Sexual Orientation Effects on Relationship and Sexual Satisfaction According to Desire Discrepancy in Men

Abstract

Sexual and relationship satisfaction appear to be negatively influenced by sexual desire discrepancies (Mark & Murray, 2012), more specifically when the discrepancy is perceived as problematic (Bridges & Horne, 2007). Nevertheless, sexual desire discrepancy has received little attention by sex researchers, with main focus on heterosexual or lesbian dyads (e.g. Bridges & Horne, 2007; Mark, 2012). Moreover, the role of problematic and non-problematic desire discrepancy was only assessed in a lesbian sample (Bridges & Horne, 2007). Concerning the gap on research, current study aims to assess differences on sexual and relationship satisfaction, in heterosexual and gay men, according to sexual desire discrepancy levels (no discrepancy, with non-problematic, and with problematic discrepancy), and to explore sexual orientation effects. Two-hundred and twenty-three men (126 heterosexual; 97 gay), with a mean age of 30.34 (SD=10.02), completed an online-survey. After giving informed consent, participants completed a set of measures assessing sociodemographic characteristics, desire discrepancy, sexual satisfaction (GMSEX; Lawrance & Byers, 1995) and relationship satisfaction (GMREL; Lawrance & Byers, 1995).