Using the 3-factor Sexual Desire Inventory to understand sexual desire in a sexually diverse sample with and without sexual interest/arousal disorder

Abstract

The current literature on sexual desire is often limited to the experiences of heterosexual cisgender individuals. Individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (or sometimes questioning) (LGBTQ+) may experience sexual desire and relationship configurations differently than their heterosexual counterparts. The purpose of the study was to use the 3-factor structure of the Sexual Desire Inventory to compare LGBTQ+ and heterosexual cisgender individuals with and without sexual interest/arousal disorder (SIAD). The three domains are dyadic sexual desire towards partner, dyadic sexual desire for attractive other, and solitary sexual desire. A sample of 98 LGBTQ+ individuals and 65 heterosexual cisgender individuals ( Mage = 31.2, SD = 9.1) were a part of a larger ongoing study where they completed online measures of demographics and sexual desire. We carried out 2x2 ANOVAs to compare desire domains among four subsamples: LGBTQ+ without SIAD, LGBTQ+ with SIAD, cisgender heterosexual without SIAD, and cisgender heterosexual with SIAD. There was a main effect of SIAD status on dyadic desire for a partner and for an attractive other such that those with SIAD had lower desire. There was a main effect of SIAD status and group for solitary sexual desire, such that those without SIAD; LGBTQ+ individuals reported significantly higher solitary desire, which could be explained by higher sexual positivity in this population. Future studies should explore the impact of relationship structures on these separate domains of dyadic desire in sexually diverse groups.