Abstract
Past research suggests that sexual satisfaction may be partially dependent on sexual motives (the reasons people have sex).
The primary goal of this study was to determine which of a wide range of empirically derived sexual motives were related to
sexual satisfaction, and whether gender differences existed in these relationships. Examining data from 544 undergraduate
participants (93 men, 451 women), we found that certain types of motives predicted levels of sexual satisfaction for both
genders. However, a greater number of motive categories were related to satisfaction for women than for men, and sexual motives
were a more consistent predictor of satisfaction in general for women than for men. We also found that empirical categories
of motives predicted more variance in satisfaction ratings than did previously used theoretical categories. These findings
suggest that a wide range of sexual motives are related to sexual satisfaction, that these connections may be moderated by
gender, and that empirically-constructed categories of motives may be the most effective tool for studying this link.
The primary goal of this study was to determine which of a wide range of empirically derived sexual motives were related to
sexual satisfaction, and whether gender differences existed in these relationships. Examining data from 544 undergraduate
participants (93 men, 451 women), we found that certain types of motives predicted levels of sexual satisfaction for both
genders. However, a greater number of motive categories were related to satisfaction for women than for men, and sexual motives
were a more consistent predictor of satisfaction in general for women than for men. We also found that empirical categories
of motives predicted more variance in satisfaction ratings than did previously used theoretical categories. These findings
suggest that a wide range of sexual motives are related to sexual satisfaction, that these connections may be moderated by
gender, and that empirically-constructed categories of motives may be the most effective tool for studying this link.
- Content Type Journal Article
- DOI 10.1007/s10508-010-9674-4
- Authors
- Kyle R. Stephenson, Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, 108 E. Dean Keeton, Austin, TX 78751, USA
- Tierney K. Ahrold, Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, 108 E. Dean Keeton, Austin, TX 78751, USA
- Cindy M. Meston, Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, 108 E. Dean Keeton, Austin, TX 78751, USA
- Journal Archives of Sexual Behavior
- Online ISSN 1573-2800
- Print ISSN 0004-0002