Publication Date
2018
Document Type
Dissertation/Thesis
First Advisor
Sagarin, Brad J., 1966-||Barber, Larissa K.
Degree Name
Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy)
Legacy Department
Department of Psychology
LCSH
Social psychology
Abstract
In understanding the frequency of sexual activity within a relationship and its impact on subsequent health and relationship outcomes, one understudied aspect is the link between sexual desire and activity. As sexual desire is often theorized to be a precursor to sexual activity, the first purpose of the current study was to investigate whether, and the extent to which, sexual desire predicted sexual activity. A bidirectional effect of sexual activity predicting subsequent desire was also explored. This study utilized a longitudinal design to investigate the temporal sequence between desire and sex. A total of 156 participants recruited from undergraduate college courses responded to a brief survey four times a day for seven days. The results indicated that increases in sexual desire were strongly associated with increases in the odds of having sex, strongly supporting linear models of sexual response. The bidirectional effect of sexual activity predicting subsequent desire was not evidenced, providing little support for circular models of sexual response. The second purpose of the study was to investigate different within-person variables and between-person relationship contextual factors that would affect the association between sexual desire and sexual activity. Increased prior positive mood and increased prior mood arousal significantly predicted sexual activity. None of the hypothesized relationship contextual variables (e.g., relationship satisfaction, attachment, sexual motivation, and sexual communication) moderated the link between sexual desire and sexual activity.
Recommended Citation
Lee, Ellen, "Sexual desire and sexual activity among individuals in romantic relationships : a longitudinal perspective" (2018). Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations. 4896.
https://huskiecommons.lib.niu.edu/allgraduate-thesesdissertations/4896
Extent
127 pages
Language
eng
Publisher
Northern Illinois University
Rights Statement
In Copyright
Rights Statement 2
NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.
Media Type
Text
Comments
Advisors: Brad J. Sagarin; Larissa Barber.||Committee members: John Skowronski; Thomas Smith.||Includes illustrations.||Includes bibliographical references.