The associations among satisfaction with the division of housework, partner's perceived attractiveness, emotional intimacy, and sexual satisfaction in a sample of married or cohabiting Norwegian middle-class men

Abstract

Satisfaction with the division of housework has been shown to affect women's sexual satisfaction, but this relationship has rarely been studied in men. What are the relationships among men's satisfaction with the division of housework, their perception of their emotional intimacy with their partner, their perception of their partner's sexual attractiveness, and their sexual satisfaction? In the autumn of 2011, a self-selected online survey about men's sexual health was carried out in Norway, Croatia, and Portugal. A total of 657 Norwegian men over 18 years of age completed the entire questionnaire. The results from the present study stemmed from 220 healthy and married/cohabiting men, who had completed the questionnaire. The mean age of participants was 44 years and the majority belonged to the upper middle class. Path analysis showed that the association between men's sexual satisfaction and their satisfaction with the division of housework was partially mediated by emotional intimacy. The hypothesized mediating effect of partner's sexual attractiveness on the relationship between sexual satisfaction and satisfaction with housework was not supported. The findings from this study provide new insights into the links between gender roles, intimacy, and male sexual satisfaction.