Abstract

Healthy sexuality includes relational, emotional, and physical elements (Busby et al., 2021). However, there are gaps in what is known about the physical aspects of sexual relationships. Genital acceptance and physical sexual knowledge are two areas of physical relationships that may have an effect on the satisfaction of sexual relationships. Attachment, namely levels of anxious and avoidant attachment, is another factor that has been related to sexual relationships (Allsop et al., 2021; Bennett et al., 2019; Busby et al., 2020). Results from a dyadic sample of 515 couples who had been in a relationship for at least two years were studied. Structural equation modeling was used to estimate the direct and indirect actor and partner effects of physical sexual knowledge and genital acceptance on sexual satisfaction, working through mechanisms of anxious and avoidant attachment. Findings indicate the importance of considering genital acceptance and physical sexual knowledge, especially in regard to female bodies, to help move couples toward lower levels of insecure attachment and improved sexual relationships. Findings also denote the specific influence of avoidant attachment on sexual satisfaction in couple relationships as well as the importance of examining genital acceptance for men and women in a partnered context.

Degree

College and Department

Family, Home, and Social Sciences; Family Life

Rights

https://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/