Abstract
To examine the impact of children on female sexuality beyond 1 year postpartum, a nonclinical population of married women (aged 18 to 32 years) was stratified into two equivalently matched groups, mothers and nonmothers. A sex diary was used to compare the two groups on frequency of sexual activity, number of orgasms, sexual desire, and sexual arousal. In addition, comparative assessments were made between the two groups on six measures: Index of Marital Satisfaction, Hurlbert Index of Sexual Assertiveness, Sexual Opinion Survey, Index of Sexual Satisfaction, Hurlbert Index of Sexual Desire, and Crowne-Marlowe Social Desirability Scale. Compared to nonmothers, mothers were found to have a significantly lower frequency of sexual activity, greater negative attitudes toward sex, and a stronger tendency to want to present themselves in a favorable light.
