Health, depression, and marital processes as they relate to sexual satisfaction and harmonious sexual passion: a biopsychosocial model

Abstract

Individual, biological, psychological, and social factors have each been associated with sexual satisfaction. In the current study we examine ways that these factors combined in the same study might be associated with understanding couples’ sexual satisfaction and harmonious sexual passion by evaluating an actor-partner-interdependence-model (APIM). This model was based on data (N = 2,187 couples) collected as part of a nationally representative study of the Couple Relationships and Transition Experiences (CREATE) study. Structural equation modeling was used to assess the APIM model. The results indicated that the quality of sleep and the number of physical symptoms both partners were experiencing were substantially associated with the same individual’s depression and anxiety. In turn, depression and anxiety were associated with the quality of communication and the ability to resolve conflict. These social variables had strong associations with sexual satisfaction and they, along with sexual satisfaction, were significantly associated with the couple’s ability to experience harmonious sexual passion in their relationship.

Lay Summary

We examined how couples’ sleep, symptoms of illness, depression and anxiety, communication and conflict were associated with couples’ sexuality. With a sample of 2,187 couples, we found that sleep and symptoms of illness were associated with depression and anxiety which were associated with communication and conflict. Communication and conflict had strong associations with sexual satisfaction and harmonious sexual passion.

Keywords:

• Sexual satisfaction
• sexual passion
• sleep
• health
• communication
• conflict resolution

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Dean M. Busby

Dean M. Busby is a professor in the School of Family Life at Brigham Young University whose research focuses on sexuality, couple conflict, assessment, and relationship trauma.

Chelom E. Leavitt

Chelom E. Leavitt is an assistant professor in the School of Family Life at Brigham Young University whose research focuses on sexuality, sexual mindfulness, and couple interventions

Jeremy B. Yorgason

Jeremy B. Yorgason is a professor in the School of Family Life at Brigham Young University whose research focuses on health and illness in marriage, longitudinal data analysis, and family relationships in later life.

Stephanie Richardson

Stephanie L. Richardson is a master’s student in the Marriage, Family, and Human Development program, School of Family Life, at Brigham Young University, whose research focuses on the impact of physical and mental health on couple relationships.

David B. Allsop

David B. Allsop is a doctoral student in Psychology and Neuroscience in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at Dalhousie University whose research focuses on healthy sexual relationships during times of heightened stress.