Sexual desire and the style of conjugal interactions

Sexual desire dysfunctions are generally considered to be the result of psycho-relational or medical issues. However, various studies suggest that sexual intimacy is linked to conjugal functioning stemming from partners’ social statuses. Based on a representative sample of individuals aged between 25 and 45 years old, this study tests the hypothesis that sexual desire is lower in the case of conjugal interaction styles that depreciate partners’ autonomy and reinforce conjugal closure and gender disparity. Results confirm this hypothesis. Sexual desire varies according to individuals’ autonomy within their partnerships, along with conjugal closure reinforcement and the level of legitimacy conceded to gender inequality. Sexual desire does not have the same importance in every interaction style. This observation has consequences for sexual satisfaction