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Sex as an obligation and interpersonal communication among Norwegian heterosexual couples
Author(s) -
TRÆEN BENTE,
SKOGERBØ ÅSHILD
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.743
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1467-9450
pISSN - 0036-5564
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-9450.2008.00698.x
Subject(s) - psychology , interpersonal communication , human sexuality , norwegian , developmental psychology , social psychology , sexual desire , association (psychology) , heterosexuality , sexual partner , interpersonal relationship , sexual intercourse , homosexuality , clinical psychology , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , demography , gender studies , population , medicine , linguistics , philosophy , gonorrhea , family medicine , sociology , psychoanalysis , psychotherapist
This study examines the prevalence of having sex as a means of satisfying one's partner among a random sample of 398 heterosexual couples with non‐problematic, mild or manifest reduced sexual desire. Data collection was carried out by questionnaires. Two of three women and one of five men with manifest distressing reduced sexual desire had had obligatory sex. Among women with symptoms of mild reduced sexual desire, there was an association between obligatory sex and lack of acknowledgement of one's sexual needs, as well as a lack of communication with one's partner regarding how to be sexually pleased. In men with manifest reduced sexual desire there was an association between obligatory sex and discussion of one's sexual needs, and sexual fantasies with the partner. Thus, men with desire problems seem to communicate with their partner about their sexuality, whereas women seem not to talk with their partner about their sexual needs.