Sexual satisfaction determinants and its relation with perfectionism: A cross-sectional study in an academic community

Abstract

The purpose of this work was to evaluate sexual satisfaction (SS) in the academic community of the Minho University (Portugal), correlating it with perfectionism and sociodemographic data. We performed an observational, analytical study. A sociodemographic data survey, New Sexual Satisfaction Scale and Multidimensional Scale of Perfectionism were fulfilled by 232 members of Minho University. We found a difference in SS according to the age group, with higher SS scores in the range 18–29; and a difference in SS according to the frequency of sexual intercourse, with greater sexual satisfaction among those whose frequency is found within 4–6 times a week. We verified a negative correlation between socially prescribed perfectionism and SS. When a multiple linear regression was performed, age, sexual intercourse frequency and socially prescribed perfectionism appeared to be significant predictors of SS. The tendency of the younger age group to feel more sexually satisfied may represent a decline in sexual response as they age. Also, the frequency of sexual intercourse seems to be a predominant factor in SS. Perfectionist thinking patterns have been implicated in SS; in the present work this only occurred for socially prescribed perfectionism, a form of exclusively maladaptive perfectionism.