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Cited by 23Attachment and Relationship DynamicsMarriage and Sexual RelationshipsSexual function and dysfunction studies

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The Influence of Attraction to Partner on Heterosexual Women’s Sexual and Relationship Satisfaction in Long-Term Relationships

Mark, Kristen P., Herbenick, Debby·2014·Archives of Sexual Behavior
DOI 10.1007/s10508-013-0184-z
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Abstract

Previous research has consistently found that attraction is important in the formation of relationships though research on attraction in long-term relationships is less well understood. This article examined the predictive value of self-reported attraction to partner and change in attraction to partner on sexual and relationship satisfaction in 176 women in committed heterosexual relationships using online survey methodology. Participants' age ranged from 21 to 56 (M = 34.5) years and their relationship length ranged from 5 to 35 (M = 11.75) years. Hierarchical multiple regression results indicated that change in attraction to partner was the most salient predictor of sexual satisfaction, with current attraction to partner also related to women's sexual satisfaction, accounting for 20 % of the variance. Current attraction to partner was the only significant predictor of women's relationship satisfaction, accounting for 22 % of the variance. Additionally, attraction variables accounted for variance above and beyond the impact of relationship and sexual satisfaction. These findings suggest that self-reported attraction to partner is an important contributor to women's satisfaction outcomes in long-term relationships. Further studies in the area of attraction to partner that include couple dynamics and longitudinal data are encouraged and implications for therapists, clinicians, and educators are discussed.

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  • Individuals motivated by situational factors were less sexually satisfied with the affair.

    “On the other hand, those motivated by situational factors were less sexually satisfied with the affair, which was also short lived, in contrast with those in long-term committed relationships [66,67].”

    From Love and Infidelity: Causes and Consequences (2023) · cites this paper as [67]

  • Affairs motivated by situational factors were short-lived, in contrast with those in long-term committed relationships.

    “On the other hand, those motivated by situational factors were less sexually satisfied with the affair, which was also short lived, in contrast with those in long-term committed relationships [66,67].”

    From Love and Infidelity: Causes and Consequences (2023) · cites this paper as [67]

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

  • Love and Infidelity: Causes and Consequences

    Rokach, A., & Chan, S. H. (2023) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph20053904 · Cited by 77

    “On the other hand, those motivated by situational factors were less sexually satisfied with the affair, which was also short lived, in contrast with those in long-term committed relationships [66,67].”
    Result

Metadata

Authors
Mark, K. P., & Herbenick, D.
Affiliations
  • University of Kentucky (US)
  • Indiana University Bloomington (US)
Corresponding author
Mark, Kristen P.
ORCID
Venue
Archives of Sexual Behavior
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2013-09-21
Volume
43
Issue
3
Pages
563-570
ISSN
  • 0004-0002 (ISSN-L)
  • 1573-2800
DOI
10.1007/s10508-013-0184-z
OpenAlex
W2037977374
Cited by
23
References
6
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 2
FWCI
2.50
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations
  • Archives of Sexual Behavior (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Marriage and Sexual Relationships
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Sexual function and dysfunction studies
Keywords
long-term relationships, sexual satisfaction, relationship satisfaction, heterosexual women, committed relationships
MeSH terms
Adult, Canada, Female, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Middle Aged, Object Attachment, Personal Satisfaction, Sexual Behavior, Sexual Partners, Time Factors, United States, Multivariate Analysis, Heterosexuality

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