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Sexual Satisfaction

Dr. Kelli-an Lawrance (Brock University) and I developed the Interpersonal Exchange Model of Sexual Satisfaction (IEMSS) to study sexual satisfaction in long-term relationships. In a series of studies that I conducted in collaboration with Kelli-an and other former students, we have demonstrated the validity of the IEMSS for Canadians in dating and long-term opposite-sex relationships, as well as for married individuals in China. Individuals are more sexually satisfied if they experience a more favourable balance of sexual rewards and sexual costs in their relationship, this balance compares favourably to their expectations, they perceive themselves and their partners to experience approximately equal levels of rewards and costs, and they are satisfied with their overall relationship quality. In more recent research, I have also shown that: (1) sexual satisfaction is influenced by the history of sexual rewards and costs rather than sexual rewards and costs at any particular point in time; and, (2) the partner's balance of sexual rewards to sexual costs is associated with sexual satisfaction over and above the individual's own sexual exchanges. All of this work has been published (see below).

There is little empirical research examining the sexual relationships of gay men and lesbians. Further, the validity of the IEMSS, for individuals in same-sex relationships has not been tested. Jacqueline Cohen and I conducted research examining sexual satisfaction in same-sex relationships. In one study we examined the sexual rewards and costs experienced by a sample of lesbians and gay men. Both the women and the men identified relationship factors (e.g., communication) and social factors e.g., lack of cultural recognition of same-sex relationships) as key to their sexual relationships. This work was published in the Internaitional Journal of Sexual Health. For her dissertation research, Jacquie conducted a web-based study that will provide data regarding the validaty of the IEMSS for women in same-sex relationships. A manuscript based on this work is currently under review. However, the main focus of her dissertation was the impact of minority stressors such as internalized homonegativity and a history of victimization on the sexual well-being of lesbian and bisexual women. We recently published a manuscript based on this work in Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity. Jacquie's dissertation also provided data on the sexuality of sexual-minority women in long-term relationships that challenged the idea that thse women have sex less frequently than other couple types, that sexual frequency declines rapidly in women's same-sex relationships (sometimes called "lesbian bed death"), and that genital sexual activity is nto importatnt to sexual minority women's sexual satisfaction (see our recent publication in The Journal of Sex Research).  

I few years ago I received a SSHRC grant to study the effects of child sexual abuse on the sexual satisfaction and sexual well-being of heterosexual and sexual minority women. Some of this research constitutes Kerri Gibson's dissertation research. 

I have also conducted a number of studies investigating the connection between sexual communication and sexual satisfaction. Our results show that good communication in general, and sexual self-disclosure in particular, is associated with higher sexual satisfaction. Sheila MacNeil and I have also demonstrated that, although there are some gender differences, in both dating and long-term couples there are two pathways that link sexual communication and sexual satisfaction: an expressive pathway and an instrumental pathway. We have published two articles testing these pathways. I am continuing this research in Canada and Spain in collaboration with Pablo Santos Iglesias.

I am currently collaborating with Patrícia Pascoal (University of Lisbon) and Dr. Ellen Laan (Amsterdam Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam) on a project investigating the extent to which relationship well-being, including satisfaction with specific aspects of the romantic relationship, is related to sexual satisfaction, sexual problems, and/or sexual distress for individuals in a committed romantic relationship. Because we are particularly interested in similarities and differences in these and other relationships across cultures, we are collecting data in Portugal, the Netherlands, and Canada. We have completed data collection and are in the process of analyzing the data.  Our participants included: 130 male  and 294 female English-speaking individuals; 232 male and 449 female Portuguese-speaking individuals; and, 24 male and 123 female Dutch-speaking individuals. 

I am also collaborating with Dr. Natalie Rosen  at Dalhousie University and  Pablo Santos Iglesiason a study of sexual satisfaction in women with pelvic pain.

 

Here are our publications related to this work:

Cohen, J. N., & Byers, E. S. (2015). Minority stress, protective factors, and sexual functioning of women in a same-sex relationshiip. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity. Online before print. doi: /10.1037/sgd0000108

Sanchez-Fuentes, M. M., Santos-Iglesias, P., Byers, E. S., & Sierra, J. C. (2015). Validation of the Interpersonal Exchange Model of Sexual Satisfaction Questionnaire in a Spanish Sample. Journal of Sex  Research. Online before print. doi: 10.1080/00224499.2014.989307

Cohen, J. N., & Byers, E. S. (2014). Beyond lesbian bed death: Enhancing our understanding of the sexuality of sexual-minority women in relationships. The Journal of Sex Research, 51(8), 893-903.

Rehman, U., Fallis, E., & Byers, E. S. (2013). Sexual satisfaction in heterosexual women. In D. Cataneda (Ed.). An essential handbook of women's sexuality (Vol. 1, pp. 25-45). Westport, CN: Praeger.

Byers, E. S., & Rehman, U. (2013). Sexual well-being. In D. Tolman & L. Diamond (Eds.) APA Handbook of sexuality and psychology. Washington, DC: APA Books.

MacNeil, S., & Byers, E. S. (2009). Role of sexual self-disclosure in the sexual satisfaction of long-term heterosexual couples. Journal of Sex Research, 46, 1-12.

Cohen, J. N., Byers, E. S., & Walsh, L. P. (2008) Factors influencing the sexual relationships of lesbians and gay men. International Journal of Sexual Health, 20, 162-176.

Lemieux, S. R., & Byers, E. S., (2008). The sexual well-being of women who have experienced child sexual abuse. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 32, 126- 144. 

MacNeil, S., & Byers, E. S. (2005). Dyadic assessment of sexual self-disclosure and sexual satisfaction in heterosexual dating couples. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 22,  169-181.

Byers, E. S.  (2005). Relationship satisfaction and sexual satisfaction:  A longitudinal study of individuals in long-term relationships.The Journal of Sex Research, 42, 113-118.

Byers, E. S., & MacNeil, S. (2005). Further validation of the interpersonal exchange model of sexual satisfaction. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 32, 53-69.

Byers, E. S. (1999). The interpersonal exchange model of sexual satisfaction: Implications for sex therapy with couples. Canadian Journal of Counselling, 33, 95-111.

Byers, E. S. & Demmons, S. (1999). Sexual satisfaction and sexual self-disclosure within dating relationships. The Journal of Sex Research, 36, 180-189.

Byers, E. S., Demmons, S. & Lawrance, K. (1998). Sexual satisfaction in dating relationships: A test of the interpersonal exchange model of sexual satisfaction. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 15, 257-267.

MacNeil, S. & Byers, E. S. (1997). The relationships between sexual problems, communication, and sexual satisfaction. The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 6, 277-283.

Renaud, C., Byers, E. S. & Pan, S. (1997). Sexual and relationship satisfaction in Mainland China. The Journal of Sex Research, 34, 399-410.

Renaud, C., Byers, E. S., & Pan, S. (1996). Factors related to sexual satisfaction in mainland China. The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 5, 243-252.

Lawrance, K. & Byers, E.S. (1995). Sexual satisfaction in long-term heterosexual relationship: The Interpersonal exchange model of sexual satisfaction. Personal Relationships, 2, 267-285.

Here are some selected presentations related to this work:

Gibson, K., & Byers, E. S. (2012, June). Childhood sexual abuse and sexual well-being: Experiences of heterosexual women in romantic relationships. In The many manifestations of violence against women. Symposium presented at the meeting of the Canadian Psychological Association, Halifax.

Gibson, K., & Byers, E. S. (2011, September).  The sexual and relational well-being of women in relaitionships: The impact of child sexual abuse. Paper presented at the meeting of the Canadian Sex Research Forum, Vancouver.

Santos-Iglesias, P., & Byers, E. S. (2011, June). The role of verbal and nonverbal communication in Spanish couples’ sexual satisfaction. In E. S. Byers, (Chair). Striving for ideals: The intersection of sexual and romantic domains. Symposium presented at the 20th World Congress for Sexual Health, Glasgow.  

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