Validation of the Interpersonal Exchange Model of Sexual Satisfaction With Women in a Same-Sex Relationship

Abstract

We examined the validity of the interpersonal exchange model of sexual satisfaction for sexual-minority women (SMW) with a range of sexual identities (lesbian, bisexual, queer, unlabeled, questioning). Participants, 898 (192 who were dating, 439 who were cohabitating) SMW in a romantic relationship of at least 3 months, completed an online survey that included the Interpersonal Exchange Model of Sexual Satisfaction Questionnaire. The results provide support for the validity of the model for SMW in that all the model components (relationship satisfaction, balance of sexual rewards and costs, balance of relative sexual rewards and costs, equality of rewards, equality of costs) were significantly associated with sexual satisfaction. All of the components, except equality of sexual costs, contributed uniquely to the prediction of sexual satisfaction. Neither relationship stage (dating vs. cohabiting) nor sexual identity (lesbian vs. other sexual-minority identity) moderated these associations. Women daters reported a significantly higher level of sexual rewards, sexual costs, and sexual satisfaction than did women cohabiters. The interpersonal exchange model may be used by clinicians as a framework for exploring experiences of low sexual satisfaction with a couple. The results also add to an emerging positive picture of the sexual relationships of SMW at both stages; this information can be used to counter negative stereotypes. Online supplemental files are available at http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/suppl/10.1177/0361684316679655 .

Keywords

human sexuality same-sex couples sexual satisfaction lesbianism

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Apt

Hurlbert

D. F.

Pierce

A. P.

White

L. C.

(1996). Relationship satisfaction, sexual characteristics and the psychosocial well-being of women. Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 5, 195–210.

Armstrong

H. L.

Reissing

E. D.

(2013). Women who have sex with women: A comprehensive review of the literature and conceptual model of sexual function. Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 28, 364–399. doi:10.1080/14681994.2013.807912

Bibby

R. W.

(1995). The Bibby report: Social trends Canadian style. Toronto, Canada: Stoddart.

Biss

W. J.

Horne

S. G.

(2005). Sexual satisfaction as more than a gendered concept: The roles of psychological well-being and sexual orientation. Journal of Constructivist Psychology, 18, 25–38. doi:10.1080/10720530590523044

Bridges

S. K.

Horne

S. G.

(2007). Sexual satisfaction and desire discrepancy in same sex women’s relationships. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 33, 41–53. doi:10.1080/00926230600998466

Byers

E. S.

(1999). The interpersonal exchange model of sexual satisfaction: Implications for sex therapy with couples. Canadian Journal of Counselling, 33, 95–111.

Byers

E. S.

Demmons

(1999). Sexual satisfaction and sexual self-disclosure within dating relationships. Journal of Sex Research, 36, 180–189. doi:10.1080/00224499909551983

Byers

E. S.

Demmons

Lawrance

(1998). Sexual satisfaction in dating relationships: A test of the interpersonal exchange model of sexual satisfaction. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 15, 257–267. doi:10.1177/0265407598152008

Byers

E. S.

MacNeil

(2006). Further validation of the interpersonal exchange model of sexual satisfaction. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 32, 53–69. doi:10.1080/00926230500232917

10.

Byers

E. S.

Nichols

(2014). Sexual satisfaction of high-functioning adults with autism spectrum disorder. Sexuality and Disability, 32, 1–18. doi:10.1007/s11195-014-9351-y

11.

Byers

E. S.

Rehman

(2013). Sexual well-being. In Tolman

Diamond

(Eds.), APA handbook of sexuality and psychology. Washington, DC: APA Books.

12.

Charnetski

C. J.

Brennan

F. X.

(2004). Sexual frequency and salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA). Psychological Reports, 94, 839–844. doi:10.2466/pr0.94.3.839-844

13.

Christopher

F. S.

Sprecher

(2000). Sexuality in marriage, dating, and other relationships: A decade review. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 62, 999–1017. doi:10.1155/2014/964087

14.

Cohen

J. N.

Byers

E. S.

(2014). Beyond lesbian bed death: Enhancing our understanding of the sexuality of sexual-minority women in relationships. Journal of Sex Research, 51, 893–903. doi:10.1080/00224499.2013.795924

15.

Cohen

J. N.

Byers

E. S.

(2015). Minority stress, protective factors, and sexual functioning of women in a same-sex relationship. Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 2, 391–403. doi:10.1037/sgd0000108

16.

Cohen

J. N.

Byers

E. S.

Walsh

L. P.

(2008). Factors influencing the sexual relationships of lesbians and gay men. International Journal of Sexual Health, 20, 162–246. doi:10.1080/19317610802240105

17.

Davison

S. L.

Bell

R. J.

LaChina

Holden

S. L.

Davis

S. R.

(2009). The relationship between self-reported sexual satisfaction and general well-being in women. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 6, 2690–2697. doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2009.01406.x

18.

Day

M. V.

Kay

A. C.

Holmes

J. G.

Napier

J. L.

(2011). System justification and the defense of committed relationship ideology. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 101, 291–306. doi:10.1037/a0023197

19.

Ebrahim

May

Shlomo

Y. B.

McCarron

Frankel

Yarnell

Smith

G. D.

(2002). Sexual intercourse and risk of ischaemic stroke and coronary heart disease: The Caerphilly study. Journal of Epidemiology Community Health, 56, 99–102. doi:10.1136/jech.56.2.99

20.

Farr

R. H.

Forssell

S. L.

Patterson

C. J.

(2010). Gay, lesbian, and heterosexual adoptive parents: Couple and relationship issues. Journal of GLBT Family Studies, 6, 199–213. doi:10.1080/15504281003705436

21.

Fava

Rankin

M. A.

Alpert

J. E.

Nierenberg

A. A.

Worthington

J. J.

(1998). An open trial of oral sildenafilin antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 67, 328–331. doi:10.1159/000012299

22.

Henderson

A. W.

Lehavot

Simoni

J. M.

(2009). Ecological models of sexual satisfaction among lesbian, bisexual and heterosexual women. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 38, 50–65. doi:10.1007/s10508-008-9384-3

23.

Hudson

W. W.

Harrison

D. F.

Crosscup

P. C.

(1981). A short-form scale to measure sexual discord in dyadic relationships. Journal of Sex Research, 17, 157–174. doi:10.1080/00224498109551110

24.

Joyner

Manning

W. D.

Bogle

R.H.

(2013). The stability and qualities of same-sex and different-sex couples in young adulthood. CCPR Working Papers (PWP-BGSU-2013-002). Retrieved from http://papers.ccpr.ucla.edu/abstract.php?preprint=976

25.

Karney

B. R.

Bradbury

T. N.

(1995). The longitudinal course of marital quality and stability: A review of theory, method, and research. Psychological Bulletin, 118, 3–34. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.118.1.3

26.

LaFrance

B. H.

(2010). Predicting sexual satisfaction in interpersonal relationships. Southern Communication Journal, 75, 195–214. doi:10.1080/10417940902787939

27.

Laumann

E. O.

Gagnon

J. H.

Michael

R. T.

Michaels

(1994). The social organization of sexuality: Sexual practices in the United States. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.

28.

Laumann

E. O.

Paik

Glasser

D. B.

Kang

J. H.

Wang

Levinson

… Gingell

(2006). A cross-national study of subjective sexual well-being among older women and men: Findings from the global study of sexual attitudes and behaviors. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 35, 143–159. doi:10.1007/s10508-005-9005-3

29.

Lawrance

Byers

E. S.

(1995). Sexual satisfaction in long-term heterosexual relationships: The interpersonal exchange model of sexual satisfaction. Personal Relationships, 2, 267–285. doi:10.1111/j.1475-6811.1995.tb00092.x

30.

Lawrance

Byers

E. S.

(1998). Interpersonal exchange model of sexual satisfaction questionnaire. In Davis

Yarber

W. L.

Bauserman

Schreer

Davis

(Eds.), Handbook of sexuality-related measures (pp. 514–519). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

31.

Lawrance

Byers

E. S.

Cohen

(2011). Interpersonal exchange model of sexual satisfaction questionnaire. In Fisher

T. D.

Davis

C. M.

Yarber

W. L.

Davis

(Eds.), Handbook of sexuality-related measures (2nd ed., pp. 525–530). New York, NY: Routledge.

32.

Lemieux

S. R.

Byers

E. S.

(2008). The sexual well-being of women who have experienced child sexual abuse. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 32, 126–144. doi:10.1111/j.1471-6402.2008.00418.x

33.

MacNeil

Byers

E. S.

(2009). Role of sexual self-disclosure in the sexual satisfaction of long-term heterosexual couples. Journal of Sex Research, 46, 1–12. doi:10.1080/00224490802398399

34.

Mark

K. P.

Herbenick

Fortenberry

J. D.

Sanders

Reece

(2014). A psychometric comparison of three scales and a single-item measure to assess sexual satisfaction. Journal of Sex Research, 52, 159–169. doi:10.1080/00224499.2013.816261

35.

Matthews

A. K.

Tartaro

Hughes

T. L.

(2003). A comparative study of lesbian and heterosexual women in committed relationships. Journal of Lesbian Studies, 7, 101–114. doi:10.1300/J155v07n01_07

36.

Navran

(1967). Communication and adjustment in marriage. Family Process, 6, 173–184. doi:10.1111/j.1545-5300.1967.00173.x

37.

Otis

M. D.

Rostosky

S. S.

Riggle

E. D. B.

Hamrin

(2006). Stress and relationship quality in same-sex couples. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 23, 81–99. doi:10.1177/0265407506060179

38.

Peck

S. R.

Shaffer

D. R.

Williamson

G. M.

(2005). Sexual satisfaction and relationship satisfaction in dating couples: The contributions of relationship communality and favorability of sexual exchanges. Journal of Psychology & Human Sexuality, 16, 17–37. doi:10.1300/J056v16n04_02

39.

Peplau

L. A.

Cochran

Mays

V. M.

(1997). A national survey of the intimate relationships of African American lesbians and gay men: A look at commitment, satisfaction, sexual behavior, and HIV disease. In Greene

(Ed.), Psychological perspectives on lesbian and gay issues (pp. 11–38). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

40.

Peplau

L. A.

Fingerhut

Beals

K. P.

(2004). Sexuality in the relationships of lesbians and gay men. In Harvey

Wenzel

Sprecher

(Eds.), Handbook of sexuality in close relationships (pp. 350–369). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

41.

Rehman

U. S.

Fallis

E. E.

Byers

E. S.

(2013). Sexual satisfaction in heterosexual women. In Castaneda

(Ed.), The essential handbook of women’s sexuality (Vol. 1, pp. 25–45). Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger.

42.

Renaud

C. A.

Byers

E. S.

(2001). Positive and negative sexual cognitions: Subjective experience and relationships to sexual adjustment. Journal of Sex Research, 38, 252–262. doi:10.1080/00224490109552094

43.

Renaud

Byers

E. S.

Pan

(1997). Sexual and relationship satisfaction in Mainland China. Journal of Sex Research, 34, 399–410. doi:10.1080/00224499709551907

44.

Roberts

S. J.

Sorensen

Patsdaughter

C. A.

Grindel

(2000). Sexual behaviors and sexually transmitted diseases of lesbians: Results of the Boston Lesbian Health Project. Journal of Lesbian Studies, 4, 49–70. doi:10.1300/J155v04n03_03

45.

Rose

Zand

(2000). Lesbian dating and courtship from young adulthood to midlife. Journal of Gay & Lesbian Social Services, 11, 77–104. doi:0.1300/J155v06n01_09

46.

Sánchez-Fuentes

M. M.

Santos-Iglesias

(2016). Sexual satisfaction in Spanish heterosexual couples: Testing the Interpersonal Exchange Model of Sexual Satisfaction. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 42, 223–242. doi:10.1080/0092623X.2015.1010675

47.

Sánchez-Fuentes

M. M.

Santos-Iglesias

Byers

E. S.

Sierra

J. C.

(2015). Validation of the interpersonal exchange model of sexual satisfaction questionnaire in a Spanish sample. The Journal of Sex Research, 52, 1028–1041. doi:10.1080/00224499.2014.989307

48.

Shaw

A. M.

Rhoades

G. K.

Allen

E. S.

Stanley

S. M.

Markman

H. J.

(2013). Predictors of extradyadic sexual involvement in unmarried opposite-sex relationships. Journal of Sex Research, 50, 598–610. doi:10.1080/00224499.2012.666816

49.

Smith

B. L.

Horne

S. G.

(2008). What’s faith got to do with it? The role of spirituality and religion in lesbian and bisexual women’s sexual satisfaction. Women & Therapy, 31, 73–87. doi:10.1300/02703140802145243

50.

Spanier

G. B.

(1976). Measuring dyadic adjustment: New scales for assessing the quality of marriage and similar dyads. Journal of Marriage and Family, 38, 15–28. doi:10.2307/350547

51.

Strassberg

D. S.

Lowe

(1995). Volunteer bias in sexuality research. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 24, 369–382. doi:10.1007/BF01541853

52.

Thibaut

J. W.

Kelly

H. H.

(1959). The social psychology of groups. New York, NY: Wiley.

53.

Tracy

J. K.

Junginger

(2007). Correlates of lesbian sexual functioning. Journal of Women’s Health, 16, 499–509. doi:10.1089/jwh.2006.0308

54.

Wiederman

M. W.

Weis

D. L.

Allgeier

E. R.

(1994). The effect of question preface on response rates to a telephone survey of sexual experience. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 23, 203–215. doi:10.1007/BF01542099

55.

Williamson

G. M.

Schulz

(1995). Caring for a family member with cancer: Past communal behavior and affective reactions. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 25, 93–116. doi:10.1111/j.1559-1816.1995.tb01586.x

Supplementary Material

Please find the following supplemental material available below.

For Open Access articles published under a Creative Commons License, all supplemental material carries the same license as the article it is associated with.

For non-Open Access articles published, all supplemental material carries a non-exclusive license, and permission requests for re-use of supplemental material or any part of supplemental material shall be sent directly to the copyright owner as specified in the copyright notice associated with the article.

0.00 MB

0.11 MB