The role of equity in partner contributions to sexual self-esteem for sexual health in romantic couples
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| Title: | The role of equity in partner contributions to sexual self-esteem for sexual health in romantic couples |
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| Authors: | Wehrli, Fabienne S V, Landolt, Selina A, Weitkamp, Katharina, Bodenmann, Guy |
| Contributors: | University of Zurich, Wehrli, Fabienne S V |
| Source: | Journal of Social and Personal Relationships. 42:2849-2878 |
| Publisher Information: | SAGE Publications, 2025. |
| Publication Year: | 2025 |
| Subject Terms: | couples, 3207 Social Psychology, 3204 Developmental and Educational Psychology, 10093 Institute of Psychology, 3312 Sociology and Political Science, equity theory, sexual function, esteem, 150 Psychology, Sexual Self, 3315 Communication, sexual satisfaction |
| Description: | Sexuality is central to well-being in many romantic relationships. Equity theory suggests that perceiving equal contributions within the relationship—presumably also within the sexual relationship—is associated with better outcomes, while a perceived imbalance may lead to distress or dissatisfaction. The current research examines whether equity of received and provided partner contributions to sexual self-esteem, as perceived by men and women, is associated with sexual satisfaction and sexual function for both partners. We conducted Dyadic Response Surface Analyses using data from 327 mixed-gender couples. Our results indicate that perceiving high, but not necessarily similar (i.e., equitable) levels of partner contributions to sexual self-esteem are associated with greater sexual satisfaction and function of both partners. When analyzing the subscales of partner contributions to sexual self-esteem, i.e. partner contributions to sexual self-worth and sexual self-efficacy, separately, we found a broad equity effect between received and provided sexual self-worth and sexual satisfaction for both partners. This means, that equality in received and provided sexual self-worth is associated with higher sexual satisfaction compared to when inequality is perceived. Additionally, perceived overbenefit in partner contributions to sexual self-efficacy in men was linked to lower sexual function in men. Our findings have implications for research and practice and suggest that gendered sexual scripts should be considered alongside equity theory when conducting research on sexual health in couples. |
| Document Type: | Article Other literature type |
| File Description: | wehrli_et_al_2025_the_role_of_equity_in_partner_contributions_to_sexual_self_esteem_for_sexual_health_in_romantic.pdf - application/pdf |
| Language: | English |
| ISSN: | 1460-3608 0265-4075 |
| DOI: | 10.1177/02654075251351172 |
| DOI: | 10.5167/uzh-278702 |
| Access URL: | https://www.zora.uzh.ch/id/eprint/278702/ https://doi.org/10.5167/uzh-278702 |
| Rights: | CC BY |
| Accession Number: | edsair.doi.dedup.....b987f85c8d991b4004d4e38f4d54b2a1 |
| Database: | OpenAIRE |
Nájsť tento článok vo Web of Science | Abstract: | Sexuality is central to well-being in many romantic relationships. Equity theory suggests that perceiving equal contributions within the relationship—presumably also within the sexual relationship—is associated with better outcomes, while a perceived imbalance may lead to distress or dissatisfaction. The current research examines whether equity of received and provided partner contributions to sexual self-esteem, as perceived by men and women, is associated with sexual satisfaction and sexual function for both partners. We conducted Dyadic Response Surface Analyses using data from 327 mixed-gender couples. Our results indicate that perceiving high, but not necessarily similar (i.e., equitable) levels of partner contributions to sexual self-esteem are associated with greater sexual satisfaction and function of both partners. When analyzing the subscales of partner contributions to sexual self-esteem, i.e. partner contributions to sexual self-worth and sexual self-efficacy, separately, we found a broad equity effect between received and provided sexual self-worth and sexual satisfaction for both partners. This means, that equality in received and provided sexual self-worth is associated with higher sexual satisfaction compared to when inequality is perceived. Additionally, perceived overbenefit in partner contributions to sexual self-efficacy in men was linked to lower sexual function in men. Our findings have implications for research and practice and suggest that gendered sexual scripts should be considered alongside equity theory when conducting research on sexual health in couples. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 14603608 02654075 |
| DOI: | 10.1177/02654075251351172 |