A thematic analysis of a sample of partnered lesbian, gay, and bisexual people’s concepts of sexual satisfaction

ABSTRACT

Sexual satisfaction is an important component of sexual health. There are few proposed conceptual definitions of sexual satisfaction and operational definitions are significantly limited. Those that exist were developed with heterosexual people. In this study, we performed thematic analysis on 60 Portuguese, partnered, sexual-minority people’s written answers to the question: “How would you define sexual satisfaction?” The results revealed a sex positive definition that includes intersecting individual and dyadic dimensions with social discourses relating to sexual minority identity and dominant patterns of relationships and sexuality. Findings highlight the need to consider LGB specific experiences in both research and clinical work.

KEYWORDS:

• Sexual satisfaction
• sexual minority
• qualitative

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge all participants that made the work possible and to all the people who advertised our study.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Patrícia M. Pascoal

Patrícia M. Pascoal is an Assistant Professor in Clinical and Health Psychology at Universidade Lusófona in Lisbon, Portugal, a psychotherapist, a sex therapist and the President of the Portuguese Society of Clinical Sexology.  She is a member of the Advisory Board of the World Association for Sexual Health and a full member of the International Academy of Sex Research. Patricia's research covers topics related to sexual well-being and pleasure, sexual health, and sexual satisfaction.

Krystelle Shaughnessy

Krystelle Shaughnessy is an Assistant Professor in Clinical Psychology at the University of Ottawa in Ontario, Canada. Her research is focused on reliable and valid self-report measures and the intersections of technology and sexuality.

Maria Joana Almeida

Maria Joana Almeida is a clinical psychologist and sexologist working with the Lesbian, Gay, Bissexual Transgender and Queer communities, as well as other minorities,  in emotional and sexual issues. Joana has a masters degree from Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Lisbon; and post graduation studies in clinical sexology from the Portuguese Clinical Sexology Society. She was recognised as a health and sexology specialist by the Portuguese Board of Psychologists. Nowadays Joana works in sexuality issues with youth and adults with neuro-development disabilities in the NGO clinic Diferenças.