Sexual satisfaction determinants and its relation with perfectionism: A cross-sectional study in an academic community

Abstract

The purpose of this work was to evaluate sexual satisfaction (SS) in the academic community of the Minho University (Portugal), correlating it with perfectionism and sociodemographic data. We performed an observational, analytical study. A sociodemographic data survey, New Sexual Satisfaction Scale and Multidimensional Scale of Perfectionism were fulfilled by 232 members of Minho University. We found a difference in SS according to the age group, with higher SS scores in the range 18–29; and a difference in SS according to the frequency of sexual intercourse, with greater sexual satisfaction among those whose frequency is found within 4–6 times a week. We verified a negative correlation between socially prescribed perfectionism and SS. When a multiple linear regression was performed, age, sexual intercourse frequency and socially prescribed perfectionism appeared to be significant predictors of SS. The tendency of the younger age group to feel more sexually satisfied may represent a decline in sexual response as they age. Also, the frequency of sexual intercourse seems to be a predominant factor in SS. Perfectionist thinking patterns have been implicated in SS; in the present work this only occurred for socially prescribed perfectionism, a form of exclusively maladaptive perfectionism.

Keywords:

• Couples therapy
• epidemiology
• individual therapy
• psychodynamic therapy
• relational disorder

Disclosure statement

The authors disclose no financial conflicts of interest (including sources of funding).

The study was approved by the ethics committee of Alto Minho Local Health Unit.

There are no informed consent notifications to state.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Eduardo Palha-Fernandes

Eduardo Palha-Fernandes, MD, Psychiatry Resident at Alto Minho Local Health Unit, Viana do Castelo (Portugal). Post-graduate on Clinical Sexology and Couple Therapy. Member of the Sexology College of the Portuguese Medical Association. Founding partner and member of the Portuguese Association of Sexual Medicine.

Patrick Alves

Patrick Alves, MD, PhD candidate, Psychiatric Consultant at Alto Minho Local Health Unit, Viana do Castelo (Portugal). PhD candidate on Clinical Neuroscience, Neuropsychiatry and Mental Health at Oporto University, Faculty of Medicine. Post-graduate on Psychodynamic Psychotherapy. Post-graduate on Couple and Family Therapy and member of the Portuguese Society of Family Therapy.

Mário Lourenço

Prof. Mário Lourenço, MD, PhD, Coordinator of the Outpatient Hospital and the Couple Clinic from the Psychiatry and Mental Health Department of the Hospital Senhora da Oliveira (Portugal). Member of the Scientific Council of the Spanish Association of Sexuality and Mental Health, founding partner and President of the General Assembly of the Portuguese Association of Sexual Medicine and member of the International Academy of Medical Sexology.