Solitary and Dyadic Sexual Desire and Sexual Satisfaction in Women With and Without Sexual Concerns

Abstract

Women’s sexual difficulties have been associated with sexual-related dimensions. The present study aims to analyze the differences between women with and without sexual concerns, according to the Female Sexual Functioning Index cutoff score, on dyadic and solitary sexual desire and sexual satisfaction dimensions. A total of 314 women participated in the study and answered to a sociodemographic screening, to the Sexual Desire Inventory − 2, to the Female Sexual Functioning Index, and to the Sexual Satisfaction Scale for Women. Main findings showed that women with sexual concerns revealed lower levels of global sexual desire and partner-related sexual desire, experienced lower levels of communication and compatibility with sexual partner, and have more personal and relational sexual concerns. Overall, results enhance the role of dyadic and relational dimensions that allow to differentiate between women with and without sexual concerns. Clinical implications are discussed.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Funding

This work was financially supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science (FCT) and Technology and the Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology, and Higher Education through national funds within the framework of the Psychology for Positive Development Research Center–CIPD [grant number UIDB/04375/2020] and the Psychology Research Centre [UIDB/PSI/01662/2020].