Sexual compatibility and its associated factors among heterosexual couples: a systemic review

Abstract

Despite numerous studies on sexual behaviors, there are limited studies investigating compatibility between two partners. The objective of this study was to review the factors associated with sexual compatibility in couples. A review study was conducted using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines and through searching for published English and Persian articles on factors associated with sexual compatibility with a time limit up to December 2019. International and Iranian Electronic databases including Web of Science, PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Scientific Information Database (SID), Irandoc, and Magiran were searched using search terms relating to “sexual compatibility” and other equivalents. All quantitative and qualitative full-text studies that had addressed associated factors with sexual compatibility were included. Six quantitative articles and one qualitative article were selected based on the inclusion criteria. Sexual compatibility was related to self-awareness, mental body image, personality-psychological maturity, and some sexual behaviors of the subjects. Couples’ sexual companionship was a necessary component for their sexual compatibility. Considering the association of sexual compatibility with variables such as positive self-awareness and mental body image, personality-psychological maturity, sexual behaviors, and sexual companionship, it seems that using these variables can help predict the sexual compatibility of couples.

Keywords:

• Sexual compatibility
• heterosexual
• personality
• self-awareness
• sexual behavior
• sexual companionship

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by Shahroud University of Medical Sciences (IR.SHMU.REC.1397.013) as a PhD Thesis. We hereby acknowledge the research deputy for grant No 95021.

Notes on contributors

Elahe Ahmadnia

Ms. Elahe Ahmadnia has completed her PhD in Reproductive Health from Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran. Her research interests are counseling, sexology, psychometry and Reproductive Health. She has published several articles in good journals.

Tayebe Ziaei

Dr. Tayebe Ziaei Assistant Professor and affiliated with Counseling and Reproductive Health Research Centre, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran. Her research interests are counseling, sexology, psychometry and Reproductive Health. She has published several articles in good journals.

Masud Yunesian

Professor Masud Yunesian was graduated from Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) in Medicine in 1994, and got his PhD in Epidemiology from the same university in 2001. His main fields of teaching and research are epidemiological aspects of environmental factors (mainly air pollution) and risk assessment and risk management. He worked at several executive positions in research management in School of Public Health, institute for Environmental research and in TUMS management committee.

Arezoo Haseli

Dr. Arezoo Haseli has completed her PhD in Reproductive Health from Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran. Her research interests are counseling, Systematic Review and Reproductive Health. She has published several articles in good journals.

Ali Mohammad Nazari

Dr. Ali Mohammad Nazari Associated Professor and affiliated with Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran. He is clinical psychologist and published articles in good journals.

Afsaneh Keramat

Professor Afsaneh Keramat has completed her PhD in health sciences from School of the Health Sciences, Pune University, India. Her research interests are counseling, psychometry and Reproductive Health. She has published several articles in good journals.