patientens sexuella förmåga efter hysterektomi. Metod: En litteraturöversikt av tio kvantitativa artiklar som undersöker den sexuella förmågan efter hysterektomi. Datainsamlingen gjordes i databaserna PubMed och CINAHL. Resultat: Första halvåret efter hysterektomi är den sexuella förmågan försämrad för många patienter. Sex månader till två år efter operationen förbättras den sexuella förmågan eller upplevdes oförändrad. Trots försämrad sexuell förmåga efter hysterektomi upplever många patienter sexuell tillfredställelse. Dyspareuni och depressionssymtom minskas efter hysterektomi. Information innan hysterektomin om möjliga sexuella förändringar efter operationen är en bidragande faktor för sexuell tillfredställelse. Ingen skillnad mellan typ och metod av hysterektomi påvisas. Slutsats: Resultatet av studien visar att den sexuella förmågan förändras efter hysterektomi, oberoende typ av hysterektomi eller operationsmetod. Information är en bidragande faktor till att patienter upplever sexuell tillfredställelse. Klinisk Betydelse: Det är viktigt att sjuksköterskan diskuterar sexualitet med patienten innan, under och efter hysterektomi, för att kunna säkerställa en god omvårdnad. / Background: Many patients, who are born with a uterus sees the uterus as a sexual organ. In conjunction with the hysterectomy a lot of patients are anxious of losing their sexual identity. Hysterectomy, removal of the uterus, is one of the most common gynecological surgeries and in Sweden approximately one of ten patients undergo the operation. Theoretically the hysterectomy could affect sexuality and sexual function. Objective: Describe the patient's sexual function after hysterectomy. Method: A literature review of ten quantitative articles that examines sexual functioning after hysterectomy. The data was collected in PubMed and CINAHL. Results: The first six months after the hysterectomy sexual function decreased for many patients. Six months to two years after the surgery the sexual function improves or perceived unchanged. Despite if the sexual function got worsened after hysterectomy many patients experience sexual satisfaction. Dyspareunia and depression symptoms decreased after hysterectomy. Information before the hysterectomy about possible sexual changes after surgery is a contributing factor for sexual satisfaction. There was no difference between the type and method of hysterectomy. Conclusion: The results of the study show that sexual function changes after hysterectomy, regardless type of hysterectomy or surgical procedure. Information is a contributing factor to patients experiencing sexual satisfaction. Clinical Significance: It is important that the nurses are discussing sexuality with the patient before, during and after hysterectomy in order to ensure good care.

Darbo tikslas – įvertinti Klaipėdos universiteto studenčių pasitenkinimą seksualiniu gyvenimu ir ryšį su saviverte. Tyrimo metodika. Vienmomentiniame tyrime dalyvavo 379 Klaipėdos universiteto 1-4 kurso nuolatinių studijų studentės. Rezultatai. Trys ketvirtadaliai studenčių yra turėjusios lytinius santykius. Daugiau negu trečdalis respondenčių (37,8 proc.) lytinio akto metu visada naudoja apsisaugojimo priemones, o 6,6 proc. merginų visiškai nenaudoja jokių apsisaugojimo priemonių. Dažniausiai naudojama kontraceptinė priemonė – prezervatyvai (81,2 proc.). Dauguma merginų (63,0 proc.) yra patenkintos arba visiškai patenkintos savo seksualiniu gyvenimu. Didžioji dauguma respondenčių nors kartą gyvenime yra patyrusios orgazmą vaginalinio sekso metu. Pasitenkinimą seksualiniu gyvenimu reikšmingai didino antrosios pusės turėjimas, dažnesnis orgazmo patyrimas lytinių santykių metu, gera sveikata bei savęs gerbimas. Beveik visos merginos (94,7 proc.) turėjo vidutinę arba aukštą savivertę. Merginos, turinčios vidutinę ir aukštą savivertę, reikšmingai dažniau nurodė, jog yra patenkintos/visiškai patenkintos seksualiniu gyvenimu. Koreliacinių ryšių tarp pasitenkinimo seksualiniu gyvenimu ir savivertės nerasta. Nustatyti teigiami koreliaciniai ryšiai tarp įvairių seksualinių veiksmų dažnumo ir pasitenkinimo seksualiniu gyvenimu bei tarp savivertės ir įvairių seksualinių veiksmų. / The aim of the study: to evaluate female students‘ satisfaction of sexual life and connection with self-esteem in Klaipeda University. Methods. In epidemiological study involved 379 first-fourth year full-time female students of Klaipeda University. Results. Three quarters of the female students had sexual intercourse. More than a third of respondents (37.8 percent) during sexual intercourse always use contraception, and 6.6 per cent. females do not use any contraception. The most commonly used contraceptive method - condoms (81.2 percent). Most of the females with sexual experience (63.0 percent.) are satisfied or completely satisfied with their sexual life. The vast majority of respondents have experienced vaginal orgasm during sex for at least once in their life. The possession of the „second half“, more frequent orgasm during intercourse, good health and self-respect have significantly increased satisfaction with sexual life. Almost all women (94.7 percent) had medium to high self-esteem. Females with medium and high self-esteem, significantly more often indicated that they were satisfied / completely satisfied with sexual life. Correlations between satisfaction with sexual life and self-esteem were not found. The positive correlation was established between frequencies of different sexual activities and satisfaction with sex life and also between different sexual activities and self-esteem.

The major problems that this study adressed were, the identification of which predictor variables account for a significant proportion of the variance in the criterion variable sexual satisfaction, as well as the group differences on the sexual satisfaction, marital satisfaction, locus of control, and self-esteem. In the current study, a sample which was composed of 200 married persons was investigated. Results revealed that, gender, education level, and interaction of these variables differentiated the groups on both the sexual satisfaction and marital satisfaction. However, only the main effect of education level differentiated the groups on the locus of control. Additionally, gender and education level differentiated the groups on the self-esteem. Marital satisfaction, locus of control, self-esteem, length of marriage, intercourse frequency and orgasm frequency significantly predicted the sexual satisfaction. Findings of the present study were discussed in the light of the relevant literature.