(055) Sexual Boredom and Sexual Desire in Men and Women in Long-term Relationships: A Latent Profile Analysis

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Research suggests a linkage between sexual boredom and sexual desire but without a detailed understanding how these are intertwined. Individuals in long-term monogamous relationships seem especially affected by low sexual desire and might present with varying degrees of sexual boredom. Objective This study aimed to identify different groups of women and men in long-term, monogamous, and cohabiting relationships based on their levels of sexual boredom and sexual desire and to verify if they differed in sexual orientation, relationship duration, sexual satisfaction, and relationship satisfaction. Methods A latent profile analysis (LPA) was conducted using online self-reported data from a sample of 1223 Portuguese participants aged 18-66 years (M = 32.75, SD = 6.11) on sexual boredom, and sexual desire (partner related, attractive other related, and solitary). Regression analyses were conducted to explore predictors and correlates of the latent profile classification. Results LPA indicated three distinct profiles in women and two profiles in men. Two of the women’s profiles and one the men’s profile were characterized with above-average sexual boredom. Among women, above average sexual boredom was paired with below-average sexual desire for partner in two profiles. Women in the profile with the highest level of sexual boredom also presented the highest levels of solitary and of attractive-other sexual desire and had substantially lower odds of reporting been strictly heterosexual. In men with high sexual boredom, levels of attractive-other and solitary sexual desire were higher than among men who reported below-average sexual boredom. Both groups of men presented similar above average levels of sexual desire for their partners. Latent profiles characterized by below-average sexual boredom had higher sexual (both men and women) and relationship satisfaction (women only) compared to other participants. Relationship duration did not predict profile membership. Conclusions These results indicate that lower levels of sexual boredom are related with better sexual outcomes in long-term relationships and suggest and that higher levels of sexual boredom might be linked to low sexual desire and to high sexual desire. Women’s dyadic sexual desire seems to vary according to the level of sexual boredom, as in higher sexual boredom is linked to lower sexual desire for partner. Men’s level of sexual desire for partner does not differ between men with different levels of sexual boredom, but higher sexual boredom seems to be accounting for higher levels of the men’s solitary and attractive-other sexual desire. Results potentially mean that women prone to sexual boredom might require active implementation of novelty in their sexual relationships to manage low sexual desire for familiar partners and that autoeroticism and fantasizing about attractive others might contribute to higher overall sexual desire, but not necessarily to higher satisfaction. In addition, men highly prone to sexual boredom might be seeking solitary sexual activities and/or sexual activities with attractive others to manage problematic high sexual desire. This study adds evidence that sexual boredom and relationship characteristics are better predictors of sexual desire in long-term relationships than relationship length and that sexual boredom might be particularly relevant for the understanding of low sexual desire and of hypersexuality. Disclosure No