Sexual Arousal and Satisfaction in Young Women in Relationships: A Nuanced Association

What is it about?

Sexual satisfaction is a key aspect of sexual health. Within the context of romantic relationships, it is defined as the subjective evaluation of the positive and negative aspects associated with sexual activity. It is known that it not only depends on the sexual encounters themselves but also on personal, interpersonal, and sociocultural factors. From this multicomponent perspective, sexual satisfaction reflects proper sexual functioning and is associated with different components of the sexual response, such as sexual arousal. Sexual arousal can be considered both a trait—with interindividual differences—and a state—with intraindividual differences over time or in various situations. From a trait perspective, the Dual Control Model proposes a balance between the dimensions of sexual excitation and inhibition, jointly providing a double control over the sexual response. In this sense, using the analogy of a motor, sexual excitation would have an accelerating effect, while sexual inhibition would act as a brake. As a state, sexual arousal can be triggered at a specific moment by internal or external stimuli, manifesting physiologically (for example, genital response) and/or subjectively (for example, self-reported arousal). This study aimed to deepen the understanding of the association between sexual satisfaction and arousal. Through a laboratory study, sexual arousal as a trait (i.e., the propensity for sexual excitation and inhibition) and as a state (specifically, vaginal pulse amplitude and self-reported arousal during a sexual film) were evaluated in young women with varying levels of sexual satisfaction in their relationships. First, using the sexual excitation/inhibition scales, participants' sexual arousal as a trait was assessed. Then, in the human sexuality laboratory, while watching a film with explicit sexual content, their vaginal pulse amplitude was measured using photoplethysmography, and they rated their sexual arousal and genital sensations using standardized scales. Three groups of women with different levels of sexual satisfaction were compared across various measures of sexual arousal. The results indicated that the group with lower sexual satisfaction, compared to the group with higher sexual satisfaction, reported higher sexual inhibition due to the threat of sexual performance failure (for example, not becoming sufficiently aroused) and higher inhibition due to the threat of performance consequences (for example, the risk of being caught during sexual activity). However, no significant differences were found between the three groups in state sexual arousal.

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Photo by Sam McNamara on Unsplash

Photo by Sam McNamara on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This finding highlights the importance of studying and addressing sexual arousal as both a trait and a state, underscoring the relevance of the propensity for sexual inhibition in understanding female sexual satisfaction from a multicomponent perspective. Both in sexual education and therapy, it is recommended to include strategies aimed at promoting sexual satisfaction, where sexual arousal plays a significant role.

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