Sexual Satisfaction Among Married Women

American Journal of Health Studies,  Spring, 2000  by Michael Young,  George Denny,  Tamera Young,  Raffy Luquis

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Darling, Davidson, and Jennings (1991) found that multiorgasmic women were more likely to be physiologically satisfied with sexual intercourse than single-orgasmic women, but that "in general, sexual satisfaction was not overwhelmingly affected by whether or not a woman experiences multiple orgasms" (p. 538). These researchers did not include nonorgasmic women in their analysis.

Other researchers have addressed the consistency with which one (or one's partner) achieved orgasm as a factor in sexual satisfaction (e.g. how frequently sexual activity results in orgasm) (Lief, 1980; Hurlbert et al. 1993.) Hurlbert (1993) also found that women who participated in orgasm consistency training reported a higher degree of sexual satisfaction at six-month follow-up than women participating in a standard group intervention.

Waterman and Chiauzzi (1982) found, for women, that sexual dissatisfaction (dissatisfaction with the current repertoire of sexual behaviors in which one is engaging) increased as the consistency of orgasm decreased. The consistency with which one's partner reached orgasm was not significantly related to sexual dissatisfaction. Sexual pleasure (the average enjoyment of all sexual activities in which one engages) was not related to consistency of self or partner orgasm.

Zhou (1993) found in his survey of Chinese women, that frequency of coitus, pre-coital caressing and frequency of wives' orgasm were all positively related to the sexual satisfaction of both husbands and wives. Bentler and Peeler (1979) also found that higher levels of sexual activity were related to increased sexual satisfaction, as did Hurlbert et al. (1993). In this study we used a single measure which reflected the consistency of orgasm for both the survey participant and the participant's spouse, something that previous researchers have not done. In addition, we measured frequency of participation in sexual activities, the type of sexual activity in which the survey participant and spouse engaged and the level of enjoyment of these activities. Other researchers have not focused on the role of non-coital sexual activity in sexually satisfaction.

PURPOSE

The purpose of the study was to determine how a set of predictor variables consisting of nonsexual aspects of the relationship, overall marital satisfaction consisting of self-spouse orgasm, frequency of sexual activity, participation in noncoital activities, religiosity and perception of God's view of sexuality, combine to account for the variation in sexual satisfaction among married women.

METHODS

Participants

Participants for the study were obtained from a sample, stratified by age, of 5,000 married adults (2,500 males, 2,500 females). This was a United States sample with representation from 49 of the 50 states. The sample included 1,000 potential respondents ages 20-29; 1,000 ages 30-39; 1,000 40-49; 1,000 ages 50-59; and 1,000 age 60 and older. Participants were contacted by mail. The mailing list was purchased from a national corporation that provides mailing lists of research and marketing purposes. This study reported here was concerned only with responses of the female participants.