Amy Muise
Biographic Data
| ID | 651732 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Amy Muise |
| GIVEN NAMES | Amy |
| FAMILY NAME | Muise |
| SIGNATURE | MUISE A |
| AFFILIATIONS | York University |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-9000-4106 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 92 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 399 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 92 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2009 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 12 |
Parenting Self-Expansion: Parenthood as a Transformative and Rewarding Journey
Parenthood is a transformative and fulfilling journey, yet research often emphasizes its hardships over its potential for growth. We introduce parenting self-expansion—novel experiences with one’s child that broaden and are incorporated into a parent’s sense of self. In Study 1, first-time parents ( N = 430) completed four surveys across their postpartum year. Reflexive thematic analysis revealed six themes of self-expansion: child curiosity/deve…
Engagement and Audience Responses to Content About Gender Equality in Romantic Relationships on TikTok
When a Partner Supports Your Sexual Autonomy: Perceived Partner Sexual Autonomy Support, Need Fulfillment, and Satisfaction in Romantic Relationships
Sexual need fulfillment is central to well-being in romantic relationships. Self-determination theory suggests that perceiving a romantic partner as autonomously supportive is linked with greater well-being through supporting the fulfillment of basic psychological needs. The current research examines whether there are unique associations with need fulfillment and sexual and relationship satisfaction when people perceive their partner as autonomou…
Women Disclosing Experiences of Sexism to Men Partners: Prevalence, Predictors, and Responses
Although sexism is pervasive, the dynamics of disclosing such experiences within romantic relationships remain under-examined. Across two studies ( N = 1076) involving individuals in woman–man relationships, we found that approximately 75% of women have disclosed an experience of sexism to their men partners. Notably, a general tendency toward disclosure—rather than relationship satisfaction, perceived partner responsiveness, or sexist attitudes—…
Leveraging Man−Woman Romantic Relationships to Promote Men’s Awareness of Sexism and Gender Discrimination
Despite decades of research and growing public awareness, sexism and gender discrimination remain pervasive, partly due to men’s lower awareness of sexism. Here, we explored whether man−woman romantic relationships can be leveraged to promote men’s awareness of sexism. In Study 1 ( N = 576), men who read about gender discrimination targeting their ostensible partner (versus a friend or stranger) were more likely to perspective-take and appraise t…
With a Little Help From My Friends: Social Approval and Relationship Quality in Intercultural Romantic Relationships
Despite their growing prevalence, intercultural couples continue to experience social disapproval and discrimination from their social networks. In this study ( N = 757), we examined how social approval from different sources (i.e., family, friends, and society) predicts relationship quality and whether these effects vary by individual (i.e., cultural background and gender) and couple-level (i.e., cultural pairing and relationship length) charact…
Novel and Exciting or Tried and True? Tailoring Shared Relationship Experiences to Insecurely Attached Partners
In the current research, we extend work on buffering attachment insecurities by examining how tailoring shared relationship experiences to attachment avoidance and anxiety is associated with relationship satisfaction. Meta-analytic results across three dyadic 21-day diary studies ( N = 390 couples) revealed that on days when avoidantly attached individuals reported more (vs. less) novelty and excitement in their relationship, their typically lowe…
Division of Household Labor and Sexual Desire: The Role of Gender and Benevolent Sexism
In romantic relationships between men and women, women tend to report lower sexual desire than men, which is often seen as an individual or relationship issue, rather than one explained by contextual factors, such as structural gender inequities. Extending past research, we focused on (un)equal division of household labor as one example of gender inequities in relationships that may contribute to women’s lower sexual desire, and tested whether ge…
Women Are Slightly More Sexually Satisfied in Their Romantic Relationships Than Men: An Integrative Data Analytic Approach
Actor Power and Perceived Partner Power Differentially Relate to Sexual Behavior and Motivations
Assertively pursuing sexual needs versus complying or accommodating to partner’s sexual desires has considerable implications. We apply and integrate general theories of power to identify how people’s own power (actor power) and perceptions of their partner’s power (perceived partner power) differentially relate to sexual behaviors and motivations in woman–man relationships. Across three studies (total N = 995), actors’ power predicted sexual app…
Does It Feel Like Yesterday or Like It’s Been Forever? Subjective Time Since Sex in Romantic Relationships
Sexual frequency in relationships is associated with satisfaction. Beyond objective reports, the subjective time since sex might also be associated with relationship evaluations. When sex feels further away, do people feel less satisfied? Do they desire sex more? In a cross-sectional study (Study 1), when one’s last sexual experience felt further away, people reported lower sexual satisfaction and desire. In an experimental study (Study 2), women…
Buffering the Sting of Sexual Rejection to Promote Relationship Connection
Experiencing rejection from a romantic partner can be painful, and sexual rejection may have a lasting impact on satisfaction. However, some ways of communicating sexual rejection may elicit more constructive responses from the rejected partner, fostering continued connection in the face of rejection. Across three studies-a cross-sectional study of individuals in romantic relationships (Study 1; N = 315) and two dyadic daily diary studies (Studie…
Can Shifting Beliefs About Planned Sex Lead to Engaging in More Frequent Sex and Higher Desire and Satisfaction? An Experimental Study of Parents with Young Children
Although people idealize spontaneous sex, planned sex is associated with lower satisfaction only when valued less. This research tested how manipulating planned-sex beliefs and intentions affects sexual frequency, desire, distress, and satisfaction among parents of young children, who are more vulnerable to lower sexual and relationship satisfaction. Following a Pilot Study testing the manipulation ( N = 215), participants in the Main Study ( N =…
A Content Analysis of Lay Definitions of Romantic Chemistry
Self‐Expansion Theory: Origins, Current Evidence, and Future Horizons
Self‐expansion theory is one of the first psychological theories of love, and arguably the first to focus on how romantic relationships influence a person's sense of self. Over the past 40 years, a robust literature has supported the notion that people are motivated to expand their self‐concepts, and romantic relationships are a central avenue for self‐expansion. In this paper, we revisit the origins of self‐expansion theory to determine how well…
Secondary benefits of a brief couples intervention on coparenting through relationship quality and partner conflict
In two‐parent households, the interparental relationship and coparenting alliance are central to the well‐being of family relationships and young children. The current study examines whether participation in a brief, online, couple‐focused relationship intervention has collateral benefits to coparenting indirectly through improvements in couple relationship quality and conflict frequency, respectively. A community sample of couples with young chi…
A worldwide test of the predictive validity of ideal partner preference matching
10,358) across 43 countries and 22 languages to estimate preference-matching effect sizes. The most rigorous tests revealed significant preference-matching effects in the whole sample and for partnered and single participants separately. The "corrected pattern metric" that collapses across 35 traits revealed a zero-order effect of β = .19 and an effect of β = .11 when included alongside a normative preference-matching metric. Specific traits in t…
Growing Together Through Our Cultural Differences: Self-Expansion in Intercultural Romantic Relationships
Intercultural romantic relationships are increasingly common and although the obstacles such couples face are well documented, the factors that facilitate their success are less studied. Although cultural differences may present challenges, they also offer opportunities for self-expansion—personal growth via new perspectives, knowledge, and identities. In three studies using cross-sectional, dyadic, longitudinal, and experimental methods ( N Tota…
It Wasn’t Meant for Gays”: Lesbian Women’s and Gay Men’s Reactions to the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory
Researchers can unintentionally reinforce societal prejudice against minoritized populations through the false assumption that psychological measurements are generalizable across identities. Recently, researchers have posited that gender and sexually diverse (GSD) people could feel excluded or confused by the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory (ASI) due to its overtly heteronormative statements like “A man is incomplete without the love of a woman.” Yet…
Through the cultural looking glass: Diversity ideologies and cultural sharing in intercultural romantic relationships
Intercultural romantic relationships are increasingly common. While past work has focused on how satisfied intercultural couples are compared to monocultural couples, we focus on factors within intercultural relationships that predict partners' relationship quality. We propose that diversity ideologies-people's beliefs about cultural diversity-are one set of factors that influence communication about cultural differences and relationship quality.…
“You’re a Mature Student and You’re a Tiny, Tiny Little Fish in a Big Massive Pond of Students”: A Thematic Analysis Investigating the Institutional Support Needs of Partnered Mature Students in Posts…
Mature students in postsecondary education—those over 25 years of age, also known as nontraditional students or adult learners—make up a significant minority population on Canadian postsecondary campuses. Despite academic performance that tends to be higher than that of traditional students, the retention of mature students is lower due to the stressors they face in their home and school roles. This paper examines the insights of mature students …
Understanding the Links Between Perceiving Gratitude and Romantic Relationship Satisfaction Using an Accuracy and Bias Framework
Perceiving a partner’s gratitude has several benefits for romantic relationships. We aimed to better understand these associations by decomposing perceptions into accuracy and bias. Specifically, we examined whether accuracy and bias in perceiving a partner’s experience (Study 1: N dyads = 205) and expression (Study 2: N dyads = 309) of gratitude were associated with romantic relationship satisfaction. Using the Truth and Bias Model of Judgment, …
Love in the Time of Covid: Perceived Partner Responsiveness Buffers People From Lower Relationship Quality Associated With Covid-Related Stressors
External stressors can erode relationship quality, though little is known about what can mitigate these effects. We examined whether COVID-related stressors were associated with lower relationship quality, and whether perceived partner responsiveness—the extent to which people believe their partner understands, validates, and cares for them—buffers these effects. When people in relationships reported more COVID-related stressors they reported poo…
Examining the lived experience of holding grudges
Is Spontaneous Sex Ideal? Beliefs and Perceptions of Spontaneous and Planned Sex and Sexual Satisfaction in Romantic Relationships
Sexual satisfaction is critical for relationship quality and people hold lay beliefs (implicit theories) about what makes for satisfying sex. A common belief in Western culture is that spontaneous sex is most satisfying, but this idea has not yet been studied. In pre-registered analyses of two studies - a cross sectional ( N = 303 individuals) and a 21-day daily experience study ( N = 121 couples) - we found support for two distinct beliefs (spon…
Settling for less out of fear of being single
The present research demonstrates that fear of being single predicts settling for less in romantic relationships, even accounting for constructs typically examined in relationship research such as anxious attachment. Study 1 explored the content of people's thoughts about being single. Studies 2A and 2B involved the development and validation of the Fear of Being Single Scale. Study 2C provided preliminary support for the hypothesis that fear of …
Giving in the bedroom: The costs and benefits of responding to a partner's sexual needs in daily life
A common reason why people in ongoing romantic relationships report engaging in sex with their partner-in addition to pursuing their own pleasure-is to meet their partner's sexual needs. While meeting a partner's needs with responsiveness and care is crucial in romantic relationships, it is important, especially in the domain of sexuality, that people do not neglect their own needs when meeting the needs of their partner. In a 21-day daily experi…
Broadening your horizons: Self-expanding activities promote desire and satisfaction in established romantic relationships
In the early stages of romantic relationships, sexual desire is often intense, but over time, as partners get to know each other, desire tends to decline. Low sexual desire has negative implications for relationship satisfaction and maintenance. Self-expansion theory suggests that engaging in novel activities with a long-term romantic partner can reignite feelings of passion from the early stages of a relationship. Across 3 studies using dyadic, …
Self-expansion is associated with greater relationship and sexual well-being for couples coping with low sexual desire
Regular positive sexual interactions are one reason why relationships have health and well-being benefits, yet low sexual desire is among the most common sexual problems reported by women. One interpersonal factor that has been associated with greater sexual desire and satisfaction in community couples is self-expansion (i.e., expanding one's sense of self through novel, exciting, and broadening activities with a partner). In the current study, w…
Post Sex Affectionate Exchanges Promote Sexual and Relationship Satisfaction
Sexual need fulfillment and satisfaction in consensually nonmonogamous relationships
Consensually nonmonogamous (CNM) relationships allow individuals to fulfill their sexual needs with multiple partners, but research has yet to investigate how having one's sexual needs met in one relationship is associated with satisfaction in another relationship. We draw on models of need fulfillment in CNM relationships and theories of sexual communal motivation to test how sexual need fulfillment in one relationship is associated with satisfa…
How implicit theories of sexuality shape sexual and relationship well-being
How do people believe they can best maintain sexual satisfaction in their romantic relationships? In the current research, we draw upon the literature on implicit theories of relationships to develop and validate a scale examining 2 types of lay beliefs about how sexual satisfaction can be maintained over time. Individuals high in sexual growth beliefs think that sexual satisfaction is attained from hard work and effort, whereas individuals high …
Not in the mood? Men under- (not over-) perceive their partner’s sexual desire in established intimate relationships
Men's sexual overperception bias-where men tend to perceive greater sexual interest in women's behavior than actually exists-is a well-documented finding in previous research. All of the existing research, however, has tested this effect in the context of initial encounters or for fictitious or unknown targets. No research currently exists on how people perceive their romantic partner's sexual desire in the context of ongoing, intimate relationsh…
Creeping” or just information seeking? Gender differences in partner monitoring in response to jealousy on Facebook
New media, such as Facebook, has implications for romantic relationships, including easing the ability to monitor a partner's activities. Across two studies we demonstrate that in response to feelings of jealousy, women are more likely than men to monitor their partner's activities on Facebook. In Study 1, participants were exposed to one of three experimental conditions meant to provoke jealousy, and their search time on a simulated Facebook env…
Women’s sex blogs: Challenging dominant discourses of heterosexual desire
Since Michelle Fine’s (1988) paper on the ‘missing discourse of desire’ in sexuality education, researchers have been investigating where and how women talk about their desire. Online weblogs have become a popular forum for the discussion of sexuality, particularly among women, and have been identified as one potential ‘safe space’ for the discussion of sexual desire. In this article, I use thematic analysis to explore how women write about their…
Broadening your horizon one day at a time: Relationship goals and exciting activities as daily antecedents of relational self-expansion
Self-expansion in intimate relationships (i.e., broadening one's perspective through engaging in novel, exciting activities with a partner) has been associated with relationship benefits. The goal of this study was to propose a motivational model of self-expansion to understand what prompts people to engage in self-expanding activities in their relationship on a daily basis. We hypothesized that when people report stronger daily approach relation…
The relationship implications of rejecting a partner for sex kindly versus having sex reluctantly
Romantic partners often have differing levels of sexual interest. In these situations, lower desire partners may engage in sex for avoidance goals (e.g., to avoid disappointing their partner), which are associated with negative relational outcomes. An alternative strategy to sustain relationship quality may be to decline a partner's sexual advances in positive ways. In two experimental studies and a dyadic daily experience study with a longitudin…
Women’s Perceptions and Use of “Anti-Aging” Products
Eroticism Versus Nurturance: How Eroticism and Nurturance Differs in Polyamorous and Monogamous Relationships
Romantic partners provide both erotic and nurturing experiences, though these may emerge more strongly in different phases of a relationship. Unlike individuals in monogamous relationships, those in polyamorous relationships can pursue multiple romantic relationships simultaneously, potentially allowing them to experience higher levels of eroticism and nurturance. This research examined eroticism and nurturance among individuals in polyamorous an…
What Theories and Methods From Relationship Research Can Contribute to Sex Research
Sexual and relationship satisfaction tend to be closely linked in the context of romantic relationships. Understanding how sexual processes influence relationships and how aspects of the relationship influence a couple's sex life can provide insight into the maintenance of sexual desire and satisfaction over time. In this article, we review how theories and methods that form the foundation for relationship research have made-and will continue to …
Seeking Connection Versus Avoiding Disappointment: An Experimental Manipulation of Approach and Avoidance Sexual Goals and the Implications for Desire and Satisfaction
Previous correlational research has demonstrated an association between people's reasons for having sex (i.e., their sexual goals) and their sexual desire and sexual and relationship satisfaction. Across two studies of people in romantic relationships (N = 396) we extend previous research and demonstrate, for the first time, that manipulating the salience of approach sexual goals (i.e., engaging in sex to pursue positive outcomes, such as enhance…
Planning date nights that promote closeness: The roles of relationship goals and self-expansion
Spending time with a romantic partner by going on dates is important for promoting closeness in established relationships; however, not all date nights are created equally, and some people might be more adept at planning dates that promote closeness. Drawing from the self-expansion model and relationship goals literature, we predicted that people higher (vs. lower) in approach relationship goals would be more likely to plan dates that are more ex…
Being Responsive and Self-Determined When it Comes to Sex: How and Why Sexual Motivation is Associated with Satisfaction and Desire in Romantic Relationships
Couples experience greater satisfaction and desire when they are motivated to meet each other's sexual needs (sexual communal strength); however, doing so at the expense of one's own sexual needs (unmitigated sexual communion) can detract from satisfaction and desire. Self-determination theory suggests engaging in sex for pleasure and value (autonomous reasons) versus out of pressure and obligation (controlled reasons) may account for these diffe…
Feeling Close and Seeing a Partner in a New Light: How Self-Expansion Is Associated With Sexual Desire
Sexual desire is associated with romantic relationship satisfaction and maintenance, yet desire for a partner often declines over time. Self-expansion (new experiences that facilitate growth) with a partner boosts desire, but how this occurs is not well-understood. Across three studies-a 21-day daily experience study, a one-month weekly experience study, and an experimental study-we tested whether closeness, and a new construct otherness (seeing …
Growing desire or growing apart? Consequences of personal self-expansion for romantic passion
Romantic passion represents one of the most fragile and elusive elements of relationship quality but one that is increasingly valued and tied to relationship and individual well-being. We provide the first examination of whether experiencing personal self-expansion-positive self-change and personal growth without a romantic partner-is a critical predictor of passion. Previous research has almost exclusively examined the consequences of couples' s…
Degree and Direction of Sexual Desire Discrepancy are Linked to Sexual and Relationship Satisfaction in Couples Transitioning to Parenthood
Many new parents are concerned that they have different levels of interest in sex than their partner. Understanding the role of desire discrepancies in their sexual and relationship satisfaction could help promote adjustment. In community couples, larger desire discrepancies have been inconsistently linked to lower sexual and relationship satisfaction. However, these studies rarely accounted for both the degree and direction (e.g., which partner …
Through the cultural looking glass: Diversity ideologies and cultural sharing in intercultural romantic relationships
Intercultural romantic relationships are increasingly common. While past work has focused on how satisfied intercultural couples are compared to monocultural couples, we focus on factors within intercultural relationships that predict partners' relationship quality. We propose that diversity ideologies-people's beliefs about cultural diversity-are one set of factors that influence communication about cultural differences and relationship quality.…
Sexual Desire in the Time of Covid-19: How Covid-Related Stressors Are Associated with Sexual Desire in Romantic Relationships
Emotion Regulation in Couples Affected by Female Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder
Risky Disclosures on Facebook: The Effect of Having a Bad Experience on Online Behavior
Social network websites are widely used by adolescents, but disclosing in this environment has inherent risks, as does connecting with others online. In a sample of 256 adolescent Facebook users, the authors explore the relationship between having a negative experience, privacy knowledge, and behavior. Their reports of bad experiences on Facebook are categorized as bullying/meanness, unwanted contact, exposure/unintentional disclosure, and misund…
More Information than You Ever Wanted: Does Facebook Bring Out the Green-Eyed Monster of Jealousy?
The social network site Facebook is a rapidly expanding phenomenon that is changing the nature of social relationships. Anecdotal evidence, including information described in the popular media, suggests that Facebook may be responsible for creating jealousy and suspicion in romantic relationships. The objectives of the present study were to explore the role of Facebook in the experience of jealousy and to determine if increased Facebook exposure …
Information Disclosure and Control on Facebook: Are They Two Sides of the Same Coin or Two Different Processes
Facebook, the popular social network site, is changing the nature of privacy and the consequences of information disclosure. Despite recent media reports regarding the negative consequences of disclosing information on social network sites such as Facebook, students are generally thought to be unconcerned about the potential costs of this disclosure. The current study explored undergraduate students' information disclosure and information control…
Bare’ing it all for the Camera: Women’s Experience of Having Erotic Photographs Taken
Stepping Out from Behind the Lens: A Qualitative Analysis of Erotic Photographers
Women’s Perceptions and Use of “Anti-Aging” Products
Sexual Identity and Sexual Well-Being in Female Heterosexual University Students
Women’s sex blogs: Challenging dominant discourses of heterosexual desire
Since Michelle Fine’s (1988) paper on the ‘missing discourse of desire’ in sexuality education, researchers have been investigating where and how women talk about their desire. Online weblogs have become a popular forum for the discussion of sexuality, particularly among women, and have been identified as one potential ‘safe space’ for the discussion of sexual desire. In this article, I use thematic analysis to explore how women write about their…
Hey Mom, What’s on Your Facebook? Comparing Facebook Disclosure and Privacy in Adolescents and Adults
People of all ages are increasingly exposed to online environments that encourage them to share and connect with others. However, there is a perception that adolescents are particularly susceptible to these cues and share more online than do other age groups. With a group of 288 adolescents and 285 adults, we explored differences and similarities in use of Facebook for information sharing and use of the controls to protect their privacy. Adolesce…
Risky Disclosures on Facebook: The Effect of Having a Bad Experience on Online Behavior
Social network websites are widely used by adolescents, but disclosing in this environment has inherent risks, as does connecting with others online. In a sample of 256 adolescent Facebook users, the authors explore the relationship between having a negative experience, privacy knowledge, and behavior. Their reports of bad experiences on Facebook are categorized as bullying/meanness, unwanted contact, exposure/unintentional disclosure, and misund…
Getting It On Versus Getting It Over With: Sexual Motivation, Desire, and Satisfaction in Intimate Bonds
Across three studies, we demonstrate that pursuing sex for approach goals, such as to enhance intimacy, fuels satisfaction and pursuing sex for avoidance goals, such as to avoid disappointing a partner, detracts from satisfaction. In Study 1, we use hypothetical scenarios to provide experimental support for the associations between sexual goals and sexual and relationship satisfaction. In Study 2, a dyadic daily experience study of dating couples…
Can You See How Happy We Are? Facebook Images and Relationship Satisfaction
Love is often thought to involve a merging of identities or a sense that a romantic partner is part of oneself. Couples who report feeling more satisfied with their relationships also feel more interconnected. We hypothesized that Facebook profile photos would provide a novel way to tap into romantic partners’ merged identities. In a cross-sectional study (Study 1), a longitudinal study (Study 2), and a 14-day daily experience study (Study 3), we…
Keeping the Spark Alive: Being Motivated to Meet a Partner’s Sexual Needs Sustains Sexual Desire in Long-Term Romantic Relationships
How can couples keep the sexual spark alive in long-term relationships? The current study draws upon existing research and theory on both communal relationships and approach-avoidance models of social motivation to test the hypothesis that individual differences in the motivation to meet a partner’s sexual needs, termed sexual communal strength, predict heightened feelings of sexual desire in long-term partnerships. In a 21-day daily experience s…
Creeping” or just information seeking? Gender differences in partner monitoring in response to jealousy on Facebook
New media, such as Facebook, has implications for romantic relationships, including easing the ability to monitor a partner's activities. Across two studies we demonstrate that in response to feelings of jealousy, women are more likely than men to monitor their partner's activities on Facebook. In Study 1, participants were exposed to one of three experimental conditions meant to provoke jealousy, and their search time on a simulated Facebook env…
Settling for less out of fear of being single
The present research demonstrates that fear of being single predicts settling for less in romantic relationships, even accounting for constructs typically examined in relationship research such as anxious attachment. Study 1 explored the content of people's thoughts about being single. Studies 2A and 2B involved the development and validation of the Fear of Being Single Scale. Study 2C provided preliminary support for the hypothesis that fear of …
Sexuality in the context of relationships.
Post Sex Affectionate Exchanges Promote Sexual and Relationship Satisfaction
Good, Giving, and Game: The Relationship Benefits of Communal Sexual Motivation
In two dyadic studies (a short-term longitudinal study and a daily experience study), we demonstrate that people high in sexual communal strength (i.e., those motivated to meet a romantic partner’s sexual needs) have partners who are more satisfied with and committed to their relationships. In Study 1, people higher in sexual communal strength had partners who felt more satisfied and committed to the relationship both at that time and 3 weeks lat…
Do we look happy? Perceptions of romantic relationship quality on Facebook
Does the information that people share about their romantic relationships on Facebook influence how other people perceive their relationship quality? Across 2 studies, people's accuracy at inferring others' relationship quality based on their Facebook profiles and how Facebook profiles influenced others' judgments of people's relationship quality and likability were investigated. Perceived relationship quality corresponded to self‐reported relati…
Sexual Frequency Predicts Greater Well-Being, But More is Not Always Better
Is it true that engaging in more frequent sex is associated with greater well-being? The media emphasizes—and research supports—the claim that the more sex you have, the happier you will feel. Across three studies ( N = 30,645), we demonstrate that the association between sexual frequency and well-being is best described by a curvilinear (as opposed to a linear) association where sex is no longer associated with well-being at a frequency of more …
Seeking Connection Versus Avoiding Disappointment: An Experimental Manipulation of Approach and Avoidance Sexual Goals and the Implications for Desire and Satisfaction
Previous correlational research has demonstrated an association between people's reasons for having sex (i.e., their sexual goals) and their sexual desire and sexual and relationship satisfaction. Across two studies of people in romantic relationships (N = 396) we extend previous research and demonstrate, for the first time, that manipulating the salience of approach sexual goals (i.e., engaging in sex to pursue positive outcomes, such as enhance…
Not in the mood? Men under- (not over-) perceive their partner’s sexual desire in established intimate relationships
Men's sexual overperception bias-where men tend to perceive greater sexual interest in women's behavior than actually exists-is a well-documented finding in previous research. All of the existing research, however, has tested this effect in the context of initial encounters or for fictitious or unknown targets. No research currently exists on how people perceive their romantic partner's sexual desire in the context of ongoing, intimate relationsh…
Degree and Direction of Sexual Desire Discrepancy are Linked to Sexual and Relationship Satisfaction in Couples Transitioning to Parenthood
Many new parents are concerned that they have different levels of interest in sex than their partner. Understanding the role of desire discrepancies in their sexual and relationship satisfaction could help promote adjustment. In community couples, larger desire discrepancies have been inconsistently linked to lower sexual and relationship satisfaction. However, these studies rarely accounted for both the degree and direction (e.g., which partner …
Understanding When a Partner Is Not in the Mood: Sexual Communal Strength in Couples Transitioning to Parenthood
How implicit theories of sexuality shape sexual and relationship well-being
How do people believe they can best maintain sexual satisfaction in their romantic relationships? In the current research, we draw upon the literature on implicit theories of relationships to develop and validate a scale examining 2 types of lay beliefs about how sexual satisfaction can be maintained over time. Individuals high in sexual growth beliefs think that sexual satisfaction is attained from hard work and effort, whereas individuals high …
Communal motivation and well-being in interpersonal relationships: An integrative review and meta-analysis
The motivation to care for the welfare of others, or communal motivation, is a crucial component of satisfying interpersonal relationships and personal well-being. The current meta-analysis synthesized 100 studies (Ntotal = 26,645) on communal motivation to establish its associations with subjective personal well-being (e.g., life satisfaction, positive affect, and negative affect) and relationship well-being (e.g., relationship satisfaction, par…
Psychology (80 works) · Social Psychology (73 works) · Attachment and Relationship Dynamics (62 works) · Developmental psychology (56 works) · Romance (47 works) · Human sexuality (32 works) · Sexual function and dysfunction studies (28 works) · Social Psychology (28 works) · Sexual behavior (27 works) · Sociology (26 works)