We Can't Get No Satisfaction: Sexual Function and Relationship Satisfaction in Female University Students

Problems with sexual function are common in young women and can cause significant personal distress. Despite the high prevalence little is known about the extent of sexual function in the specific domains of desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, pain and distress. While relationship satisfaction (RS) is thought to play a role in sexual problems, very few studies have looked at the relationship between RS and the individual domains female sexual function (FSF), including whether psychological factors influence the relationship in young women. The aim of the current study was to determine the prevalence in the seven domains of FSF, the relationship between domains of FSF and RS and whether psychological factors (depression, anxiety, stress and body esteem) influence the relationship between FSF and RS in young women. It was hypothesised that certain problems (e.g. reduced or absent orgasm, pain with intercourse and sexually related distress) in sexual functioning would be common in young women and that there would be a positive association between better FSF and higher RS, even after controlling for psychological variables. Ninety-nine female university students (M = 20.0, SD = 2.6 years old) in a current heterosexual relationship participated in the study for course credit. Participants attended a computer laboratory and completed an online questionnaire which included the following validated measures: Female Sexual Function Index to assess FSF, Couples Satisfaction Index to measure RS, Depression Anxiety Stress Scales to assess depression, anxiety and stress and Body Esteem Scale to measure body esteem. Demographic questions on age, length of relationship, education, employment, marital status, religion and medication were also asked. It was found that 40% of young women have problems with FSF, particularly with orgasm, pain and sexual satisfaction. It was also found that five domains of FSF as well as total FSF were positively associated with RS, with sexual satisfaction being the most strongly associated with RS. As expected, with the exception of lubrication, these domains of FSF remained associated with RS while controlling for mood variables and body esteem. Young women do experience problems in FSF, especially with orgasm and sexual satisfaction, with RS playing an important part in arousal, lubrication, orgasm, sexual satisfaction and distress